Condemnations

Two events in the last week have left me scratching my head and wondering just what we are to make of it all.

Last week the president of Iran made a statement to the effect that he wanted to see the nation of Israel wiped off of the map.  Different people have stepped forward to try to soften the comments while others stood behind the comments.

What I couldn't believe why the way in which the international community practically tripped over each other to be the first to condemn that statements.  Do we need official proclamations from heads of state to determine for ourselves that this is not the way civilized nations are to act?  Did anyone really say, well, I didn't have a problem with the comments but since Germany and France condemned them, there must be something wrong with what was said.

Likewise, a few days ago terrorists attacked in New Delhi, India.  Dozens of people were killed.  Statements were issued condemning the attacks.  Now everybody in the world knows that terrorism is bad thanks to these condemnations.

What do these strongly worded statements amount to?  Absolutely nothing from as near as I can tell.  "I've asked you nicely before, you leave me no choice but to ask you nicely again."  I'm not suggesting that we go to war because an idiot said something that he can't back up but let's get real.  Do we really think that the president of Iran's opinion has changed now that several nations have issued statements condemning his words?  If he were planning an attack would he suddenly stop and say, "Maybe I shouldn't attack.  Most of Europe will probably strongly condemn this if I do."

I'm not offering any solutions to this problem, only suggesting that strongly worded statements do not solve all of the world's problems.

We have the same problems in the church at times though.  Love and grace and great but there comes a time when we have to say enough is enough.  We're not going to tolerate any more nonsense!  This can apply on a broad of narrow aspect.

There are times when the church needs to take a strong stance on social issues and tell the world that we will not compromise what the Bible says just because popular opinion is against us.

At a personal level there are times when people who claim to be Christians have not been acting like Christians for so long that we need to stop treating them like Christians.  Matthew 18 outlines how the church should go about disciplining itself. 

God is loving but God is also righteous.  God isn't going to issue strongly worded condemnations on judgment day.  God is going to hold us accountable for our actions.  Certainly God loves us and it is because of His love that he sent Jesus into the world.  If we are unable to accept that and continue to do as we wish, we deserve whatever the punishment is that we receive.

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