God is judge. This is an idea that has undergone a metamorphosis in my mind. Too often ‘God is judge’ means he is like those guys in red dispensing retributive justice in our British court system. This was Luther’s apprehension of God before he understood things better, but it is an apprehension that seems to creep easily back into Reformed thought on the ground – and possibly Catholic thought too. God is out to punish sins, so watch out. God is a judge, and a judge gives you what you deserve. Okay, he actually gave Jesus what you deserve, as the doctrine goes, but after that, you had better watch out, cos THEN he will give you what you deserve if you don’t behave. Legalism goes hand in hand with this. Of course, it’s not God’s fault at all but the use humans make of the idea.
This would seem to mitigate against the idea of God as punishing judge rather than saving judge, since Christians can be all to quick to judge others, including their salvific position before God – check any Christian debate forum – and I don’t think that that is what is meant. We need a word that covers action on behalf of those in trouble as well as conveying the thought of discernment. Not that God did not punish, but the glee with which people, including Christians, will cut another off for some transgression, is surely not an imitation of God’s actions. No wonder Jesus said forgive seventy times seven times…Something more is intended. Remember, The Eschatological Economy is about paideia, about God training up a dysfunctional houseful of delinquents and outcasts to be a mature family carrying on their father’s work. Is this also where a renewed Protestant thought touches base with Eastern Christianity and its doctrine of theosis, if one sees such a thing from a vocational angle, rather than just a ‘spiritual’ one?
In addition to writing the world’s longest and most charitable book review, Solly blogs perceptively about Israel and Atonement. Visit Solly Gratia.
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