Too often I hear folks say that God is punishing someone. Of course this idea that God punishes is borne out of the many centuries of a primitive perception that God is the final prosecutor, judge and executor for all wrongs committed by man. But is this a trait of God's nature or more a trait of mans'????? And if this idea has been taught for millenia doesn't that make it true and unchallengeable? And are we at fault to continue to voice the nature and actions of God without question as to how they may be?
Let's look at man and his nature. Is man easily harmed? Most of us would immediately admit that we are. A harsh word, a physical blow, even an intimidating glance can cause the hurt and harm that we suffer in a moment and can often linger for a lifetime. Not always coming from outside ourselves does it not, at times, come as a result of our own actions. We can be hurt by the realization that we have done wrong and the shame and guilt can be unbearable. More often than not that is the hurt and horror felt by soldiers who return from their war experience and in extreme anxiety and shame attempt to function in a world of civility and goals that seem to have no relevance to what they lived through.........what they still feel; and how can they explain or share what they experienced with the majority of people around them who have no idea what a war experience is. Be kidnapped and taken to another planet and return........how could you share that experience with those around you. That is what it's like for a soldier who's been to war. And to share among themselves, initially appears to only draw up the ugliness that you're trying to forget........or escape from, usually by the abuse of drugs or the opposite coping strategy of working off your penance. So punishment is self-inflicted when we commit a recognized wrong we take responsibility for.
What about the wrong others do to us. Theft of our possessions; harming folks we care about or linked to by birth, association/religious bond; slander; deception/fraud; and finally being physically or emotionally assaulted...........these encompass the hurts and injustices that prompt us to seek compensation and punishment ........what is really revenge, but what we prefer to call 'just compensation', since we let the justice system determine the punishment and leave the practice of self-determined vengeance to the more primitive societies of the past. Nonetheless we seek/expect punishment toward those we determine to have committed a wrong.Not only is punishment expected for those wrongdoers now, in this world, but also for those who escape our detection and vengeance and enter the next world.....we call Hell. A place we are taught - God created for the eternally bad. And if God didn't create it we'll do our best to manifest it here. And only the true Christians among us have influenced societies to be more humane about our form and length of punishment. Hence it is definitely in the nature of man not only to feel and experience hurt and injustices purported by others and brought by self but it is also within the midst of hurt, anger and shame to seek punishment, what we prefer to call justice.
What about the Lord? Is it in the Lord's nature to seek justice on behalf of man? Or to seek justice with man? The two fundamental underpinnings of justice are punishment (initiating hurt or loss to the perpetrator) and compensation, which has taken on a fervor in our society at a level never before seen for the slightest of infractions and maximal return. What need does the Lord have for punishing one man for the injustice perpetrated on another. Is it not in the Lord's nature to forgive the wrongdoer. To recognize his anger, fear and self-involved ways. Did he not create man with such a nature. What purpose would it serve the Lord or his creation to step into man's ways and correct his error. Would man learn to correct his own error if it was handled by the Lord. How the Lord reacts is consistent with the 'loving way'. As to the perpetrator, he offers forgiveness, instruction in the loving way, guidance, protection, fearlessness and friendship as long as the perpetrator recognizes his error, takes responsibility for it and asks forgiveness. (NOTE.........the Lord's love is, contrary to popular phrasing CONDITIONAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Let me digress for a moment.......the Lord's love is not a feeling it's action........the act of protecting, the act of comforting, the act of guiding, the act of teaching, the act of presence. When the Lord does not act on your behalf, does not love you; he does so because you are not on the same path as he. You're not following the loving way and he's not participating in your way. He hasn't forgotten you. He hasn't abandoned you. He hasn't stopped caring for you and your welfare. But he's definitely not helping you do your thing). To the 'victim' he reacts accordingly. If the victim had already been on the path of the loving way the event he suffers offers the opportunity for him to learn more/mature in the loving way......bringing all possible good out of even a horrific experience. Bringing the victim closer to the Lord in a growing friendship then prior to the event. And the victim is better for the experience, no doubt! On the other hand, if the alleged victim was not on the loving way he's offered the same as the perpetrator. Should he recognize his responsibility in the event, asks forgiveness and turns to the Lord he's offered the same as is always offered to the perpetrator and the loving way victim. This is the real certainty and unchangeable nature of the Lord.
Punishment and the exercise of justice is mans' needs and ways.........not the loving way of the Lord.
And it's within the needs and ways of man to create Hell for those whose evil goes undetected or escaped punishment by man.And for those who weren't punished enough while here. Hell is the concoction of the unforgiving man. It's not the creation of a forgiving Lord. There is no doubt that an non-loving way man is on his own and will suffer his nature if he so chooses, whether he's a perpetrator or a non-loving way victim.
I
No comments:
Post a Comment