I have been asking the question: whatever is going on lately in some Charismatic circles – the increase of financial scandals, sex scandals, divorces, even Senate investigations of ministries? Could it be God’s judgment? Is there more coming down the road that will make the angels blush? Are people who get found out to continue on as if nothing happened?
Judgment often begins at the house of God (1 Pet.4:17). It is my view that is precisely what is going on these days. It is because character is more important than gifting. At the Judgment Seat of Christ I will not be judged by how well I preached or how many books I wrote but on the basis of my character. And yet God sometimes steps in here below in advance of the Final Judgment. But what kind of judgment?
But there are no fewer than five kinds of divine judgment.
Retributive judgment. This is God getting even and showing no mercy at all. It happened to Cain (Gen.4:13). It happened to Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.19:28). Eternal punishment is the ultimate display of retributive judgment (Rev.14:11).
Gracious judgment. This is partly retributive but full of mercy. Whereas retributive judgment is the wrath of God unveiled ‘without mixture’ (Rev.14:`10 – KJV), gracious judgment comes in mercy. ‘Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline’, said Jesus (Rev.3:19). Therefore where there is gracious judgment, painful though it is, there is also hope. That is the wonderful thing about pain; it lets you know something is wrong. The purpose of gracious judgment is to give hope but it is also designed to lead to unfeigned repentance. Gracious judgment is given to warn us. It was at the bottom of Jonah getting found out, being thrown overboard and then swallowed up by the fish. It led to his repentance (Jonah 1-2).
Redemptive judgment. This too is a mixture; it is partly retribution but is paralleled by a promise. When the children of Israel murmured God sent poisonous snakes which bit the people. But God ordered Moses to make a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. ‘Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived’ (Numb.21:8-9).
Natural judgment. This is a variation of retributive judgment , the emphasis being on the consequence of sin. ‘A man reaps what he sows’ (Gal.6:7). There is a natural law at work.
Silent judgment. This is when God appears to do nothing. This is perhaps the scariest judgment of all. It can be argued when God is the ‘angriest’ he does nothing. This is what we see in Romans 1; God merely ‘gave them over’ to sinful desires and lusts (Rom.1:24,26). It is when God doesn’t send pain; he doesn’t indicate his anger; he doesn’t even send a warning. ‘Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!’ (Hos.4:17).
We can be thankful that it is not silent judgment at work in recent months. God has instead rolled up his sleeves and has shown his displeasure. But it is gracious judgment that lies behind the ever-increasing number of embarrassing exposures. God has stepped in. He has not been silent. The public exposures are his judgment – but gracious judgment. Make no mistake; he is angry. But there is hope. As pain is a blessing because it shows something is wrong in the body, so God has been finding people out. He is letting people see who has gone wrong.
Jonah was found out. God got finally got his attention in the belly of the fish. Jonah repented and was used mightily as a result (Jonah 3-4.) ‘The Lord disciplines those he loves’ (Heb.12:6). It means enforced learning.
‘For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God’ (1 Pet.4:17). But it is a good time. God isn’t being silent. He is at work. But if we sweep the dirt under the carpet, and don’t call a spade a spade, it will result in silent judgment one day – which means it is too late. It is not too late – at least not now.