Do you believe that God is the just Judge or all humans?

[BruceLeiter]

I think that Christian preaching and teaching has swung like a pendulum too far to emphasize God's love and mercy too much compared to his perfect justice. What do you think about his justice and his love?

 

[Frankj]

Justice in the eyes of man is not the same as justice in the eyes of God.

I think that far too often we find ourselves trying to judge God by our standards without ever considering what standards he uses to judge us. This can be a very overt thing (Why did God allow this!) or it can be a very subtle thing that creeps into our attitudes without our realizing it has (as shown by those deciding to leave the Church for a secular life or converting to other religions because they seem more amenable to our ideas than Christianity does).

At least as I see it, others will see it differently.

 

[Lamb]

My pastors have always preached both Law and Gospel, which is very important. Knowing how God judges things according to His perfect and good Law is necessary for us as we live our lives in this world, because our neighbors will be affected by our actions.

 

[Can't think of a name]

Maybe it depends upon who you listen to/read/watch. I came out of a background involved in yoga meditation for a number of years so when I see Christians on TV or online that have a more charismatic emphasis I detect things that remind me of my previous life and I steer clear of that kind of stuff. Actually my real introduction to Christianity (though I was born into and raised Catholic) was through reading a book about the occult by Dave Hunt. I never before really knew much if anything about charismatic Christianity or different forms of it. So I think I got off to a pretty good start. I always only ever seemed to have followed Christians online who were more self-controlled and warned about occult things and even those of a more reformed bent. So I can say there has always been a balance of justice and love mixed in my experience of God and reading of books and watching people etc.

It does seem to me that people who tout love all the time are more near to liberal New Agers than Christians. I don't think I can deny my own experience when I was saved where I experienced the fear of God or his Awesomeness at being in His presence. One of the best descriptions I have come across about this experience is in a book called The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto. The transcendent otherness of God and His perfection are a stark contrast to human ideas and their pride. I understand that the Bible mentions the love of God that passes understanding but I didn't experience that particular attribute of God. I experienced the peace that passes understanding, which could be called a type of joy but it was a tangible feeling of tranquility which was very beautiful.

 

[MrE]

I think that Christian preaching and teaching has swung like a pendulum too far to emphasize God's love and mercy too much compared to his perfect justice. What do you think about his justice and his love?

In your opening-- Did you mean to ask if God is the just judge- "of" all humans, or are you suggesting that all humans are the judges instead of God, because you ask "Is God the just judge "or" all humans?

 

[BruceLeiter]

In your opening-- Did you mean to ask if God is the just judge- "of" all humans, or are you suggesting that all humans are the judges instead of God, because you ask "Is God the just judge "or" all humans?

Oh, no, @MrE, I made a mistake. I meant "of all humans." It's wet noodle time. I'm sorry, folks!

 

[MrE]

Oh, no, @MrE, I made a mistake. I meant "of all humans." It's wet noodle time. I'm sorry, folks!

Okay-- then maybe you are simply asking :

Is God a just judge?

The way you phrased it makes it difficult to understand what you were trying to get at. If one accepts that there is a God, and that there is only one God, over all-- including humans, AND that God is just..... then your question rather answers itself.

But from your opening post, it seems that you might think that His attributes of Love and Mercy are somehow at odds with His perfect Justice.

Do you?

 

[MrE]

God is the only judge. He is the One before whom we all will stand and give account.

This will be for both judgment and reward and there is one guiding principle that can either preserve us, or cause us to fear-- because He is just.

'The measure you use, is the measure that will be used in your judgment.'

It's ultimate reciprocity and no one can say it is not a fair principle. It's why scripture says it's better for us not to judge at all, least of all in questioning God's fairness concerning love, mercy, or righteous judgment. In doing so we choose to think of the Father in a way that one day, He will take into account when we stand before Him.

 

[BruceLeiter]

God is the only judge. He is the One before whom we all will stand and give account.

This will be for both judgment and reward and there is one guiding principle that can either preserve us, or cause us to fear-- because He is just.

'The measure you use, is the measure that will be used in your judgment.'

It's ultimate reciprocity and no one can say it is not a fair principle. It's why scripture says it's better for us not to judge at all, least of all in questioning God's fairness concerning love, mercy, or righteous judgment. In doing so we choose to think of the Father in a way that one day, He will take into account when we stand before Him.

@MrE, and God is equally full of grace and love, when he punished his own unique Son, Jesus, on the cross and transferred Jesus' not-guilty verdict to us who trust in Jesus' death and resurrection as our way to our Father the Judge's approval.

 

[MrE]

@MrE, and God is equally full of grace and love, when he punished his own unique Son, Jesus, on the cross and transferred Jesus' not-guilty verdict to us who trust in Jesus' death and resurrection as our way to our Father the Judge's approval.

I'm not sure I understand your post and point. Are you disagreeing with something I said?

 

[BruceLeiter]

No, @MrE, I'm just adding the other side of the divine picture about the balance between God's love and his justice. Both are true.