(For) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18, NIV.This is the verse that I chose for my confirmation. Back then, the 7th graders would begin a two year course that met on Wednesday nights during the school year. The key study was Luther's Small Catechism. At the end of 8th grade (or beginning of 9th) those students would demonstrate their knowledge of Lutheran practices (in our case, by passing a test with 80% accuracy) and be presented before the church on Confirmation Sunday. Each student would select a verse that they found meaningful and recite it before the congregation. Romans 8:18 has stuck with me ever since.
Aside from being uplifting, it serves as a confirmation of faith. You can't derive any meaning from this verse without actually believing in what's behind it. If you don't believe in "the glory that will be revealed in us" then the verse is quite meaningless. Additionally, it is a reminder of sin. It brings to mind the "present sufferings," which, when paired with times we might otherwise consider ourselves not suffering, leads only to the conclusion that living in a world of sin is enough to account for a degree of suffering. It's a good thing to remember. Otherwise we risk forgetting about our place in this world.
But some might say that, like religion, this verse is merely wishful thinking. That it sounds good, but is hopelessly false. I have no reprise for these people. Some will go so far as to call me weak for using "crutches" such as religion or verses from a "false text."
Now I'm getting a little more upset. Something inside me can't abide being judged as a person for things that I believe, not things that I've done. Why only a little upset? Well, because the claims are not entirely unfounded. Of course, if you believe what I do, you believe that everyone is weak. That everyone needs "crutches" like Christ. But even aside from that, I am weak. I don't see this as a moment of humility. I see this as a moment of truthfulness. I am weak. I've never contemplated suicide, but if you could disprove God and any sort of afterlife, solid reason starts to lead that way.
I spoke briefly of judgment - of being judged on my beliefs rather than my actions. But I don't mean to imply that we should judge others on their actions. Here we encounter my second favorite verse:
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy - but you, who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:12, NIV.And this verse leads me to one other thing I cannot bear. I'm sure you've heard it in one form or another.
"Such and such people are going to Hell."
How dare anyone make this claim?
I had a friend once come to me with a personal matter. Last. I mean to say that I was one of the last people to hear it from their mouth directly. I believe that they were afraid to come to me because they knew I was a stoutly religious person. What's that got to do with anything?
Because we have a reputation for being judgmental. And because of that, my friend will always be hesitant to embrace any sort of religion. How can we shut people out like that? How can we maintain a clear conscience?
You know what else we have a reputation for? Hypocrisy. And you know what else? Our faith is based on it. We teach a message of salvation, one that is not attainable by any human means (unless you believe in works-righteousness), and expect people to live up to it? Perhaps not entirely. But where do you draw the line?
It's an error in delivery. People don't like to hear when they're doing something wrong. Worse, they don't like to hear that what they're doing will land them a one way ticket to Hell. Telling them isn't the error though - it's the lack of follow through. It's the lack of James 4:12. We say all are damned, but treat some as if they are damned more than others. Okay, so we've been saved through Christ's sacrifice. Then again...
The wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23, NIV.So what are we really saying? That we have a limited amount of tries to change our ways? Honestly? I understand excommunication - if someone is causing trouble they cannot stay. But that's not what I'm concerned about. I'm talking about the people that we excommunicate daily by our very nature, our very self-denial. The people that we excommunicate as they read about us on the news. As they hear about us from their friends. As they hear that we've condemned them to Hell, a power that we don't even possess.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23, NIV.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV.
We say that one must only accept Christ as their Savior. How can we say "Unless you mend your ways, you will certainly die" if our ways have nothing to do with it? One might say that satisfactory actions are a result of true faith. Well then, shouldn't all churchgoing people be perfect? No? Then we must not have true faith either.
And that's not contradictory. Nowhere in the bible does it say that we can come to God through any means we possess. Here again then we have to draw a line. "You must have 63% faith to enter this church" like a roller coaster admittance regulation at the door. Come on.
We need to let the world know that if we are hypocritical, we are so because it is inevitable. That if we are judgmental, then it is by a fault of our own. That if we say "no," there is always one above us with the true power to decide. So really it's his will you ought to worry about thwarting.
I don't know. The next time someone says "Such and such people are going to Hell," I might just punch them in the face.
And then I'll probably pray and apologize about it.
