November 19, 2023 Matthew 25:14-30 Whether we imagine God as a baby wearing golden fleece diapers, in a tuxedo t-shirt, as a sandal-wearing hippie, a tough and harsh dictator, or full of wrath and seeking revenge, that is the God we get. If we expect God to return, righting creation, making everything new as an eight-pound six-ounce baby, then we are missing the story and thus will miss Christ’s return and the fullness of the kingdom of heaven. Likewise, if we expect the wrath of God to come and be poured out on those we disagree with, we will be sorely disappointed when the pouring of wrath begins on us. We spend countless hours “creating God in the image of our own fears throughout our lives,” writes Capon. “All the while,” God “is beating us over the head with the balloon of grace and styrofoam baseball bat of a vindictive judgment.” God, who wants nothing more than to change you from the inside out, is not out to hurt anyone. There are no lengths to which God will not go to prove that the only boundaries between God and us are the fear-filled and golden fleece restrictions we place on the joy of the Lord. The Good News is this – even when we think we want a wicked and vindictive God – for ourselves and others – we still have Christ Jesus. The One who took the wickedness and vindictive wrath of the world upon himself, and instead of revenge, invites us to experience the joy of God’s grace. Get full access to Brewing Theology at teerhardy.substack.com/subscribe