Chapter 11 - The Judging Christ

Chapter 11: The Judging Christ

Introduction to Judgment

  • John 3:17 (Young's Literal Translation): "For God did not send his son to the world that he may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through him."

  • Doctrine and Covenants 58:42: "I, the Lord, remember your sins no more."

The Emotion of Shame

  • First Human Emotion:

    • The earliest depicted human emotion in scripture is shame.

    • Example of Adam and Eve: Adam and Eve hide from God's presence after realizing their nakedness.

Understanding Shame

  • Shame's Context:

    • Primarily felt in front of those we love, as opposed to feeling embarrassed in front of strangers.

    • The pain of being unmasked as a fraud is more pronounced in intimate relationships such as with a spouse or child.

  • Feelings of Unworthiness:

    • We often experience shame undeservedly; feeling inadequate before loved ones.

    • The disappointment felt within valued relationships generates a compounded sense of shame.

  • Children's Experience with Shame:

    • Shame arises from a fear of losing love and regard from those we cherish most.

The Interplay Between Shame, Forgiveness, and Redemption

  • The Nature of Forgiveness:

    • Even when forgiven, one may struggle to accept they are worthy of love again.

    • Example: A sibling acknowledges an old hurt, relieving the burden of shame and transforming the relationship.

  • God and Christ's Omniscience:

    • God's promise to forgive and forget sins is crucial in transcending shame:

    • "He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more."

    • This aspect of redemption allows individuals to cut ties to their past mistakes, enabling healing.

    • Isaiah's imagery: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

  • Healing through Christ:

    • Redemption is characterized not by continued punishment but by healing and transformation.

Re-envisioning Judgment

  • Judgment as Fear-Inducing:

    • Common interpretations of judgment are scary, centered around retributive justice, and sometimes seen as punitive.

    • Mozart's Requiem: Reflects societal fears surrounding judgment and punishment.

  • Christ's Mission:

    • Jesus stated, "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." Judgement should not imply condemnation.

  • Condemnation vs. Compassion:

    • The act of judgment should not reflect a desire to punish but rather to uplift and heal as showcased in Christ's compassion toward those in sin.

  • Accusation vs. Love:

    • Satan is known as the accuser, contrasting the role of Christ, who embodies love without condemnation.

Forgiveness and Its Impact on Salvation

  • Forgiving Others:

    • The act of forgiving is crucial for both the forgiver's and the forgiven's salvation and healing.

  • Core Latter-day Saint Beliefs:

    • Emphasizes personal choice and the creation of one's heavenly experience through relationships and temple ordinances.

    • Healing and sociality are foundational to the Latter-day Saint conception of heaven.

A New Perspective on Judgment

  • Meaning of the Greek Term "Krino":

    • Originally means to separate or distinguish, highlighting God's role in ordering the universe compassionately.

  • Journey Toward Self-Knowledge:

    • Judgment reveals self-knowledge, fostering personal growth rather than simply assessing worth.

    • C.S. Lewis: Self-revelation is essential for sincere prayer and understanding oneself.

  • The Path to Self-Knowledge:

    • Self-acceptance often involves struggle, depicted as a journey through temptation, repentance, and recognition.

The Role of Compassion in Judgment

  • Judgment as Awakening:

    • The true function of divine judgment is to promote self-awareness and growth as one's true self is revealed under divine love.

    • Joseph Smith and followers emphasized the importance of forgiving others to prevent personal condemnation.

Insights from Historical Figures

  • Immanuel Swedenborg:

    • Points out that individuals have both exteriors (public persona) and interiors (true self) that require alignment for spiritual progress.

    • Judgment is a process of aligning these selves.

  • Paul's Writing:

    • He teaches that judgment is corrective and not condemnatory; it steers one away from paths of destruction.

The Nature of Healing

  • Healing as a Process:

    • Healing may not be instant but gradual, illustrated in scriptural accounts like the blind man at Bethsaida.

  • Misunderstanding Healing:

    • Healing is misconceived as complete at once; however, it often unfolds through a process of realization and acceptance.

    • Marylinne Robinson's View:

    • Judgment from God should be seen as aesthetic, aiming for human flourishing rather than simply pointing out failures.

Conclusion: The Abundance of Divine Love

  • God's Unconditional Love:

    • Regardless of one's perceived worthiness, God's love is everlasting and unconditional, manifesting in every circumstance.

  • Recognizing Our Need for Healing:

    • The acknowledgment of our vulnerabilities leads us closer to divine compassion and empowers growth into sons and daughters of God.