J.D. Greear, the woke, seeker-sensitive president of the Southern Baptist Convention — who says that the Bible only whispers about homosexuality and calls on Christians to stand up for LGBTQ rights — now says that God’s first emotion toward sin isn’t anger, but compassion.
This is notably contrary to what God’s Word actually says about God’s emotion toward sin as in Psalm 7:11, “God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day,” and toward the sinners themselves in Psalm 5:5, “God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.”
God does indeed feel compassion toward his elect — those who He has chosen in Himself, who have repented of their sin and by grace, have been saved through faith in Christ. However, this is not incompatible with God’s anger and wrath toward sin. In fact, it is God’s anger toward sin and wrath toward sinners that makes his compassion and mercy necessary.
As we see in Romans 1:18, “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” There is no compassion toward the unrepentant sinner.
On the other hand, God’s compassion, completely compatible with his wrath, is displayed on the cross and as it says in Romans 5:8, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
In no way does God look upon the “messed up lives” of sinners and not be angry. God’s anger is righteous and God’s wrath is good. And this is perfectly compatible with his mercy and grace toward his people. Greear, as usual, is muddying the waters of the doctrines of God’s grace, perverting it that it may tickle the ears of unbelievers and give no reason for those lost in sin to behold the grace of God found only in repentance and faith in Christ alone.
