My previous post about the The Gospel Coalition’s “Gag Reflex” article has brought about some disagreement (not unexpectedly). I’m not going to defend against most of the arguments here but I will speak to one of the themes I saw in the feedback I received. One of the most interesting aspects of the disagreements is that the majority of the people who disagreed with me were fighting for the need to condemn others for their sin. Some felt that we need to temper love with condemnation. Others said we need to outright condemn in order to honor God.
As a result I thought it would be helpful to look at the gospels and see what Jesus has to say about condemning sin and sinners (which describes us all).
John 3:17-18 states, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
These words, along with several other NT passages (Galatians 2:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:12, 1 Timothy 3:6, 5:12, Titus 3:11) teach that people are presently living in condemnation and the future condemnation that comes upon them is of their own doing. Jesus, who is God in the flesh with us, does not come to us to condemn us for our sin but rather to do the exact opposite. He comes to save us from our condemnation and sin. None of these teachings give us the idea that we, as Christians, are to condemn others (especially if we are to imitate Jesus in as much as we are able). The condemned are already condemned. We can correct and we can love but we can not condemn unless we also desire to be condemned.
In Luke 6:37-38 Jesus says, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
We have a choice to condemn others, of course, but it is not a choice that will result in blessings. The contrast of judgement and condemnation with forgiveness and generosity in this teaching is strong and serves to show that we are to approach others with forgiveness and generosity (which is Christ-like love) instead of condemnation. That is fighting for the sinner instead of fighting against the sinner. If Christ died for us while we still against him by living in sin and if we are to imitate Christ then we must fight for the sinner and not against the sinner. But knowing what that looks like can be hard.
There is an example of this in John 8:2-11: “Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more”
As John said five chapters earlier, Jesus does not come to condemn but to save. He brings forgiveness and generosity to the sinner (and as this passage proves we are all sinners). It is then no wonder that when Jesus encounters the adulterous woman and the religious mob that he makes it absolutely clear that nobody but Jesus himself is free to condemn sinners. In doing this he points out that all people are sinners. This includes the people who are believed to be the most righteous. Then, he refuses to condemn anyone when he has all authority to do so. Instead, he forgives the adulterous woman and calls her to repent as she lives her life in freedom.
That is forgiveness and generosity. That is love. That is what we Christians must be about. If we are eager to condemn or to be against people, to prove them wrong or disgusting then we’ve missed Jesus. As we are honest and bold in speech about the evil of this world and the sin that kills humanity let us do so without condemnation but rather with forgiveness and generosity. We can’t pussy-foot around the reality of sin, that would be unloving to both God and neighbor. However, Jesus shows us there is a way to address sin without condemning others. After all, if someone is in sin they are already condemned so our condemnation doesn’t help them. However, our forgiveness, generosity, and honest speech help.
May God’s Spirit give us discernment to know what is good and what is harmful. May we see love rightly defined through Jesus and follow him into love so that we and others may find freedom and true repentance. May we learn to stand against sin as Jesus does through love and not condemnation.
Hmm… well… no. If this is what you believe, then it is insufficient. The last words of John 8:2-11 don’t just call for repentance on the part of the sinner, but as in Christ’s example, it calls on the Christian to instruct the individual to stop engaging in the sinful behavior. Lastly, in the case of a “brother,” it is not enough to give a warning or call to repentance… it’s much more… Luke 17:1-4, Galatians 6:1-5.
ReplyDeleteA few thoughts and prayers… Kirk
I don't disagree at all. As I said, we can correct others and we must be honest and bold in speech about sin and evil. Calling others to repentance is definitely a part of that, without question. Those are good passages you referenced. I am curious though as to what you are saying "no" to and why what I have written is insufficient? My aim here was merely to show that condemnation is not an acceptable activity for Christians. I was not attempting to be exhaustive towards how Christians are to react to sin in the world (if this were the case I'd understand much easier the claim that what I've provided is insufficient). Thanks.
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ReplyDeleteHmm… It appears, though I could be wrong, that in your teaching you avoid confronting that which makes people uncomfortable… the responsibility on the part of the Christian to not just forgive but to condemn the sin. The “feel good” blanket of forgiveness can be applied to all sin and all situations. One doesn’t need to be “exhaustive” to mention the importance of confronting the sinful behavior and the importance of change which an individual must do. To focus only on the words of John 8, “neither do I condemn you” without the rest of the message, “go and sin no more” is to give only half a message and is insufficient. It requires virtually nothing for an unaffected individual to say... "you're forgiven" and walk away. Sadly, it’s this type of co-dependent behavior which sets the sinner up for continuing in the sinful behavior. It has consequences for the sinner and those they affect. For example, telling the man who beats his wife: “you are forgiven,” but not to say anything further… that he must stop this behavior… in essence gives him permission to continue beating his wife. It normalizes the behavior and gives permission to his children to do the same thing when they grow up. However, condemning the sin (not the sinner), providing a door to healing and salvation is something which most Christians no longer do. Most Christians have two magic markers... one to use as a highlighter for those Scriptures they enjoy and another marker to black out those Scriptures which they don't like, or which makes them feel uncomfortable. It's the same thing which has occurred from the beginning, when it comes to God's instruction... throughout Scripture, over and over again, we see God's people ignore, minimize, and reject His instruction. It's no different, today. Today, most Christians and churches reject or minimize what God has instructed not to do and have abandoned what God has instructed to do. They have decided that God’s instruction is not relevant and that they know better than God, on a wide range of issues. They have decided, that which God has identified as sin, is not sin. They have attempted to place themselves above God, believing they know better. They have taken away the responsibility for the Christian to act upon that which God instructs is wrong. It is not sufficient to only forgive the past sin, it is necessary to instruct to “go and sin no more.”
ReplyDeleteHmm… I don’t know… you write with authority, as a teacher/leader, which comes with great responsibility. I learn by asking questions in an effort to discern what you are saying… or not. I am hopeful… a few thoughts and prayers… Kirk
Travis you left out Romans 2
ReplyDelete2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
Well said. Christians are not to condemn or to judge others, instead we are called to seek after peaceful, loving confrontation.
ReplyDelete