Be careful what you pray for!

Be careful what you pray for!

A word of caution when we decide the ultimate condition of another person.  After all, too many of us can become like the Pharisee who exalted himself compared to the tax collector while praying in the temple.  That has always been a downfall when placing ourselves above another person whom we are certain of their final judgment by God.   (Lk 18: 9 ff).   

Jesus told us to “enter through the narrow gate:  for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.  How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.  And those who find it are few.”  (Mt 7: 13 - 14).

The very condition we find ourselves existing in this world of hate, envy, and the destruction of freedoms has placed our personal judgments in a precarious manner towards other human beings.  Yes, we can agree that monsters in human disguises have lived in this 21st century, and almost too many to account for in the past 20rh century.  Naming them would fill pages quickly and the destruction of human life through extermination in varied ways is nauseating to God-fearing persons.  Their evil manner of erasing goodness and anyone who proclaims to follow that premise has changed the once adherence to forgiveness from the rest of us to our enemies.  However, Jesus told the Pharisees and scribes; “You have heard that it was said , You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?  Do not the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that?  Do not the pagans do the same?  So, be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  (Mt 5: 43 - 48).

Certainly, to those of us who seek the correct aspirations that  the Constitution of the United States spell out are disappointed to say the least how our own government has become blind to these articles.  This is just one way that leaders can disrupt freedoms in any nation that puts its citizens in a precarious manner to be trampled down to their selfish and immoral existence.  

So , do we, who are upstanding and free from the failures that would place us at the top of the class of saintly appearing persons, have the authority to pass judgment on those who do not compare with us?  It seems that was the very pronouncement of the Pharisee as he looked with contempt on the tax collector, one of a very despised group because of their corrupt manner of embezzlement from citizens for themselves.  Can we allow ourselves the priority to do the same in passing judgment on others who may be deserving of our discretion to punish, and yet become blind to the obstruction that we carry without being able to see it?

When Jesus went to the cross, he did not have a tablet in his mind of just who he would free from their sins.  Here is where all of us must dissect the very depth of what sin is all about.  Sin is simply the rejection of God, no matter how much or how little we are guilty of.  God is ever holy which means only those who are pure will be welcomed into heaven with God.  

Because of the need for completely purified souls to be free of any impediments the need for purging any residue of unrepented sin must be accomplished.  That is why theologically Purgatory is a necessity.  Why protestants and other non-denominational sects refuse to adhere to purgatory is beyond my conception of everyone entering heaven without scrutiny is beyond anyones’ belief.  Their pronouncement of just believing in Christ is enough to get them into paradise becomes a question of the need to be completely pure.  Like the old adage of for those who believe no proof is needed; for those who do not believe no proof would suffice.  

Whether it was the Reformation started by Martin Luther or some other entity that began the separation of Christian denominations, the ultimate result has been disastrous for the Church. Christ started this church through his apostles and even though strides to improve the manner of expediting our faith is positive, the means of changing doctrines to satisfy some has been going the wrong way.  Cardinal John Wright said it took over 400 years to break the church into pieces and it will take as many years to heal the brokenness we live with.  We can take that message to the bank as relatively true.  

Ralph B. Hathaway