This isn't Jugement, this is Love

As a Baptist (Southern Baptist to be exact) the subject of Judgement tends to bring tears of joy to my eyes. That's more of a joke, but sort of true. It has been and probably is being said even as we speak that Baptist's are all about Hell, Fire and Brimstone. "Turn or Burn." They say this to contrast with most denominations emphasis on Grace. Well, I have two thoughts on this subject. 

First of all, why on earth would we preach (as we are so specifically pointed out as doing) a TURN or burn philosophy if we didn't believe in grace? I mean, seriously. If all we talked about was Hell, then we wouldn't ask people to turn, we would just point them in the direction they are already going. Truth be told, and the Bible is my witness on this, the punishment for sin is death, and we are all sinners. 

In archery, when an archer misses the target, it's called a "sin." Simply put, we all miss the target, God's target. So the punishment of sin is death, not just physical, as we are all apointed once to die, but spiritually death, an eternity seperated from the Father and Jesus (and the Holy Spirit for that matter). BUT, the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE with Him in Heaven upon your profession of faith, and confession of belief in Jesus Christ as Savior. This is the TURN part. We do very VERY much emphasize grace! 

Secondly, I read an article today that asked if the judgment of the ungodly was good news, and that we shouldn't talk about that, but rather replace that negativity with grace. Really?

Yes, that's a GREAT IDEA! That's worked so well for this country so far, what with Teen Pregnancy and the ECONOMY! Let's just tell them all the good things that can happen, and never inform or remind them of the consequences for their actions. "No, go ahead and borrow 400,000 dollars even though you make 30,000; it will be fine!" "No condom? No problem! Go for it, if you get pregnant, there are plenty of shelters you can go to for help, or to rid yourself of the problem!" 

That is where we are as a country. We are so KNEE DEEP in what we think "grace" is that we don't even want to touch the judgment aspect because that's negative; especially from Christians because God is a Loving God. Correction; God IS LOVE. He is! This is a wonderful and blessed thing, but He is Also just. Meaning, sin does not, and cannot go unpunished. 

But where Sin increases, Grace increases, for those who know Christ. This is a wonderful and blessed gift of God. And I agree that we should not judge, but calling out sin is not judgement, it's quite frankly accountability. All the Apostles, and church leaders called out sin. Not because they were any less sinners in need of a Savior, but because that is what Jesus did. We are to love the sinner but hate the sin. 

Turning from sin, is turning from eternally burning in Hell, when you Turn to Christ. This is the message of the Bible, I didn't write it, but I'm commanded to go and make disciples, and part of disciple making is growing in the knowledge of the truth, and turning from the life of corruption and sin. It's not just about making a one time decision for Christ; that is but a starting point. 

It's about a life-long, ETERNAL relationship with Jesus Christ! So, when I, a Southern Baptist, say Turn or Burn, and you cry "JUDGEMENT" remember first that Christ died, so that you could live, that He Loved You, ALL OF YOU, He still does, and because of that Love, now in Me, I Love you all too, and want you to know Him as I do. 

This isn't Judgement, this is Love.

Brian