God’s Word to You is Micah 7:19
19 He will again have compassion on us;
He will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
I more often than not thank God for being God and that we are not.
Now that may seem a bit odd but day after day I keep seeing people acting like they are God. There are those who seek more control, some more than is humanly possible. Plus there are those who decide judgment over others as well as want to decide punishment and be the executioner.
Sadly there are many who know grace and have no idea they are supposed to give it.
None of us is perfect. Romans says all have sinned and fall short the glory of God. Did you read that? It says ALL. Even those of us who know we have received His grace. And Jesus said love one another as I have loved you. Did you read that? As I HAVE LOVED YOU.
But wait you say. There are certain things we just have to punish people for. I agree. I see no problem in punishment. As a matter of fact a huge problem in our country today is people thinking punishments are too hard though most don’t get the punishment they deserve.
There is a challenge though. I will use a very touchy subject as an example. There is a movement in our country. It is the Me Too movement. I have no problem with the intent that those who have abused others sexually being punished. I think victims need to know they should share their burdens and not feel shame. But here are two challenges I see and from personal knowledge of men who have had their lives and the lives of their families turned upside down.
The first challenge is one that is actually across the board in our country when it comes to charges of doing wrong. As soon as someone is accused they are guilty. At the first hint of something happening or in the case of the Me Too movement, happened, there are multitudes of judge, jury and executioners chomping at the bit to mete out condemnation. A person whether male accused of improper sexual behavior, a policeman shooting a black, guns at any kind of shooting, Muslims involved in any crime, is guilty and needs to have the full force of the law hammered down on them. The way many approach it I think they really would like to pull a trigger, hang or administer lethal injections to those accused.
And some will say God wants this to happen. What????? At this point we don’t even know what the truth is. There are always two sides to any story and yet in our country today “My view is the only thing that matters!” has become the norm.
The second challenge is tricky. But I will use one example to try to make the point. Before I do let me just say each incident always has to be treated as it’s own and my point is a blanket to not be the rule but rather a guide.
Ministers are human. Yes they have a huge responsibility. Yes they have higher standards than the congregation. But they aren’t God. They are human. If they did something early in life and many years later it comes out the first thing to do is find out the truths. The second thing is what should the punishment be. But in deciding punishment we need to look at who they are now and who they have been.
If they have lived godly lives for a long period of time, if they have honored God with their lives and He has forgiven them how can we not show them grace? If they have honored Him and been good teachers and role models, if they have been good stewards and shepherds how can we not show them grace? If they have repented and turned to God how can we not show them grace?
Of course if they have kept a life of deceit and doing wrong and kept covering it up they should be punished.
But folks, I have often shared I was a sinner, a drinker, a druggie and even an atheist. There are things in my past I would never just bring up and point out unless I was witnessing to someone in the same struggle and could share how God still loves them. Those things are a huge part of why I feel so blessed, those things are a huge part of why I am thankful for His grace and those things are why I share His love with those who don’t deserve it. Because I don’t either. Neither do you.
Tough points today. I know many will disagree with me. But my one main thought for all of us is simply this. Make sure you know the whole situation before you declare someone guilty and remember His grace when you decide punishment. And don’t try to be Him except in the love and grace department. He has the rest covered.
me n’ God love ya