Ask a Pastor Column

Q: How does God’s judgment balance with His love?

A: It can be difficult to understand how God can exercise perfect love while also carrying out seemingly harsh judgments. But we can reconcile love and judgment simply by recognizing the ‘overlap’ between them. In other words, I will seek to lay out different ways in which God’s love is exercised in judgment, and also to see that His judgment is itself an expression of His love.

First, Scripture teaches us that the love of God causes Him to limit the extent of his judgment. When we read the passages that set out God’s judgment, it is easy to forget our sins merit far greater punishment than God has chosen to mete out (Ezra 9:13; Isaiah 1:9; Lamentations 3:22; Amos 7:1-6). I do not think we ever have or ever will experience the full extent of God’s wrath or judgment. Even in God’s final and ultimate judgment His mercy will still shine through (Matthew 24:22).

We can also see God’s love in His offer of universal pardon to the world (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:3-4). Although He had every excuse to rain down His fury and judgment, God freely chose to provide salvation. The only ones who will feel any part of His wrath are those who spurn His offer of pardon. Truly God does not delight in punishing the wicked (Matthew 9:11-13), but delights in mercy (Micah 7:18).

Often, when God’s judgment feels unloving to us, it is because we do not understand the danger we are in. Just like a person crossing the street unaware of a speeding car may initially feel angry when they are knocked back onto the sidewalk, so we also can feel anger at God when his wake-up calls finally get our attention. We must come to understand that all of God’s motives in judgment are fundamentally loving. They include: attempting to get our attention so we avoid a more dangerous fate (John 5:14), teaching us to pursue good and healthy things and avoid things that are harmful (Deuteronomy 30:19-20), and a desire to help us understand his mercy (Romans 9:22-23).

The questions and answers compiled over the last year are now available in hard-copy and digital format. To request a copy send an email to askapastor [email protected] or by mail to Formoso Church; P.O. Box 66; Formoso, Kan. 66942