Judging

A county official was caught doing drugs in a public place.  He’s confessed and been arrested.  

His mug shot preceded the news headline.  He looked pretty gnarly in the photo.  And sad.  I felt sorry for him. 

This is a man whose profession required achievement of a set goal, determination, an enormous measure of study to earn an advanced degree, then specialized training.  Given his apparent age, I presume he performed the tasks of his profession for a long time, perhaps making abundant provision for a wife and children.  Now he is publicly disgraced, and his career is likely ended.

I noticed there was a comment beneath the news item: a single word, the definition of which is “a low, worthless, or evil person.”
 
This public official is no more low, worthless, or evil than I, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”  (James 2:10) 

How do we determine what is right and what is wrong?  Why are there laws?  Who had the audacity to make them, and on what authority?  In the most widely accepted world paradigm, survival of the fittest is law, in reality and practice lawlessness.  Yet there are laws, judges, juries, fines, punishments, prisons, and most strident and unbridled of all, public opinion.  A whale of a lot of judging and meting out of punishments.

I have stood guilty before the Judge of the whole of creation, from Whom came everyone’s understanding: there is that which is right, and there is that which is wrong.  We’re not animals, and the standard is not survival of the fittest, and the Judge has revealed Himself to every person, so that all are without excuse.  The public official has been, and shall be, judged.  So have been, and shall be, I.  All according to law, the schoolmaster which is to teach us all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  (Romans 1:18, 19)

Setting the standards of right and wrong I don’t believe is within my purview.  God has done that, and I believe what He’s said.  All of it.  I agree with God on this part, but that part, nuh-uh.  I don’t like that part.  Self aggrandizement or silliness.  It’s not quite as silly as believing -- whether one recognizes or admits to this glaring fly in the ointment -- there arose from an explosion a particle that metamorphosed into an ability to judge right from wrong according to any standard, be it Self's, Community's, Collective's, Herd's, or God's.

What I think is irrelevant, and I am no person's judge.  What God says matters, and He's offered forgiveness and full pardon to all who will come: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  (Romans 6:23)
 

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 6:9-11

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  1 John 1:7-8

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  Revelation 3:20