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There seems to be an increasing number of Christians who maintain that God is always in a good mood. By that I understand them to mean that God is “never angry, irritable, and vengeful or waiting to punish them“. This is often extended beyond Christians to unbelievers as well.
Although this is a nice sentiment, it’s hard to see how they would come to this position from the Bible. God seemed to be more often angry in the Old Testament than not. And Jesus got very angry multiple times even making a whip to drive people out of the temple. Perhaps those who propose this idea think that God is not like that anymore.
This question should be further refined in order to answer it more clearly. The question could be divided into a number of sub questions. For this study, I will only consider verses that relate specifically to the following:
- Is God always in a good mood now toward believers?
- Is God always in a good mood now towards non-believers?
We will not look at the 100s of verses where God’s anger burned hot against His own people (Ex 4:14) and others (Jon 3:9).
It is important to define what I understand is meant by ‘good mood’. I understand it to mean:
- having an easygoing and cheerful disposition
- wanting to do things we consider agreeable
- unlikely to chastise or rebuke
- unlike to be angry
Following are verses which call into question this idea that God is always in a good mood.
God is not always in a good mood towards believers
Jesus was not always in a good mood with the church.
The letters written by the Lord to the churches in Asia Minor are an ideal way for us to perceive how the Lord feels towards His people.
Rev 2:4-5 NKJV Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Rev 2:20 NKJV Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
Rev 3:13-16 NKJV “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘ 14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Rev 3:19 NKJV As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
The Holy Spirit is not always in a good mood.
The Bible declares that it is possible to grieve the Holy Spirit. Grieving and being in a good mood are not compatible.
Eph 4:30 NKJV And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
1Th 5:19 NKJV Do not quench the Spirit.
While on earth, Jesus was not always in a good mood.
There are a number of other instances where the Lord acts in a way that is incompatible with being in a ‘good mood’.
Mar 3:5 NKJV And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
Mat 16:23 NKJV But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Act 5:5 NKJV Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
Act 5:10-11 NKJV Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
1Co 11:29-32 NKJV For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
We are warned not to anger God through unbelief
There are numerous warnings to Christians to avoid behaviour that would incur God’s anger. Such a response from God is not compatible with Him being in a good mood.
Heb 3:7-13 NKJV Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, 8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS IN THE REBELLION, IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, 9 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TESTED ME, TRIED ME, AND SAW MY WORKS FORTY YEARS. 10 THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THAT GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN MY WAYS.’ 11 SO I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’ ” 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “TODAY,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
God is not always in a good mood toward non-believers
Mat 16:4 NKJV A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
Mat 21:12 NKJV Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
Mat 23:13 NKJV “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?
Act 12:21-23 NKJV So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
Rom 1:18-19 NKJV For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
2Th 2:11-12 NKJV And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Rev 2:21-23 NKJV And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
Rev 15:1 NKJV Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
