Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Mark vs. Mercy

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand? 

 But with you there is forgiveness,    that you may be feared.  - Psalm 130:3-4

Let's talk about something that goes on in the Lutheran Internet community, shall we?  There are, shall we say, those who like to keep record and track stuff - who sort of play the angry vengeful Santa Claus -- making their list, checking it twice, going to catch the folks who are naughty and not nice.

And, of course, the semi-new schtick is to do so under false pretenses - whip up a face account or what have you (I don't mind long-term psuedonymns - not knocking you here, Carl V) to sneak on in and keep tabs on all the folks you don't like.


Really?

Really, really?

Okay - putting aside all the 8th Commandment in the LC don't condemn if you aren't called to condemn stuff... why?  Why would you sneak around and try to get dirt on folks -- or I should say, "For what Christian and Godly reason would you sneak around and get dirt on folks?"

I mean, if you want to call someone to repentance - call them to repentance.  You don't need to sneak around for that.  And that deals directly with the person, is for their benefit.


... of course, that might be the rub there.  Do you want to be a benefit for these people, or do you want them punished?  Do you want to see their fall?

Well, in that case, you have stopped thinking like God -- you are no longer having the mind of Christ among you.


Say it out loud - you desire their fall.

Who desires the "fall" - that a Satan thing or a Jesus thing?  Strengthen the weak and feeble knees, or get the dirt to sweep the leg.  Which is the Jesus thing?

Tell you what - God doesn't keep the record of sins... instead He shows mercy, and thus He is feared, worshiped, and praised.

If you want to keep a record so that you can be feared rather than God... you might want to do a bit of soul searching there and repent.


It's okay - repent... for God is merciful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness... because He really, really has no interest in keeping a record of sins.

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