How does the Lord judge evildoers? He does not do it like an earthly judge, who passes the verdict without mercy against criminals. He judges like the father in the story of the prodigal son. He loves His children and tells them what is needed for them to prosper in life. At the same time, He does not force them to do His will, even though it is perfect. He gives them the dignity of personhood to choose what they will.
He does not punish them in the way that earthly judges do just so that they will fear His law. He exhorts them with tears but leaves the final decision to them. If they are bent on leaving, He lets them leave. And they are finally judged by their own actions. They suffer the consequences of their own wrongdoing. It is not God that judges them; it is finally that they become their own judges. Such is the way of the Lord. And such are the ways of His children, who refrain from being judges of one another. (emphasis added)
The best way to refute this kind of nonsense is to let Scripture do so.
They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
- Romans 2:15-16
But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? ( I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
- Romans 3:5-6
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
- 2 Timothy 4:1
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
- 2 Timothy 4:8
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
- Hebrews 13:4
Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door
- James 5:9
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
- 1 Peter 1:17
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
- Revelations 20: 11-15
Easy search on BibleGateway.com. Makes you wonder if any editor actually reads what gets posted on the website. Such is the danger in modern Christianity that attempts to bring God down to the level of a mere creature. Let God be true, and every man a liar.
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