We live in an era in which...
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We live in an era in which America is becoming increasingly divided by class differences and judgmentalism of those different from us. (See Charles Murray, Coming Apart.) Examine the class orientation of the congregation being addressed and ask members how well they know members of social classes not their own (if college-educated if they have friends with levels no higher than high school or vice versa in working class parishes). This erosion of a common culture makes us less tolerant and less forgiving. A 2007 poll of the American Psychological Association (not reflecting anxieties caused by the Great Recession) indicated that 1 in 2 Americans experience irritability and anger, and 58% of us say that this anger has caused conflict with those close to us. Doubtless the pressures brought on by the recession have raised these numbers. Such inability to relate civilly to one another, despite differences rears its ugly head in the church in other ways. In a study conducted almost twenty years ago (1996) John C. LaRue noted that 34% of pastors serve congregations who either fired the previous pastor or forced his/her resignation. Almost 1 in 4 pastors had endured this treatment. Little has changed in the last decade.
The problem is that we do too much judging, when judging is God's business, and he doesn't judge by our standards. If we did things God's way, all the problems of intolerance would go away. Martin Luther's primary ally Philipp Melanchthon nicely summarizes God's way (of judging):
In courts of human judgment a right or debt is certain, while mercy is uncertain. The judgment of God is another thing altogether. Here mercy has God's clear and certain promise and his command.
(The Book of Concord [1959 ed.], p. 160)
A merciful God makes his people less judgmental. Twentieth-century Christian martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer compellingly describes how this happens, especially profound comments from a man whose enemies (Hitler's political machine) took his life:
With respect to our attitude toward our enemies, this means first, remember that you were God's enemy and that, without having earned it or being worthy of it, you were met with mercy. It means second, remember that God hung on the Cross for your enemy too, and love him as he loves you.
(A Testament to Freedom, p. 301)
Victorian-era English poet William Blake offers a fine summary: "Where mercy, love, and pity dwell, there God is dwelling too."
The problem is that we do too much judging, when judging is God's business, and he doesn't judge by our standards. If we did things God's way, all the problems of intolerance would go away. Martin Luther's primary ally Philipp Melanchthon nicely summarizes God's way (of judging):
In courts of human judgment a right or debt is certain, while mercy is uncertain. The judgment of God is another thing altogether. Here mercy has God's clear and certain promise and his command.
(The Book of Concord [1959 ed.], p. 160)
A merciful God makes his people less judgmental. Twentieth-century Christian martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer compellingly describes how this happens, especially profound comments from a man whose enemies (Hitler's political machine) took his life:
With respect to our attitude toward our enemies, this means first, remember that you were God's enemy and that, without having earned it or being worthy of it, you were met with mercy. It means second, remember that God hung on the Cross for your enemy too, and love him as he loves you.
(A Testament to Freedom, p. 301)
Victorian-era English poet William Blake offers a fine summary: "Where mercy, love, and pity dwell, there God is dwelling too."
