10-12-21

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
October 12, 2021
No one likes to be judged, yet most of us know what it is like to be judged. Does God judge us? This is a tough question, especially when we speak of God’s unconditional love and ceaseless mercy. If that’s true, how does God judge? In Romans 2, Paul wrote some interesting words to a community he had never met before, yet he clearly understood the struggles of being faithful in a complex place like Rome. He wrote, “If you judge those who do these kinds of things while you do the same things yourself, think about this: Do you believe that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you have contempt for the riches of God’s generosity, tolerance, and patience? Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is supposed to lead you to change your heart and life?” Paul appears to be confronting hypocrisy, and doing so with a reference to divine judgement. Paul wanted these people to be changed inside and out, but is a threat helpful? Here is where we might want to think a little differently about judgment. Judgement is truth – it is coming face to face with God’s vision, God’s hope. When scripture speaks of harsh or painful judgement, it is not God taking us behind the heavenly woodshed. It has more to do with our own guilt, shame and disgrace. We rarely change quickly. For most of us, it takes time and struggle, sweat and tears to realign our lives with God’s vision and hope. Judgement is seeing clearly where we have come up short, and though fully surrounded by grace, it is still a painful process of accepting and repenting and realigning. Too often we think of God’s judgment in terms of lightening bolts, fire and brimstone. Maybe it seeing clearly the truth, and realizing how our lives are not currently a testament to that truth. That’s judgement!

Where I need to change, O Lord, let me know. It will probably be uncomfortable, maybe even painful, but I want to align myself with you. In your grace, show me how it is possible. Amen.

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