Question: How many sides (and the edge is not a side) does a coin have? Of course, two! Now if one side is blank, how many sides does the coin have? Trick question. Even if one side is blank, it still has two sides! I first heard this expression in a seminary class. Dr. Clifton Black, my professor of New Testament, described “righteousness” as a two-sided coin. On one side is “love,” while on the other is “judgment”.
As he said, love without judgment is hollow and empty. Judgment without love is harsh and condemning. I believe this is the heart of any relationship. A “righteous” person practices love but not so that it lacks any meaning. Conversely, to judge does not mean we make snap decisions on others. Rather, it means that through love – God’s love, we bring another who has strayed back into relationship.
This is true not only for individuals, but for the church as well. How do we treat the stranger? What about those who may not agree with us? Today’s world has become so polarized. If one doesn’t believe as do I, then love might be withdrawn in favor of judgmentalism and exclusion. Without love, we as a church can “demonize” others. Maybe we think we have the “truth” while others don’t. How harsh and excluding is such an attitude? Very.
You see, truth is relative, in my opinion. When standing before Pilate, Jesus said, “Everyone who belongs (my italics) to the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37). And Pilate responded with one of the most profound questions in the entirety of scripture: “What is truth?” (v. 38). No one person or group, be they a church, a government entity, or whatever, has a corner on truth. Truth comes only from God. And “truth” that lacks love is, as stated above, empty and meaningless.
Likewise, truth that does not have judgment becomes that which separates us. It divides so much so that it can create a great divide. There is too much of this today. I’m right and you’re wrong. I have the truth and you don’t. No wonder some unbelievers or de-churched (those who have been in the church but have left it for any number of reasons) look at the church as hypocritical! No wonder young people today are leaving the church in droves!
Practicing righteousness is a tough road. It means have to have that careful balance between love and judgment. We won’t succeed all the time, but have to try. We’ll fail occasionally, but like anything worth doing, it takes time. Righteousness does not mean anything goes. Far from it! It does mean that followers of Jesus Christ are called – and expected – to make a conscious effort to practice the delicate balance. When we do, others will see the face of Christ in us. What do they see now? That’s the question. See you on this amazing journey!
Grace and peace,
Mike
September 13, 2015