Which is stronger for you? Which should be stronger? Grace or Justice?
Justice says we must punish sin. Wrongs must be corrected. One needs to face the consequences. Always.
Grace says we can love and forgive. Punishments may be withheld. Consequences may be met by somebody else.
It seems that we like justice when we have been victimised. We wish revenge on our oppresssors. We wish that they be punished for their misdeeds, and that everything would be right. We wish that everybody would behave kindly, and not take advantage of us. Those who do, should be brought to justice. Molesters, thieves, cheats and swindlers deserve justice and punishment.
However, there are times when we have wronged somebody and have then been found out. We may have spoken a lie. We may have broken a neighbour's window. We may have been caught speeding. We may have burnt our dinner. In these situations, we wish for forgiveness and grace instead of punishment.
But, if the world were to run on a system of perfect fairness and equality, then we don't deserve any more grace than the people who we think should be brought to justice. Don't you think so? Why should we be pardoned for the offences that we have caused when other people are not?
If everybody were excused from doing what is right, then would people behave worse? Would everybody be "a law to themselves" in a carefree, godless manner of wrongdoing? Or, if everybody were to be brought to justice then who may be spared? For all of us would have done something wrong or caused offences to other people at some stages.
The movie Les Miserables carry some concepts of this tension within it. So does the book of Romans. But what do you think? If God were to hold the world fairly and harmoniously, then how should he dish out justice and grace to everyone?
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
ReplyDeleteFor it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
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