Jesus and Judgment

Unfortunately many talk about Jesus only as someone who championed the cause of the poor and downtrodden; sometimes labeling Him as the “social justice” Jesus. And though Jesus did show great respect and love for the outcast, poor and overlooked, as we all should, He didn’t lead a reform of the political or social system to change the way these people were treated…and don’t think for a second He couldn’t have done that if He wanted to.   AFTER Jesus was resurrected, His followers treated the poor and the outcast with love and kindness; distinguishing themselves from the rest of the world. However, they did this out of obedience to the resurrected Jesus, who had saved them from sin; not out of a desire to reform the system. In Matthew 25 Jesus teaches about judgment. He divides people into two groups, not the rich and poor or the privileged and the underserved. No, He divides them into those who served and knew Him and those who did not. And the words He uses for those who do not know Him and serve Him speak of eternal judgment and suffering. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ And then in verse 30: 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ And finally in verse 46: 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Jesus Himself said that He came into this world to save sinners, not to change the system. The system of this world is surely broken and as followers of Jesus we have a responsibility to show Jesus’ love to those who have been harmed by the system, but we have a greater responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, to warn people of the coming judgment and what will happen to them if they do not know Christ. That was Jesus’ FIRST priority and it seems pretty clear it should be ours as well.

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