The 'Terror' Passages Of Scripture

In reading through the Acts of the Apostles following the standard lectionary readings after Easter used in Roman, Anglican and Eastern Orthodox churches we have been amazed at how references to the holy judgement of God are avoided in the guide.

For example, Ananias and Sapphira who both lied to God, to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5) and were killed at Peter's word for their sin: no portion is set for reading. This case becomes a model for exclusion of those passages which the church, apparently, does not want to hear (the so-called, 'terror passages' of the scriptures).

Of course this process fits with today's lost sense of sin and its almost exclusive emphasis on the 'love' of God. As if love need mean that God cannot also judge mankind (Acts 17.31) in this life and in the next.

The world clamours for justice when people do bad things and blame God -often the very God they refuse to believe exists- for those bad things. It never considers that God will one day execute judgement upon all mankind both for sins against God Himself and for sins against neighbours.

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