Why are we so focussed on judgment? Judging others that is. Ashamed, I read the article today on how Evangelical Christians (I count myself as one) are railing against homosexuality in Africa. The result of course is not people coming to faith in Christ, nor a change in what the preachers see as sinful behaviour, but the marginalisation and persecution of part of the community.
When did we decide that the good news was best communicated through a judgmental attitude? And when did we decide that we were in a position to judge?
The truth is that we pillaged their resources, colonised their lands, enslaved their people. We continue to fight proxy wars in their nations, play politics for their oil and pay lip service to their culture. Having despoiled the earth we then insist they meet our 'green' standards even whilst we consume 90% of the resources, leaving them impoverished. And having done all that, with breath-taking arrogance, whist oil bleeds into the ocean, we self-righteously pronounce that our plenty is a sign of God blessing our goodness, whilst their tragedy is a result of God's judgment on their sin. In this context, do we really think that a fair God is going judge them more harshly or quickly than us? Which bit of "to whom much is given, much is expected" did we not understand?
It was never about behaviour, but in whose world is a lack of self-control leading to gluttony a more fundamental flaw than a lack of self-control leading to promiscuity? God cares how we behave because behaviour points to what is broken in our lives. He longs to make whole our brokeness, not modify our behaviour. It's relationship with us that motivates His concern, not adherance to standards. Moreover, it is His repsonsibility to convince each individual as to what for them is sin. Our responsibility is to urgently deal with the planks revealed to be in our own eye. Then we can help others (note, help, not criticise or judge) remove the specks that God has revealed to them. So God cares how we behave, but do we really still believe that we can be saved by works of law-keeping? By living to certain 'holy' standards? Do we really believe that God is a rule-watcher, a cosmic time & motion analyst, stop-watch and rule book in hand, longing for us to transgress some obscure rule so that He can smite us?
Is the first thought in God's mind wrath at broken rules or compassion towards broken hearts?
Yet the message we actually deliver to so many who are marginalised is this: God hates you. Your behaviour disgusts Him. That's why you are marginalised, in His eyes you deserve it (and as His servants, in ours too). Nonetheless, Jesus has twisted His arm to withold His anger for now, but it's on a knife-edge, He's actually looking for any excuse to vent His wrath. So you'd better start behaving, otherwise not only will it continue to be bad for you now, but there's an eternity in hell waiting.
This is a travesty of the Gospel.
By all means lets tell the poor, the oppressed, the marginalised about Jesus. Tell them that like them, He has first hand experience of religious leaders who claimed they knew best. Tell them that he was despised and spat upon as well. Tell them that He too was judged for His unacceptable behaviour. Tell them that he also was derided, beaten up and imprisoned by the authorities. Tell them that He was illegally tried by the courts. Tell them that He was murdered by the mob. Tell them that he came and experienced all of that so that he could fully share their burdens. Tell them that He came because He loved them, irrespective of their behaviour. Tell them that He understands their plight, genuinely feels their pain, their despair, their rage. Tell them that this omnipotent love & rage could not be imprisoned even by death. Tell them that He now lives to lead them into true freedom, to be all that they are. Tell them that He brings hope, healing, liberty, justice. Tell them that He comes to hold to account their oppressors. Tell them that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Tell them that the Holy Spirit will lead them into all truth about God. Tell them that they can personally know the redeeming love of Jesus, without the need of priests, without the need of experts. Tell them your own experience of that love. Tell them how you were convinced by the Holy Spirit, how He led you to turn away from your presumption that your way and understanding was right. Tell them that you are desperately sorry for past arrogance. Tell them how His love for you has stirred a compassion in your heart.
Then live it in their presence, sharing their suffering, their isolation, demonstrating the love of God.
But don't tell them how to live, we don't have the right, we don't have the credibility, we don't have that call.
A good point well made.
ReplyDeleteMy idea of radical christianity used to be based on a lot of rules and some very un-caring attitudes (easy to rationalise when you 'know you are right')
I have cahnged a lot in the last few years, more accepting, caring and less judgemental I hope. Some would call it liberal and wooly, but some of those are they that would stand in the street waving their bibles and shouting 'it's an abomination' at the ordinadtion of a lesbian bishop. Hard to see the love in those comments.
I've worked with people who who you wouldn't want as friends, but who share my faith. They are able to justify their behaviour somehow while the world looks on and says, 'if thats a Christian....'
I can still recognise the hypocrisy in my own life, and struggle with life issues and wrong attitudes, but it feels as though I'm on a journey towards something better and hopefully I can take a few people along with me.