Judgment and Mercy

I think it is interesting that Professor Dawkins, at the start of chapter two of his book The God Delusion, makes a distinction between the God of the Old Testament, and the “gentle Jesus” of the New. A lot of Christians try to do the same thing, as if God had a change in character or something. Have these people seriously read either Testament? God’s love and mercy is remarkably evident in the Old Testament, just as his wrath and judgment are clear in the New Testament. The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are one and the same. God didn’t “change.” That’s absurd. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

It is no surprise that many people (including many Christians) are disturbed by the passages that speak of God’s judgment and wrath. Dawkins seems to be one of them although he denies the existence of God in the first place. If we don’t deny the existence of God, we might (as some do) attempt to remove these texts from the Bible, making excuses as to why those particular passages are irrelevant for our day, or even perhaps non-canonical. A shameful attempt to construct a religion where there is no right or wrong way to eternal life–EVERYBODY goes to heaven. To be consistent, judgment and accountability go out the window.

What, then, do we do with our conscience? You can’t simply dispose of it. Don’t we have to explain why we (some apparently more than others) each have one? (And how come humans are the ONLY species with a conscience?) If we have a conscience then we are accountable. And if there is accountability then there is judgment.

And who is the more loving parent? The one who disciplines their child when they do wrong or the one who lets their child have their way every time?

I realize it is easy to presume that the judgment described in the Bible is too severe and not fitting for the offenses. (Why are we never happy with justice unless it is practiced in our favor?) Seems funny that we should put ourselves in the judgment seat–self-righteous and proud we are. If we’d only recognize our own depravity… We might see the riches of God’s mercy and grace.

God will show mercy on whom he shows mercy. Is that any different from what we require of ourselves? D. James Kennedy makes the point that if we have ever given to a beggar, then we have chosen to show mercy to a particular person in need. The benefactor gives of his own money to some in need, while not to others. None to whom he gives (or does not give) has any right to his gift. It is his money, he can give to whom he desires. Though the act of mercy is according to his own choosing, the benefactor is nonetheless esteemed a generous man. Nobody says, “HOW DARE that benefactor not give his money to EVERY beggar in need in the world!” Why do we insist that God should show mercy (not to some, according to his will and pleasure), but to ALL! Why do we think HE is obliged to US–any or all of us? If God’s mercy is somehow warranted by our right, IS IT STILL MERCY?

At any rate, whether or not we “like” the God of the Bible or understand his ways, our judgment does not make any difference on the fact of his existence.

I really don’t know where Dawkins is going with this entire chapter. His points are really disconnected and have little or nothing to do with his objective.

Even so, I have still ANOTHER thought brewing from this chapter…

And THEN I will focus on chapter three, finally.