A Retributive Deity is Abominable

A retributive deity is a petty deity, and one that is endlessly retributive even moreso. Such a being is not worthy of worship. It is  not a being who is love, and so not a being that can truly be called God. For the revelation of God we have in Jesus Christ is this: God is Love (1 John 4:8). Love is not merely something God has, or brings into play from time to time. No, Love is what God is. It is the very nature of God to love, at all times and in all circumstances. There is nothing God has created that is not also the object of God’s love.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. He is the Image of the Invisible God, in whom all the fullness of divinity dwells in bodily form. If we have seen him, we have seen the Father. There is nothing retributive or retaliatory, for God is Love, and love is not retributive or retaliatory. God does not seek revenge. Even as he was being crucified, the prayer of Lord Jesus was, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” 

To view God as a retributive deity, one has to ignore what Lord Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount:

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45)

Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. This is not retribution. This is the boundless love of the God who is love. St. Paul describes this love of us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Retribution and retaliation have no place at all here. That would be self-seeking. That would be keeping record of being wronged, and holding grudges. That is not love but pettiness. But love never fails, never gives up, but perseveres for the sake of the loved one — even for one’s enemies!

Even in Romans 12:17-21, where we read of “wrath” and “vengeance” of God, it is no less about the love of God. For God is love, so even the wrath and vengeance of God must be the manifestation of the God’s love even towards the wicked. It is not retributive but restorative, to put things right.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

It is not our job to put things right; we would skew to self-interest and try to even the score. Leave it to God, who always acts in righteousness. It is God’s to handle.

How does God repay? Evil for evil; “You did something against me, now I’ll do something against you”? No, God does not retaliate, does not exact retribution. That would be no better than a petty deity, a Zeus-like being.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil,” Paul says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Why does he say that? Because that is the way God is, and that is the way of Love. God is Love and so does not repay evil for evil, does not retaliate or seek revenge, but overcomes evil with good. Behold the Cross.

Therefore, with St. Isaac of Nineveh, 7th century Christian Bishop, we say, “Even to think this of God and to suppose that retribution for evil acts is to be found with Him is abominable.”