Unclear on the Question

When bad things happen, it is very common to assume that it occurs as a judgment from God. Very common. When fires scorch California or hurricanes cause devastation, you'll often hear some well-meaning-but-likely-misguided individual jumping to the conclusion, "It's God's judgment on America." It may be, or it may not, but it's common. I remember when Katrina hit in the first decade of the 21st century there were loud voices saying, "It's God's judgment for our embracing of homosexual sin" or the like. "Do you know how much gambling goes on along the Gulf Coast?" That kind of thing.

I am quick to suggest that these people ... well ... think again. Not all "bad things" are judgment from God. I say this because ... well ... Jesus did ... on more than one occasion. When the disciples came across the man blind from birth, they assumed "blind from birth" = "bad things" and "bad things" = "judgment from God", so they asked the obvious question. "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" (John 9:2) Jesus answered ... wait for it ... "Neither." (John 9:3) According to Jesus in this instance the man was born blind "so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

Another time some reported to Him about some Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices (Luke 13:1). It's interesting. It says they reported, but Jesus appears to detect a question behind the report, because He answered them. They clearly supposed, just as the disciples had, that "bad things" = "judgment from God", and Jesus knew it. So He corrected them.

And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:2-5)

These people clearly assumed that people that suffered "bad things" were worse sinners than those who didn't because "bad things" was a judgment from God. Jesus told them, in essence, "You're asking the wrong question. Not 'Aren't these sinners worse than me?', but 'Why have they experienced this but I haven't?'"

Paul wrote, "When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding." (2 Cor 10:12) The problem is the standard. We start with "I'm not too bad" and conclude "If something bad happens to them, they must be worse than I am." Jesus said that every single one of us has earned what the "worst of us" gets. The question is not "How bad are they?" The question is, "Why am I not also being judged?"

We're pretty clear on what "they" are doing wrong. We're pretty muddled about the magnitude of our own wretchedness. If we were clearer on that point, the result is a given. He who is forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47). Are you waning, at times, in your passion for Christ? It might be because you've lost sight of the magnitude of His grace and mercy toward you. Remind yourself of that, and you might find yourself loving Him anew (Rev 2:4-5).

For 2018, then, here's a resolution we might try.

Resolved: Remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first.

Feel free to quote me on that if you wish.