I watched in horror at scenes of the angry mobs toppling the statues of Presidents Washington and Jefferson. It was the latest expression of rage against racial inequality and intolerance. Both Presidents were slave owners and therefore now deemed a reviled representation of racial inequality in this country. The cries for justice reverberated throughout the nation and the world.
While I understood and empathized with the message of the protestors, I disagreed with their methods of expression by effacing and destroying statues and images of these founding fathers of our country. Is property destruction truly addressing the racial equality and justice they are seeking? What is next? Should we remove the images of these and other presidents on our currency? Should we rename states, cities, and counties? Why stop there? Should we destroy great works of art by Rembrandt and DaVinci because of their political or cultural views they once held? Is there anyone who has a spotless and unblemished record and is worthy to have something named after them? Is everyone disqualified?
…No one is righteous—not even one.
Romans 3:10 (NLT)
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Romans 3:23 (NLT)
All people must be held accountable for their past sinful behaviors. However, since everyone is a sinner, who is qualified to judge? Is someone more qualified to judge because their sins appear to be of a less egregious offense than others or one’s lifestyle in agreement with the one who judges? On this point, God’s Word is very clear. Everyone is disqualified. Only a completely righteous and morally perfect being can fulfill these qualifications and be an absolute standard. Only God is qualified to be the Judge.
The angry mobs may not agree or even dismiss God as the absolute standard of morality but many of these same voices are still crying out for justice. However is this what they are truly seeking? If God did mete out justice, none of us would be here. We are sinners and rightfully deserve our fate, eternal separation from God. We cry out for justice but what we are truly seeking is mercy. We are seeking a God who will give us mercy for sins and past transgressions even when we do not deserve it. How can this happen?
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
We are all disqualified.
Thanks be to God for His grace and mercy. He accepts and justifies us through faith and belief in His Son, Jesus Christ. Only through Him are we qualified to be accepted as children of God.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 