Sunday School Moralism Part 2: Redeeming Cain & Jonah

Has Sunday School moralism blinded us to the glory of God's amazing grace?... Have we missed something fundamental for example in the story of Cain & Abel? Contrary to the typical moralistic reading that contrasts Abel's assumed godly example against Cain's example of aggression and murder, there's a bigger context we often neglect. This story is about Jesus - Yes! All of Scripture revolves around Jesus (Luke 24:25-27, Colossians 1:17). 

More specifically though, what we actually see in this narrative is that God is the Shepherd of BOTH brothers... God of course hears Abel's blood cry out to him from the ground as the slain brother in a sense pleads for both vengeance against (cf. Revelation 6:9-11) as well as mercy for his sibling (see this insightful blog from Chad Bird http://www.chadbird.com/blog/2015/03/03/what-bible-story-has-csis-fingerprints-all-over-it). 

Now, here's where this well known Bible story reflects the radical and insanely criminal grace of God...
Observe: (1) Cain killed his brother, (2) Cain justified himself and got sarcastic with God (where's my brother?...it wasn't my turn to watch him), (3) Cain is only concerned about the retaliation he will face for committing the first homicide...he shows zero remorse for having murdered his sibling....and in response to all this, God, first of all keeps communicating and talking with Cain! Cain's wickedness didn't sever the conversation with God (yes, yes, I know what I'm saying apparently contradicts John 9:31, 1 John 1:5, 6....but stay with me here). God keeps talking to a wicked man! 

So often, we hear the cliche that God doesn't hear the prayer of the unbelieving. Or we hear it said that sin hinders the connection between God and man...and we especially are fond of telling Christians that sin in our lives blocks the blessings and fellowship with God. Now, in one sense, yes there's merit to this and in a concretely, legal salvific manner (that which concerns justification), sin does in fact prevent people from knowing, being known of, and being rightly related to God. 

But, what I'm getting at in this blog post is the larger perspective we often lose when considering the Bible, Scripture, and spiritual things... we miss the overarching theme that permeates and undergirds Genesis to Revelation: namely, the character of God. 

I love the summary God provides when He allows Moses to 'see His glory'...in Exodus 34, God boasts on God. He literally declares His name... 

"merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.."

In his gospel, the apostle John comments on this moment of Divine disclosure when he writes, 

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

I'm not arguing that God brought Cain to the place of salvation or that Cain received the redemptive blessings available through faith in Christ (actually, I really don't know how Cain's faith journey concluded...the text doesn't explicitly tell us). I am arguing though that in our reading of Cain & Abel, we immediately read it a fable about 'right and wrong', 'good and bad choices', 'consequences of sinful anger', etc. We don't focus on what the passage reveals about the ridiculous grace of God. 

If we thought dialog with an unbeliever was scandalous, God increases the absurdity and offers grace to Cain! And He offers it to an unrepentant sinner! 
Again, tradition has taught us that our repentance, our confession of sin, our contrition precede and procure the forgiveness of God...and while there are passages that suggest this upon a cursory glance or surface reading, we would be remiss to discount such wonderful assurances as the following: 

" For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly... God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Just as He ignored Adam and Eve's self-justifying blabbering as He announced plans to send His Son to clean up their mess, God gestured toward a self righteous, arrogant, cold-hearted killer with an offer and provision of mercy. Cain had no consideration for God, His glory, His creation, His people... And yet God says, "Here, have some mercy....Here, I'll protect you AND avenge you...I'll fight for you!" 

"If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him."

When was the last time in Sunday School that little children (or even adults for that matter) heard the emphasis struck here?   

Or what about my main man Jonah...you know, the Prophet to the Nations? Jonah virtually curses God out at the end of the book (Jonah 4:1-2)... Jonah charges and condemns God for being gracious - not surprising...we sentenced Jesus to death row for healing the sick and raising the dead! 

Jonah literally articulates that he specifically despises God for being gracious and full of mercy...he's mad at God...and God DOESN'T CRUSH him...that's the way the story closes! The runaway prophet gets away with indicting and chastising God...because years later, God would send a true 'Prophet to the Nations' who wouldn't run from the will of God, but deep into the heart of God's will...a true 'Prophet to the Nations' whom God WOULD crush to bring home all his runaway kids...including you. 

All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

- Isaiah 53:6