Paula Deen, Judgment and the Judgment of God

Recently, celebrity chef Paula Deen got into some trouble, (“some” may not be the most appropriate word), when she admitted using the “n-word” some 30 years ago.[i] There are also allegations that some of her co-workers or restaurants encouraged inappropriate and derogatory language and behavior. Court cases are still pending for the same. In the meantime, supporters have fled from Paula Deen, her company, and her restaurants. Media members have excoriated Deen as well. Blasted across TV shows, the internet, and newspapers are articles either supporting or pronouncing judgment on Deen.[ii]

My purpose here is not to defend or accuse Paula Deen, but to illustrate a point about the legal examination we all will have to undergo at one time or another. Each one of us will have to give an account to God for every action, every casual word, and even every thought? Deen is in trouble for admitting she said something 30 years ago, but when the Almighty comes to judge the living and the dead he is going to review a lifetime’s use of our minds, hearts, and tongues. In addition, he is not going to focus on the large details of our lives, i.e. ‘were generally you a good person, husband, father, worker, etc.?’ but the specific minutiae of every year, month, day, and minute of each individual life. In our day the wrong deeds or words of a person can be plastered on every TV show, Facebook account, email, and news story for days on end. The pressure and judgment a person receives socially, legally, or civilly can be immense. Can you imagine what it will be like to stand before the throne of God and have to give an account for every thought, every action, and every word spoken from the day you were born until the day you died?

As politicians are fond of saying, “Let me be clear”, I am not trying to come across as a religious zealot, like so many people seen on street corners or preachers on TV who scream about the coming wrath of God. We are all familiar with these types of people, who are known for sweating, screaming, and carrying around scary signs that show people in torment and flame. You’re in luck because for one thing I can’t scream on a blog. Secondly, I don’t sweat while typing at a computer. Thirdly, and more importantly, I am not trying to frighten or terrorize anyone, but I do want to have a frank and honest conversation about the truth of who God is, what is told to us in the Bible, and how current events pale in comparison to the coming judgment.

For starters, let’s look at what a few verses have to say about the judgment of God:[iii]

- “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil,” Ecclesiastes 12:14

- “but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead,” 1 Peter 4:5.

- “because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead,” Acts 17:31

- “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God,” Romans 14:12.

- “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done,” Matthew 16:27.

- “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,” Matthew 12:36.

Those last two, by the way, were said by Jesus.

We could go into a lengthy discussion about this topic and each of these verses, but let me just highlight some pervasive thoughts in these verses:

1   Judgment is coming. I know it’s not popular or “nice” to talk about judgment. Sorry. As much as I try to be considerate and loving in communicating the truth, there is no skirting the Bible on the pending judgment for all. It is what it is. Like in the old western High Noon, 12 o’clock is coming; you’d better be ready for it. Jesus is coming back, and when he does he will judge all. No one can escape it. There will be no rock to hide under and no shelter in the day of trouble. Again, I’m not trying to scare you, but you’d better be aware. These passages repeatedly use the phrase, “the day”, “that day”, and “the day of judgment”. The indication is clear. There is “A Day” above all other days, where men and women will be judged.

2)      Everyone will have answer for every deed, every secret thought and every careless word. There is no action, word, or thought which will not be considered before the throne of God. God deals in specifics, not generalities.

3)      There is no disagreement in attitude or plan between God and Christ regarding the pending judgment. Some believe in a dichotomy between God, as seen in the Old Testament, and Jesus in the Gospels. They look at Jesus as some kindly forgiving one who will overlook every evil deed, whether one has repented, sought forgiveness, or trusted him for salvation, while God is a mean vindictive deity. No, the Son and the Father are of one mind. There is no confusion between the Godhead. Jesus and God will sit in judgment on all mankind and there will be no dispute and no wringing of hands between them about the guilt or punishment to be handed out.

Maybe you’re reading this and thinking I’m a jerk. Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “Wow, he got here from Paula Deen?” Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “Man I’m screwed”. Let me respond to each in order:

1.       No, I’m not a jerk. I’m simply trying to make you aware of the truths of the Bible. If you doubt me, read it for yourself. I’m trying to point out truth. Sometimes truth is painful, (just like my son learns that a pot is hot when on the stove.  It’s not the stove’s fault for being hot). I do hope I have communicated truth as kindly possible.

2.       Yes, I got here from Paula Deen. I am that talented as an author and Christian commentator on today’s events. It’s a gift. It’s the reason why this blog is the 52,000,000,000^th most popular blog in the world.

3.       You are screwed. I’m screwed. Your postman is screwed, (if you were wondering). If you honestly think about what the Bible has to say, you have to admit we’re all in serious trouble. Who can stand before the pending judgment of God? I mean sure, we’ve all had some good days here and there, but if God is going to judge the secret thoughts and even careless words of my mouth and his standard is total purity then we are ALL in trouble.

Here’s the good news, which the Bible calls “the gospel”. God, knowing the pending judgment of evil, sent his Son to be a sacrificial lamb for the sins of men. Jesus came to earth, lived a life of perfect purity and obedience to God, and then was nailed to a cross and “judged” as a guilty man. He did this so people could escape the wrath of God, so God could look at men and see the perfection of Jesus Christ, and not the imperfection of their thoughts, actions, and words. All a person must do to receive this gift is to simply turn from their evil and trust that Jesus has paid it all for them. Then they can say like the old hymn,

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Amazing Love, how can it be, that thou, My God, should die for me.

- Charles Wesley

We are in a world where men do, say, and think evil, harsh, and horrible things about one another and even themselves. God, in his righteousness, has set a day when he will judge evil, even the hidden things in men. Yet God has already brought about judgment on Jesus Christ, his Son, so that evil men, like you and me, may escape “that day”.

---

[i] Full disclosure: I don’t know anything about Paula Deen other than she is big on butter, making good food, and has had several shows and cooking-type books. Other than that, you got me. Cooking isn’t really my thing. I’m more of a sports guy. I’m not going to get into the discussion of what is an appropriate judgment and consequences for her actions. Several have already done that quite extensively and I’m not one to recreate the wheel.^[i] My purpose today is to highlight what I saw as an interesting correlation between the treatment of Deen and the Bible.

[ii] No, I don’t approve of the use of the “n-word” or discrimination.

[iii] I acknowledge this is a DEEP subject and one about which many writers and theologians have written whole volumes about. That being said, my purpose was simply to stir the pot, so to speak, and get folks thinking. This blog is in no way an attempt to give a systematic account of the judgment of God. For anyone who is really interested in the subject I would recommend sitting down with a Bible, a good concordance, possibly a Systematic Theology volume, a pen and paper and studying it on your own.

An Observation from today's Defense of Marriage Act Ruling

Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne,--

Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,

Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.

- James Russell Lowell, “This Present Crisis”. 

Eat and Drink and Glorify God.

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tommy Neslon, a pastor at Denton Bible Church, has a great series on the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is a book of the Old Testament, written by Solomon, one of Israel’s greatest kings. He was renowned for his great wisdom, even though he didn’t often make wise decisions. Nelson talks about how Ecclesiastes discusses the vanity of all what modern day philosophies call “life”, i.e. money, power, possessions, sex, and pleasure. The book talks about how life is hard and how a man will not necessarily escape the difficulties of life, but should instead fear God and enjoy the gifts God provides, (food, family, and work when possible). With that in mind, I here recognize the goodness of God in my life by thanking him for the following:

- I am thankful for the smiles of my children and the privilege of seeing them enjoy life and experience small but wonderful things like ice cream, a swimming pool, the beach, and chicken nuggets. I thank God for their laughter, their enjoyment of their evening bath, the love of going outside to play, and their delight in playing with friends.

- I thank God for how my son loves to mow the grass with me. I love seeing my son’s mannishness, how he loves being messy, loves trucks, planes, loud things, and destruction. I thank God for the glory of the sexes, how boys and girls are uniquely and gloriously different. I thank God for the emotional turbulence of my daughter, how in it I see a unique tenderness and femininity that makes her at once infuriating and delightful.

- I thank God for ocean breezes, for good food, for a quiet house after the children have gone to bed, (finally).

- I thank God for a good cup of hot tea in the morning, a quiet ride to work when I can pray.

- I thank God for a good movie that makes me laugh, draws me in, has great acting and a wonderful storyline.

- I thank God and see the glory of heaven in good music. I love the diversity and depth in the various instruments God has created. I appreciate the skill and mastery of those instruments in worship music and in the classical works of Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart. I love how music can be strong and tremendous, like Beethoven’s 5^th and tender and mournful, like Beethoven’s Pathetique or Brahms’s Requiem.

- I thank God for a soft couch, a porch swing on a cool day, and any other form of comfortable seating.

- Thank you God for good friends, even those who have moved away. Thank you for those who understand my unique and often weird personality and humor.

- Thank you for my wife who loves me tenderly and shows me grace, forgiveness, wisdom, and patience on a daily, (minute by minute), basis. Thank you for giving me such a wonderful friend, a close to perfect mother, and incredible spouse.

- Thank you for sports, for beautiful basketball games, powerful football games, and the skill seen in so many other venues like golf, baseball, and yea even soccer.

- Thank you for a comfy and worn in hat. Thank you God for worn in jeans that fit perfectly.

- Thank you for good books. The Lord of the Rings, the Gates of Fire, and Jack Reacher novels come to mind.

- Thank you that my parents and parents-in law are still alive and I can watch them delight in my children. Thank you I can still partake of their wisdom and life experiences. Thank you for the big boat they will give me in their wills, (I’m joking).

- Thank you for Jesus, “who ever lives and pleads for me”.

Life is hard. The world is broken because of sin. People get sick and die. Relationships fall apart. Work is difficult and infuriating. Bills pile up. Yet in it all God is still glorious and has given us much to enjoy. Thank you Lord.

P.S. Nelson’s excellent sermons can be found at dentonbible.org.

The Bible quotes were copied from Biblegateway.com. 

I couldn't resist the following picture: 

The Grounds for Trusting God: Part 1, God is not Stupid

For me, the foundation I have for trusting God is the assumption that God is not stupid. That’s right, my confidence and obedience is based on God’s lack of stupidity, and (I’m sure if you’re reading this you've never heard THAT before). On the contrary, I believe God is wise and good. When He speaks in the Bible about what is good, right, and true, I believe he knows what he is talking about and therefore his commands can be trusted.

A lot of people read or hear what the Bible has to say about life, marriage, sexuality, goodness, truthfulness, and holiness and feel that God is just a big jerk with a lot of rules who is trying to ruin everyone’s party. Therefore when they read the Bible or hear what it says they reject it because they think God is infringing on their rights or their enjoyment.

I can understand the hesitancy to trust someone who gives instructions about life and behavior. All of us have at one time or another dealt with poor authority figures in our lives, whether that was an unkind parent, an overbearing employer, an incompetent teacher, an arrogant policeman, or a lying politician. I would dare say that most of us could probably count on one hand the number of leaders we have known who were kind, trustworthy, and wise. Good leadership is a rarer than a perfect diamond. So why should we trust the God of the Bible as he seeks to be the leader and authority figure supreme of our lives? How is he not any different than any other faulty leader we have ever known? Is he trustworthy? Is he a tyrant? Does he know what he’s doing? Does he really care about me?

These and more are all valid questions. How can we follow a leader who isn’t trustworthy? How can we follow someone who doesn’t have our best interests in heart? How can someone be followed if he doesn’t know what he’s doing?

So we must know that God is both wise and loving if I am to trust and obey him. So is he? Is God wise and is God loving?

First let’s look at the wisdom of God. I believe God is wise and all knowing. Therefore, when he gives a command or speaks about life, he speaks as someone who knows what he is talking about. Therefore we can trust what he has to say. So how do we know God is wise? I would first argue from a creation standpoint. God created all life. He created humans in his image. As an almighty, eternal creator, he knows what is best for the creatures he brought into existence. In some small way I helped create my children, (let’s just leave it at that). I am their parent. I have the benefit of having lived longer than they have, having experienced more than they have, and I have the intimate knowledge of having watched them grow and experiencing their personalities, faults, and strengths. Therefore in many ways I know what it is best for them. I know eating too much sugar will upset my oldest child’s stomach in a bad way. I can discern the cries of my middle child when she goes to bed to tell whether or not the cry is serious or just an attempt to stay up later. I know my son has a temper that needs to be reined in or he will be a holy terror later in life. Having “created” and raised my children, I have intimate knowledge of them and knowledge to know what is best for them. In the same way God, the creator and “parent” of all life on earth, knows people intimately and knows what is best for those he created.

Secondly, let’s look at what the Scriptures have to say about the wisdom of God. Daniel says about God, “wisdom and power are his,” (Daniel 2:20-21). Paul, looking over the sovereign plan of God over history says,

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen,” (Romans 11:33-36).

God is the all wise one. There is no one who informs the Lord. There is no one who can tell God something he doesn’t already know. There is no one to advise God. How does this play out in our lives? There is no philosophy, thinking, idea, perspective, or religion who will have a better perspective and council on how to live life, how to be happy, how to have a good marriage, how to be a good parent, ad infinitum. No guide, teacher, preacher, or wise man will ever outwit God or add anything to his incredible councils. There is no one wiser than God.

God, the designer, knows how his creations will best function and life happily and healthily. God, as a creator and Father, knows people and what is best for their lives. God, as all knowing and all wise, has no fault or flaws in his thinking. To be crass, but blunt, God is not stupid. He is all wise, all knowing, and his decisions and commands about life, morality, marriage, sexuality, honesty, money, and life can be trusted.

There is, however, a problem with the truth I've laid out here. If God, who is all wise, is not trusted and followed, we show ourselves to be stupid and rebellious. We are rejecting the one who made us and rejecting the one who is all wise. It is one thing to rebel against a leader who is untrustworthy and proven to be an idiot. It is quite another to reject a leader who is trustworthy, wise, and who has a proven capacity to lead and direct another. A rejection of a leader with such credentials shows himself to be stupid and a rebel and will justifiably receive no leniency.

Heavy truths to ponder. So what do you do? Will you trust the only wise God? Or will you trust your own councils, thinking, or “wisdom” of others?

Coming soon, part II, God can be trusted because he is loving. 

Letters to My Daughters #2, Your Mother

You should both know you have an amazing mother. Now you may be asking, "What does my mother have to do with the man I'm going to marry?" Good question. The answer is that the kind of lady you are will greatly affect the kind of man you will marry. Worthless men typically don't get wonderful, classy women. Nasty women don't typically get honorable and attractive men, (though sadly, there are a few exceptions).

Therefore the conclusion and call for you both is to grow into women of integrity, character, grace, gentleness, hard work and purity. Like attracts like. If you are a woman of inner beauty you will attract a man of the same kind of inner beauty who is characterized by integrity, purity, honesty, and faithfulness. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight," (1 Peter 3:4-5).

I sit here looking at a picture of your mother and I together a long time ago. I'm reminded of how beautiful she is, not only in appearance, (she has the most amazing smile), but also in heart and character. She is kind, considerate, respectful, faithful, and forgiving. Your mother loves and honors her parents. She is a tremendous mother to her children, sacrificing her own needs, wants, and health to a fault. She is smart, quick-witted, and incredibly capable of doing whatever she sets her mind to do. Your mother has a great sense of humor and isn't afraid to laugh at herself. She is a good and faithful friend. She is a hard worker. She honors and cares for her foolish and sinful husband. She overcomes obstacles in her path. Your mother is stubborn, but ultimately willing to listen and learn from others and even from her own mistakes. She is not greedy, doesn't have to have the latest stuff to be happy and knows how to enjoy what is the simplest and best in life: good friends, family, and a good meal. She is easy to get along with, is warm and compassionate and is wise and understanding.

I have not mentioned much of her physical attributes, yet clearly I think she is a total babe. The verse I chose for your mother for our wedding was Song of Solomon 7:6, "How beautiful and pleasant you are, O my love, with all your delights!" She is beautiful indeed, but the inner beauty of her character makes her shine all the more. If you want to find a good man, then grow into a beautiful woman, both inside and out.

Love,
Your Daddy

Letter to my Daughters, #1

Dear Lillian and Annie, 

I have been thinking for a while now about writing some letters to you. The letters I had in mind would be about love, relationships, life, and the man you may one day choose to be your husband. The reason I wanted to write instead of talk to you directly is because (1) it's easier for me to write out my thoughts and (2) by the time you're old enough to read and understand these, (i.e. teenagers), you may not want to listen to what I have to say. Therefore letters seem to be the best way to communicate with you. 

I have thought a lot about you two lately and the men you would one day love and marry. I don't know why, really. Lillian, you're only six and Annie, you're only 3. There's obviously a long time to go, (hopefully), before you start falling in love with and dating boys. (Let it be noted I will have all of my scare tactics ready by the time you're 13). Then again I figured I needed to respond to these thoughts in my head and feelings in my heart and write to you now. 

Choosing the man you will love and marry is not the most important decision you'll ever make. Whether or not you will trust and love Jesus Christ as your Savior is the biggest. I would also rate higher the type of lady you will become and the character choices you make along the way. We live in an increasingly corrupted and deceitful world and your character and integrity will be challenged at every step of your life. Maybe the Lord will impress upon my heart to write about these subjects too. But for now my attention is on another matter, which is not as important as the others, but still will have an incredible impact on your lives. 

There is no one who will have a greater impact, (positive or negative, depending on your choice), on your lives than your spouse. There is no person who has the capacity to love or hurt you deeply more than your spouse. There is no one who will know you more intimately, (physically, emotionally, and spiritually), than your husband. He can be the greatest friend of your life or your greatest enemy. He will be, Lord willing, the father of your children, your caretaker in old age, your shoulder to cry on in hard times, the provider for you and your family, and the lover of your soul. If you make a poor choice for a mate it will be devastating to your lives. If you make a wise choice it will be one of the greatest blessings you will ever experience. The person you marry will either bless you or emotionally rend you asunder. Have I made the situation clear enough? I hope so because marriage is more than flowers, a fancy wedding, and a honeymoon, it is two people being united spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally for the rest of their lives. Marriage is a profound mystery and will have profound results on you both. 

Therefore I am writing to you girls to share what little, (if any), insight I have about life, love, marriage, and men, (all men are deviant perverts...done), in the hopes you will gain some wisdom as you look for a mate. I can't guarantee my advice is infallible, but I trust what I say is at least worth considering and will aid you in your choice of a mate. 

Love,
Your Daddy

I Like Angry Psalms...

"Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground. 
Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!" - Psalm 44:23-26

I think if it weren't for the Psalms I would have given up prayer a long time ago and my faith would be either fragile or non existent. In the psalms I find men, even great men of God, who cry, accuse, and rebuke God. I find men who are very angry with God and how they perceive He has treated them. I see the hearts of men broken and battered over the things they have faced or experienced as well as the sins they have committed. I read the cries of men who are depressed, despairing, and hopeless. I see men who have failed, who are confused, and who are lost. They don't know where God is or what He is doing. 

If I was reading the prayers of some person with no sense, no wisdom, no moral compass, and no relationship with God I would discount these writings and prayers as foolish, stupid, irreverent, and dangerous. If I was around such a person when they were praying I would look for a rock to hide behind in anticipation of God striking that person with lightning for their stupidity. Yet the writers of the Psalms are not these kinds of men. The writers of the psalms are God-fearing, holy, moral and wise men. David, the King of Israel, was the standard by which all other kings were judged and the writer of the majority of the psalms. He was called a man after God's own heart. Yet even David, a man of great faith, humility, and love towards God, was willing to be angry with, chastise, yell at, and express his disappointment with God to God. He did not hide his emotions. He did not hide his anger or despair. He was free before God to share, to cry, and to scream out his brokenness to God and even how upset he was with the Almighty. 

Such behavior feels awkward and unholy to us. Our perception of the Lord is of incredible holiness. We think of a God who can not be approached, who must be appeased, and who will burn up with fire anyone who dares disrespect or dishonor him. Our perception for the most part is grounded in reality because in the Bible we read stories of how God obliterated men and women who sinned against him, who disobeyed his commands, or who approached him improperly. God is holy and man cannot stand in his presence without being dismayed and destroyed by the knowledge of their own unrighteousness, (see also Isaiah, Isaiah 6, see also Moses in a way in Exodus 34, see also Peter after Jesus helped him catch a lot of fish, Luke 5:8). 

So what do we do with the Psalms? They seem so out of place. In the psalms God allows mere men to accuse him, to be angry with him, to rail against how he has acted, and to treat him with such seeming disrespect. In the verse I quoted above, the author tells God to wake up and stop sleeping! The author surely knew God doesn't sleep, nor does he need rest. He also knew God was fully aware of his situation because he knew God is all-knowing. Yet he feels like God has been acting as if He is distant, ignorant, and lazy. He feels God has been sleeping on the troubles of the author's life. How do we make sense of this apparent contradiction between the holiness of God and his willingness to be railed at by mere men? Incredibly the Lord was not so disrespected and angry with the irreverence of the psalmists that he didn't squash them like a grape as soon as the words left their mouths, (or their pens). How does that make sense?

In my humble opinion the Psalms show us a Holy and Mighty God who understands the weakness of men. God knows men are like grass, who are here today and gone tomorrow, (Psalm 103). He understands and pities men who live in a fallen and broken world. I think of Job who vented and complained to God for about 40 chapters before God finally stepped in and straightened things out. The lesson: God allows and welcomes our anger, frustration, and disappointment. The goal is we would ultimately trust him, love him, and wait on him, but in the meantime we are welcome to pour out our souls before the Lord, being confident he will receive us. For what it is worth, allowing the Lord to bear the burden of our brokenness and anger is better than turning to alcohol, drugs, porn, infidelity, violence, or anything else.

I will close in the same way the psalmist ended Psalm 44, without resolution, but instead with pain, hurt, and doubt, but knowing at least that those feelings and those struggles are okay in the presence of Almighty God, (see also Jesus, Matthew 27:45-46). Maybe knowing men in times past were able to emotionally vomit their broken hearts, anger, and doubt lets me know I can freely come to the Almighty with my pain. Maybe knowing things were not always clean, hopeful, and easy is an encouragement that I'm not alone and not the only one who hurts deeply sometimes. Maybe knowing the Lord was able to take men, like David, out of the depths of despair and depression of Psalm 42 and eventually lead them to a psalm of praise like Psalm 145 gives me hope that the Lord may one day do the same in my life.

So what if there's no hopeful happy closing. If you are looking for that, go to a concert or a Fourth of July celebration. As for me, I'd rather live in reality. 

God bless.
T