Who Is to Judge?

7/15/18            Paul (video)         about 23

Who is to judge?

I was early to a meeting at church, so on my way there I reached out on the sidewalk to initiate a gospel conversation with a young man named Paul, asking what he believes about life after death. 

Paul believes we create our own destiny through positive thoughts and actions, shying away from the idea of God’s judgment.  For him, it sounds better to say that we ultimately judge ourselves rather than being judged by God.  The idea of a God who judges doesn’t seem compatible with his idea of a God of love.

Paul’s aversion to God’s judgment has caused him to ignore the many biblical passages that tell of it.  He also tends to see the many passages that warn people against being judgmental as also applying to God. I cautioned him of the human tendency to construct our own “god” out of various ideas we are comfortable with, in much the same way people constructed idols of their own making when the Ten Commandments were given.

 

Romans 12, for example, gives much instruction to us as people on being humble and avoiding being judgmental: 

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.  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.”

But God isn’t beholden to follow the same rules that apply to humans.  So many attitudes and actions are immoral precisely because of the fact that we are attempting to do what only God should do.  This passage from Romans continues:  “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.”

We are not to take revenge, because that is God’s responsibility.  Neither are we to be wrathful, or judge others, because we are attempting to usurp God’s role.  Nor are we the ones who are to ultimately judge ourselves, as Paul had suggested when I first asked about his beliefs.  Of course it is wise to self-evaluate, especially in the light of God’s law as our “mirror”, but God is indeed our final judge.

So back to Paul’s difficulty in comprehending that God might be both loving and judgmental.  Maybe a better way to look at it might be to ask how can God be loving and NOT judgmental?  Love involves sacrifice, and what sacrifice is needed if there is no judgment and any kind of behavior is acceptable?  But if through God’s judgement we are indeed found to be “utterly sinful” and deserving of His wrath and punishment as we read in Romans 7, how much greater is the loving sacrifice made to redeem us?  “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Check out our conversation HERE