In light of my last post about Christian beliefs, I thought this would be a nice follow-up. Of course, I have my own thoughts, Scriptures and deep beliefs, but this isn’t a place for me to throw out my stuff. I want to hear from you and learn. So here are a few questions:
Does God still judge sin?
Does He still judge personal sin?
Does He still judge corporate sin?
Does God judge the sins of a nation?
Are we held accountable? Are nations blessed, cursed? Is God active just in individual lives or governments? Are churches blessed/cursed?
Is all judgment finalized in the Cross? Is God active in nations or simply within individuals?
What does His activity look like in our postmodern-postChristian society?
What implication does the Old Testament have for a postmodern believer, if any?
What does a “Christian nation” look like? Are there ‘levels’ of godly nations, ungodly nations?
Are godly nations protected, favored and blessed while ungodly ones are cursed and judged?–what does this look like for individuals?
Are there ramifications for continual sin in the believer’s life? Family? Church? Nation?
Again, I would love to hear your thoughts..Pastors, don’t be afraid of a little theology….besides everything we do reflects theology.
Dr.McGinnis' Blog 
April 15, 2009 at 8:17 am
Personally, I have always had a hard time understanding God judging the sins of a nation – surely not EVERYONE in the nation (whether it’s the US, UK, or ancient Israel/Judah) is personally responsible/supportive of decisions made by the head of state?
I suppose it’s somewhat analogous to modern-day judgment of WWII Germans, or even Iraqis – judging entire nations for the actions of a few.
I can understand God judging the people who stood by and let things happen just as harshly as he does people who actively made the choice, but what about the people who are against what is happening, but don’t have the power to call people out?
I find it hard to believe that God wouldn’t judge entire nations, because heaven knows that every nation judges other nations – I just don’t understand why a God who can see more clearly into every heart in every human would. Surely he would understand the intricacies and the grey areas?
I also have trouble buying into the idea of certain nations being blessed or cursed – every single nation that has ever had widespread Christianity followed by any period of prosperity has claimed (and believed) that THEY are God’s chosen people, when only the nation of Israel/Judah has actually had that privilege, and I don’t think that they do continue to be the chosen nation, since God has torn the curtain and no longer requires circumcision and other outward restrictions along the Jewish lines in order to truly know him.
So I basically don’t think that entire nations are judged or blessed based on the actions of a few, or even a majority. It doesn’t make sense with the idea of God that I’ve been taught, or the idea of God that I see in the New Testament.
There are definitely ramifications for continual sin in a believer – even if God forgives, there are still earthly consequences. But I’m not sure that a true believer can live in continual sin; I mean, everyone sins, but true believers can’t stand that part of themselves, and work to eliminate it. If a person claims to believe but doesn’t actually DO ANYTHING about that belief, then did he ever really believe in the first place?
Or there’s the possibility of loss of salvation. Either way, I don’t think a person can still truly believe and live in sin – either it was never real, or God let them fall away, and so the same ramifications must still stand.
In my humble, uneducated opinion, anyway.
April 15, 2009 at 8:23 am
You’re being rhetorical, right? Of course God still judges sin. Sin is bad for individuals, families and nations. America seems to be moving away from God. Yet, there are pockets of righteousness and revival.
April 15, 2009 at 8:32 am
I would like to respond to “Does God still judge sin?”….and I will apologize in advance if my comments seem simplistic. I consider myself a devoted Christian, but I am not as eloquent as some when it comes to discussions….
I believe that God does judge sin. I can speak from experience. Divorce is a sin. Everything I have read in the Bible on this subject shows that God has a high level of contempt for divorce. I was in an abusive marriage and ended it after 13 years by divorce. I remarried. Everything I have read in the Bible about remarriage, unless I have misinterpreted, shows that to be a sin as well- it is considered adultry. Ever since my divorce and remarriage, life has been a constant struggle for us financially. Many people who know us, know how we have struggled. There have been many instances of not having food on the table or money to pay the bills for the bare necessities of life- electricity for our home, phone bill, things of that nature. Instead of things getting better, for a long time, they just kept getting worse. We both lost our jobs. Coming together- two teachers, we thought financially, we would be able to support our family, our children, that money would no longer be an issue in the household as it was in our previous marriages. Instead it became THE issue. And it didn’t make sense. The only thing that makes sense is that it was God’s judgement for the sins that were commited.
I am happy to say things are a lot better now. Through it all, we prayed and praised God for the blessings that we did have because even though at times, things looked very bleak and we were scared, we knew God was with us and He would somehow provide.
I don’t know if this was the kind of comment you were looking for, but it is what came to mind when I read your post.
Have a blessed day!
April 15, 2009 at 10:55 am
I believe God is storing up His wrath, anger and judgment for the nations and individuals who have defied Him through the ages. At the 2nd coming His judgment and wrath will be released upon all flesh who have ever existed.
We do experience blessing and cursing even now, based on the choice we make between righteousness and disobedience as nations and individuals as well.
I agree if a Christian is living in sin and refuses to turn away from sin, then they are not truly Christians! For He has called us to live in righteousness and walk as He walked.
I am forever grateful that His mercies are new every morning, that He looks at the heart, and knows the hidden things, that He knows we are but dust and He pities us. His love never fails!
We must as individuals and as a nation abide in Christ if we want to escape the wrath to come! Pray for America!
April 15, 2009 at 3:27 pm
How do you answer these questions? I don’t know. It almost seems too easy to generalize an answer because one individual who reads these comments could easily allow condemnation or shame to come into their understanding of a response. So, I am going to take a different approach. Saved or unsaved. Believer or unbeliever. We all understand we reap what we sow, what goes around comes around. Sometimes, it might take a while; however, in the end justice will be done. Criminals eventually get caught.
God is a just God. The Bilbe says in Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” This principle is in motion in every decision and every action whether of an individual or government both to righteousness or unrighteousness(good and bad). I believe we each sin even though we are called to know no sin, we do. We need to repent quickly, change our bahavior, and conitnue to grow in our knowledge and understanding of our Lord. My prayer is that I grow daily, seek him continually, and in the end I will reap good things if I faint not.
April 30, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I agree Carey!