The Glory of the God of Israel ascended from his usual place above the cherubim-angels, moved to the threshold of the Temple, and called to the man with the writing case who was dressed in linen: “Go through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of everyone who is in anguish over the outrageous obscenities being done in the city.” (Ezekiel 9: 3,4 The Message)
Outraged
Outrage is preferable to passivity.
But I have been outraged about some silly things. I was outraged when a referee made a bad call and my beloved Cincinnati Reds lost a key game. I was outraged when Walmart stopped selling caffeine-free diet coke. I was outraged when a hurried driver changed lanes at an inconvenient time for me. I was outraged an author stopped writing a series that I enjoy, before it was finished.
And I ended up feeling silly. Being outraged is certainly better than passivity, but outrage comes with it’s own dangers and troubles.
But God’s people know there are things to really be outraged about. And outrage based on injustice according to God’s standards is not silly. Outrage based on open rebellion against God, not merely against a nation, is not silly. Outrage based on a holy fear of the Lord, rather than on fear of physical loss is not silly. Outrage based on the triumph of evil, rather than on the triumph of an idea we do not like is not silly.
We see a lot of things that make us outraged. But outrage based on God’s Word is worthy.
We are peculiar, we can avoid silly outrage.