It's likely we don't think of ourselves in this way -but the question isn't merely about what we think but what we do.
Ok, all battles start in our mind, that's clear. What is often neglected in my view is the role we play in relations to other people.
If we don't like the God Who -is- it's an oft-used response to decide He doesn't exist. The second error is to create a false god we like If we don't like the God Who -is-, one we like
better than the One revealing Himself in the Bible as the one, only -true- God.
Well here is a key way even professing Christians mud (and brimstone) the waters and any gracious witness of Who Jesus truly is to the rest of society:
We begin speaking, writing and dogging unbelievers, pre-believers and professing new or even older followers of Jesus as though God is largely THE ENFORCER. We figure we righteously take on a role of societal "enforcers" of God's mind, laws, ways and means. Yet He's the only perfect judge there is, the only one with ALL the fully true and accurate information and assessment of each human being, the only eternally non-sinning entity from infinity to infinity. But hey, that doesn't stop us from deciding to be enforcers fully caustic, militant, "take no prisoners" and "win at all costs" "in His name" when the fact is, as such we are building a kingdom and it's ours, not His.
We RECEIVE His grace, love, call to His kingdom which already exists on earth (to a degree) and in heaven in the literal sense. Meanwhile some professing believers love (quoting Mark Heard) "a holy war" and such language as "crusades" because in part I suggest some of us are by nature (as in flawed, human) fighters rather than peace-makers.
From most of my lifetime studying Jesus in the four Gospels (GOOD NEWS by the way) it seems He is regularly in-the-face of the religious leaders, those gatekeepers keeping their -own- gates and actually theirs more narrow than the one Jesus talked about. Enforcers.
I don't see but once (some scholars suggest twice at most) where Jesus knocks the tables over in the temple. His cord of whips isn't mentioned as actually touching humans or even animals. The issue was rich and dishonest businessmen in the religious establishment making demands on the poor among the Jews as to where they were forced to buy sacrificial
offerings from... you guessed it... -them-. The money and power game.
God, faith, genuine prayer, repentance and "a house of prayer for ALL people" wasn't their aim and focus though it was clearly His.
If you are both thorough and careful with the entire text of scripture and surely the New Testament Gospels, I believe you'd be hard pressed to come away thinking of Jesus as the Enforcer but instead as the deliverer, healer, Word made flesh speaking the Word of the Father, the loving, compassionate grace-giver, example and ultimate Savior to
"whosoever will, let them come take of the water of life freely", NOT a militant enforcer.
I often quote John 3.16 adding verse 17 which too few Christians either seem to know, quote or in affect share with sinners (as if we never are??):
16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Jesus DID preach "repent and believe the good news" and commanded His disciples to proclaim the very same. There IS a reaping what one sows. According to Jesus there is a coming judgment of and from God. The issue is how we best, rightly witness to His love, truth, grace and a new life which only the risen Savior can grant- to "whosoever will, let them come".
Jesus IS Lord and we must in reverence respond to Him as such, yet He is also Savior. It's a both/and relationship with each of us He desires. Verse 17 is clear, He Himself says "NOT to condemn... but that we might be SAVED through him."
God help us reflect on God's grace and bring with grace the kindness of God calling us to ALL to repent where we must in accord with His Word and kingdom -not ours!
As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn
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