17“But your people say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair,’ even though it is their own way that isn’t fair. 18When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die on account of this. 19But if a wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of this. 20Yet you say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ I will judge each of you according to his ways, house of Israel.” Ezekiel 33: 17-20
I am grieved when the church does this. When we say to God, "your way isn't fair, it doesn't fit into today's society." Apparently, God is grieved as well.
I have come to believe that when God Himself shows up to establish something that something is probably pretty important to remember and follow. God made Eve, God presented her to Adam, God established the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman--alive and in-person. Nowhere in the body of scripture do we see God endorsing monogamous, loving relationships between same sex partners. We do see numerous scriptures condemning the act, and they must be "explained" in order to bless these unions. I believe when we bless these unions we are doing exactly what Ezekiel says above. We cannot tell God what is fair--He establishes that--he knows what is best and right. Either we submit to His ways, or we live in and with our own iniquity.
Now, what do you think?
There is something to be said about man's obsession with "fairness." You certainly don't see this among God's other creations so I'm left to believe that because we are made in the image of God, He himself must also be obsessed with fairness. And since He's the only one who knows the hearts and minds of all people in all time, I'm also left to assume that he's the one who would know whether or not anything is fair. That's what I think.
ReplyDeleteI've often told students that on the day of the great white throne judgment when God judges all men, whatever He decrees, it will be fair. God is the righteous judge--He is loving, kind and fair. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteIt's God's way or the highway! In the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus was saying that God intended to leave the "wheat" mixed up with the "tares" (weeds) until the "harvest" (judgement). This would have the appearance of unfairness. While the wheat and weeds grow together, there would be sin, pain, sorrow, disease and even death. But if there were harvesting before the right time, then some of the wheat would be damaged or killed. But if God waits until the wheat is ripe, then all of the wheat would be harvested and separated out from the weeds and no one will be lost. Does this make sense? God's fairness macroscopic and encompasses the entire history and future of humanity.
ReplyDeleteExcellent thought and one that ties in perfectly--thanks!
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