The defiance in the statement ‘only God can judge me’ is to shut me up if I ever think it’s my place to point out what’s wrong with another person. That defiance says it matters not what my opinion is. The defiance says my voice is not valued if I dare be in any critical of a lifestyle choice or an undesired behaviour.
I can understand some aspects of why that defiance might arise. Some can be judgemental and condemn others, with an attitude that suggests there’s no hope for anyone who’s caught up in a cycle of bad decisions and negative behaviour. It is a great sadness that some of my brothers and sisters – sometimes even I – have behaved in ways that showed a haughty spirit. One that shut doors instead of opened them. One that set people on edge, rather than allowed them to be embraced.
No wonder the defiance arises. With a response like that it is understandable.
Yet – there is something in the defiance that is not just reacting to what is without. There is something in the defiance that says something about what’s inside. It says something very sad indeed about us. It says in reality that we will live however we please, and if we slip up, it’s just one of those things. It will bounce off. We didn’t really mean it. We meant well. The main thing is, I am still the captain of my own ship. I am still in charge around here, and nothing and no one is going to tell me what to do or talk about what I’ve done, when I do my thing.
In that defiance, if the truth be known, not even God can judge us, because we don’t submit to anyone much less some invisible force that’s meant to be everywhere and all powerful.
I agree that only God judges. I also live in the hope of someone helping me to live in a way that will prevent an undesirable judgement. That’s not about excusing my actions, that’s about submitting myself to a community of loving people who can loving tell me when I mess up, and encourage me to clean up.
For those who still hold onto their defiance, as with the hypocrites who think their haughty ways will get them anywhere, the full reward for their defiance will come. I only pray that they will gain a softer heart before God really does judge them.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 