Misusing Scripture – A look at love and judgment

I think it’s safe to say that most people are familiar with John 3:16, but if you’re not it reads: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It’s broadcast in many places, and one most Christians use quite frequently when trying to share the Gospel. It’s also the first verse my 6-year-old memorized in his new Wednesday night program at church.

So yeah, it’s used a lot. And for good reason. There is such an immense promise in this verse. God so loved the world. The world that He created, the world that turned against Him. He loved it. He loved it so much so that He send His Son to die to allow us eternal life.

It’s a powerful verse.

But it’s also misused.

What’s Love?

God loved the world. People really like to use that phrase, saved and unsaved alike. It’s used to justify following your own rules, doing your own thing, sinning. But it’s not a catch-all. It doesn’t exclude sin, but it allows a payment for it. It’s not a license to do as we please but a promise that we have love.

The Bible tells us that God is Love and that there is no greater expression of love than giving your life (1John 4:8, John 15:13). First Corinthians talks about love as being patient, kind, and forgiving. That it’s a gift. Not only that but that without love, nothing we do really amounts to anything.

The biggest thing that the Bible teaches is that love is more than an emotion. It’s action. It’s showing up, helping out, and giving. It’s something we are able to do only because God loved us first (1John 4:19). And He showed us love and set an example that we are to try to emulate. He is love, He showed us love, and He commanded us to love.

A Crazy Mixed Up World

It’s all this love that gets us into trouble. Well, worldly love that is. See, the world has decided that because God is love, and because God loves the world that He must be accepting of everything. The world sees a God so full of love, but they forget that He is also a God of judgment. But not just any judgment – a righteous one.

It’s the judgment part people have a problem with. How many times have you seen a meme that says, “Judge not,” but has the rest of the verses scribbled out? Why? Is it because the person truly wants to live in a judgment-free world? A world where everyone determines what is right in his or her own eyes? Because I can tell you I sure don’t. My husband and I don’t always agree on what is right or wrong, how is a world population of 7 billion going to do that?

Or, is it because they have taken the verse out of context? Stripped them away and twisted them to mean what they want them to mean. Because if I keep reading Matthew chapter 7 I see verses one and two saying, ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” It’s a warning, not a command to refrain from judging others. These verses remind us that if we judge, we will also be judged by that same measurement.

God’s Judgment

Romans 2 tells us of God’s judgment. It’s coming, whether we are ready or not. It says that we can be sure of this judgment in verse 2 and that God will judge men by Jesus in verse 16.

And that’s our saving grace right there – both literally and figuratively. See God did love the world, and He did send His son Jesus to die for us and take the place and punishment for our sins. But He also established rules. These rules have been broken since just about the beginning of time starting in the garden.

We are a rebellious kind of creation, people are. Always pushing the envelope, questioning the rules, trying to skirt the truth and manipulate it to fit our ideas of how things should be. It’s easy to call kids out on such things. To tell them to be honest, upright, and truthful… but we adults tend to have a harder time with such things.

We justify speeding by saying we were late, or it was only once. We try to and make excuses for lies by categorizing them into white, saving-face, or helpful. We rate criminals on a hierarchy of lawlessness and look for the extenuating circumstances that may in some small way justify the actions.

God doesn’t do that though. He doesn’t even leave room for keeping track of how many rules you break. James 2:10 clearly states that if you keep the whole law, yet offend in one point, you are guilty of breaking them all. All of them. Tell a white lie – guilty! Forget to pay for an item in the cart – guilty! Commit murder – guilty!

And we are all guilty. All of us have sinned and come short (Romans 3:23.)

So What Are We To Do?

Well first, read. And don’t just read for reading’s sake, but try to find joy in the scriptures. Read to know, to learn, and to grow.

Find salvation if you haven’t done so. Find the redeeming blood of Jesus.

Study as it says in second Timothy, and rightly divide the truth (2:15). Without hidden agendas, and without trying to back up our own beliefs. Just studying to learn and apply as best we can.

Grow. Grow in grace and knowledge as it says in 2 Peter 3:18.

This can be a challenging world to live in, a challenging time period. But it was foretold (2 Tim 3:1-7), so it should come as no true surprise. The world has twisted and bent both God and His words since time began to justify themselves. We live in a time of more prevalent and more outwrite denial, defiance, and dismissal of God and His word. A time where we all seem to just do what is right in our eyes.

It’s true that God is love. It’s true that God wants all to be saved (1 Tim 2:4), but He also wants us to have knowledge. A true understanding and use of His word, His rules, and His direction for life. God created perfection in the garden and men and sin ruined that. Men and sin are still going after the word of God and His churches. Don’t let the world twist, don’t let the world determine what is right in their own eyes. And don’t allow the world to silence the truth through an incorrect application and false understanding.