Not A Thing To Wear!

The spirited conversation started almost immediately after we got out of bed. While I don’t remember all the questions Lourene and I fired at each other, I do remember a few.

What is God’s judgment going to be like?

What are the limits of grace?

Does grace cover deliberate sins?

Does grace cover doctrinal misunderstandings?

Who can possibly be saved?

What is easier for God to forgive, a moral lapse or a doctrinal error?

 

The conversation eventually transitioned from posing of questions to exploring hypothetical situations.

 

So, if Marvin has impeccable morals, but has erroneous view of the second-coming, can he be forgiven and saved?

Roland knows the scriptures better than anyone I know, his doctrine seems so pure, but he has had several extra-marital adulterous affairs, will he be saved?

While Sally is not the greatest Bible scholar, but since she has the heart of a servant and has been faithful to her husband through the most difficult of times, will she be forgiven?

It was not yet 6:30 AM but already I was getting a headache. Too many situations. Too many variables. Too many unknowns. What if this? What if that?

About the time I reached for some aspirin, Lourene stood in front of the closet and announced with a sense of frustration, “I cannot decide what to wear today!” Immediately I responded with uncontrollable laughter, which Lourene interpreted as a less than sympathetic reaction to her wardrobe dilemma. “Don’t make fun of me!”

When I finally stopped laughing, I first assured my wife that my laughter was not directed at her clothing choice, but instead was the result of thinking about our discussion in light of her dilemma. How in the world can a couple of people who can’t even decide what to wear presume to judge the sins of mankind?

When will we learn to stop judging and entrust ourselves and the world to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23)?

— Bob Clark

11/15/04