Therefore,
there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because
through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of
sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
No condemnation. That sounds so
good. Considering the amount of time I spend condemning myself, it would be
nice for there to be no condemnation. Most people would agree, most of the
time. There are limits. What about the serial pedophile who has destroyed the
lives of countless children? Or the trafficker who pimps kids out to serial
pedophiles? Or the parents to sell their children into such slavery? Or the
megalomaniac who ordered the deaths of millions of people whose only crime was
living where they did, or believing in God? Or the abortionists who slaughters
a million a year in the United States even now? How about the person who
starves a child or a dog to death? Is there no condemnation for them? We all
want our sins to be passed over, but we leave those monsters to the angel of
death. People say that we shouldn't judge others just because their sins are
different from ours, but there's always that group of people that they feel
justified in condemning. It is especially ironic when those who condemn the
Spanish Inquisition of the Middle Ages then applaud the Secular Inquisition of
today.
The answer to those questions about
those horrible people is, yes, potentially there is no condemnation for the pedophiles, the pimps, the parents, the
socialist and fascist dictators of the last century or the abortionists or
terrorists, or child or dog abusers of this one. There is potentially no
condemnation for the Spanish Inquisitors or the Secular Inquisitors. It all
depends on thing. It depends on their coming to be "in Christ Jesus."
I think most of us understand that at some level, but I have heard people who
claim to be Christians condemn Chuck Colson because of Watergate and then quote
Paul or David. All three were involved in conspiracies. Two of them were
involved in covering up a crime. Chuck Colson's crime didn't involve people
dying. All three lead powerful ministries after their crimes. Again, it's easy
to say "no condemnation" until you find someone you feel justified in
condemning.
I have read a number of stories of
people who were in prison camps and concentration camps during World War II.
They are terrible stories of unbelievable deprivation and abuse. Two
particularly come to mind here. Darlene Deibler Rose was in a Japanese prison
camp. The commander was a harsh man who hated Americans, as so many were and
did. People suffered and died while under his jurisdiction (including her
husband and their mentor.) After the war, Mrs. Rose learned that this angry,
barbarous man was running a bicycle shop and leading others to Christ. One of
the guards who was so brutal to Corrie TenBoom and her sister accepted Christ,
and informed her years later. By God's power she was able to shake hands with
that man. This is the only way that we can not condemn those who seem so
deserving of condemnation: by God's power. It is also the only way that they
and we can escape the condemnation they deserve.
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In the sky: New Moon and Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in alignment
Birthday:
Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days....)
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