No Condemnation

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....)