Systematic Theology Part XIV-Does God have a Dark Side?

We all have a dark side. You know, those characteristics that are ugly and mean and get us in trouble when they show up. Those characteristics we don't want anyone else to see. Those characteristics that lead us toward sin and evil.

Just for fun, check out this link if you want to see an example of a battle between these two sides (the light and the dark) from one of the greatest movie trilogies of the last decade (Gollum vs. Smeagol)

Does God have a dark side? Does ha have attributes that aren't very attractive, at least in the way that people live them out? Let's look at a few attributes of God that, when lived out by those made in his image, usually only show up on the dark side.

Exodus 20:3-5-God is jealous
Isaiah 48:11-God is selfish
Romans 1:18-God is wrathful

We know that God is perfect and that he does not sin, so if he is jealous, selfish and wrathful he must be able to hold those attributes sinlessly. But how?

To understand how God can be jealous, selfish and wrathful and still be sinless we have to try to understand another, all-encompassing attribute of God: Holiness

According to Exodus 15:11 Holiness is uniqueness. The Hebrew word "qadosh" means "marked off", "withdrawn from common, ordinary use", and "to separate."

"God's holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely bettered, we know nothing like the divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable." (A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy, p163)

In Habakkuk 1:13 we also see that holiness is Absolute Purity.

God is "untouched and unstained by evil in the world." (Millard Erikson, Systematic Theology, p311)

God is Holy. What can we know about God's holiness?

Truth 1: God’s Holiness is a distinct characteristic (Revelation 15:4)
“Holy is the way God is. To be holy He does not conform to a standard. He is that standard. He is...incapable of being other than he is.” (Tozer, p163)

(Hosea 11:9)-Holiness distinguishes God from Man

Truth 2: God’s holiness contrasts perfectly to man’s sinfulness (Isaiah 6:1-5)

“We cannot grasp the holiness of God without at the same time recognizing our own unworthiness and sinfulness before such a God.” (ATFTC, p224, George)

Isaiah’s reaction in verse 5 tells us something else about God’s holiness.
Truth 4: God’s holiness makes sinners fear (Psalm 96:9)

“These two are inseparable linked: a high sense of God’s majesty and holiness, and the apprehension of radical depravity and human sin.” (Timothy George, A Theology for the Church, p225)

Not only do we need to have a sense of fear in the midst of God’s holiness, but sin should disturb us more than it does.

“Until we have seen ourselves as God sees us, we are not likely to be much disturbed over conditions around us as long as they do not get so far out of hand as to threaten our comfortable way of life. We have learned to live with unholiness and have come to look upon it as the natural and expected thing.” (tozer p162)

It’s not often that something goes from scary to joyful, but one place where you can see this clearly happen is on a roller coaster. Check out this video:



It should be the same way for those who have been rescued from sin. That fear we once felt in the presence of God's holiness should give way to joy!

Truth 4: God’s holiness makes the rescued joyful (Isaiah 41:13-14, 16)
In his holiness God has set us free from sin. We no longer need to fear his holiness but have the confidence to come to him joyfully. (Hebrews 10:22)


Truth 5: God’s holiness spreads to all of his attributes (Psalm 77:13)
“Because He is holy, His attributes are holy; that is, whatever we think of as belonging to God must be thought of as holy.” (Tozer, p163)
Which means that his jealousy, selfishness and wrath are holy...but how?


How can God be jealous and still be holy? People are jealous when they have a rival. God's jealousy shows up in the same circumstances. The difference is that, for God, there is no worthy rival. He is the ultimate, so anything that challenges for his glory is challenging the supreme. While there are many "gods" and "lords" in this world there is only one TRUE God. The God who gives us life and sustains our life. (1 Corinthians 8:4-6)

God is jealous to defend His own honor. He will not accept any rivals! His jealousy preserves his holiness and shows his love for us in wanting us to have the best.

How can God be selfishness and still be holy? People are selfish about what they love most...themselves. Selfishness is seeking your own comfort and well-being “to the disregard and even the detriment of others.” (Erickson p314) We are taught that selfishness is a terrible sin...that it is possibly the root of many/all other sins.
According to Luke 10:27 what is to be loved most is God. That is the first and greatest commandment. Selfishness only becomes sin when it causes us to prefer something more than we prefer God.

“Even an unselfish preference of some other person rather than God is wrong.” (Erickson, p314)
Even God obeys this first commandment which means he has to love God most...in his selfishness he preserves his holiness in obeying the first and greatest commandment: to love the Lord God. The bible says time and again (example in Ezekiel 20) that God does what he does for his names sake. The good thing for us is that we often benefit for his name's sake.

How can God be wrathful and still be holy? Because true wrath is a perfect hatred for all sin
We talked on Sunday night about what makes you angry...what brings out your wrath. We said that God’s wrath comes when he’s insulted. This helps us understand how his wrath remains holy and sinless, unlike our wrath.

Exodus 32:9-10-An unwillingness to repent brings out the wrath of God
Deuteronomy 9:7-8-Rebellion brings out the wrath of God
John 3:36-Rejection of Jesus brings out the wrath of God
Romans 1:18-Suppression of the the Truth brings out the wrath of God

The wrath of God is always in response to sin and ultimate rescue for us all.

“Every wrathful judgment in the history of the world has been a holy act of preservation.” (Tozer, p166)


In 1 Peter 1:15 we are encouraged to be Holy because God is holy and it is an attribute that he has given to us and is perfecting in us. Jealousy, wrath and selfishness are hard ones for us to put in the holiness category, so don’t think you can do it easily. But here are a few ways you can and should practice holy jealousy, holy selfishness and holy wrath

Practicing Holy Jealousy: We should also be jealous to defend God’s honor when we see other people and things receiving the worship that should be for him alone.

Practicing Holy Wrath: Defend God’s honor. Don’t let the jokes about Jesus, God, or the church go uncontested.

Practicing Holy Selfishness: Honor God with your time, your money, and your mind.