What about Justice?
Is this understanding of the Bible, saying that you can get away with anything including murder or worse?
Isn’t our sense of justice from God and so the same as His?
The bible shows that God doesn’t deliver justice as we innately would.
There are plenty of verses to get this understanding, but here are just two:
Jesus on the cross. Jesus said whilst being crucified “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”. He had every right to have taken offence and seek retribution, but chose not to. Note He’s effectively talking to Himself out loud, He and the Father are one. But what about people who know full well what they’re doing is wrong?
The Father, in the parable of the Prodigal Son. The Father, terribly wronged by the prodigal son, knowing that the punishment due him was stoning to death and that any villager or his brother, on seeing him would exact this punishment, rushed out to greet him and prevent this. He also didn’t require retribution or restitution; his acceptance and reinstatement were immediate. The brother who stayed was wronged as well; the estate he was to inherit was depleted by the selling off of a share before the prodigal son left. Where was his justice? The Father can write off the wrong to Him, but what about others hurt by their actions? We can deduct from this that God/Jesus/Spirit, doesn’t get justice by punishment of offenders, and with regard to people hurt by other people, He “makes them whole”, “makes them good”, in-the-end, not by punishing the other person for them, which is better for them than simply seeing the offender punished.
That’s not to say that societies judicial systems should follow suit entirely.
We rely on punishments as deterrents for crime and the safety of potential future victims, by keeping demonstrably dangerous people away from others. This is right to do.
Restorative justice may be possible in some cases, and augment or be preferable over normal punishment (fines, incarceration of capital punishment), but how can the death of a loved one be restored in a court? It can’t. Not in this life.
That’s where our justice differs to God’s. His justice transcends lifetimes.
Loved ones will be restored, they’re not gone forever. Pain and hurt can be removed, either in this life or the next, we decide which, partly by choosing to forgive and partly by accepting God’s healing through a spirit-oriented life.
But here’s the crunch, if you’re banking on God punishing bad humans, He won’t be doing so, He’s going to fix the situation, motives and memories that caused them; wipe away every tear. And all the while you’re banking on God punishing bad humans, you’re missing out on healing, peace & joy in this life, and less likely to be bringing Heaven to earth during your lifetime (your main purpose in life), less likely to show love, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control.
And what makes us bad anyway? Hurt or decieved people, hurt others are selfish and self protect. Maybe that sounds like an excuse and maybe God knows more about this than we do.
But aren’t they getting away with it?
Yes and no. Depends how you define what they get.
Arguably, criminals got satisfaction from their crimes, which we begrudge them having had, because of the hurt it caused others.
It’s easy for us (and them) to think that their seemingly gratified lives, especially at the expense of others, was good for them and unfair.
Unfair, sure, but that is dealt with by God without punishments, not necessarily in this life, through restoration.
But was it even a good life for them? Not as good as is available through a spirit-led life. In such a life, money, sex and power can truly be enjoyed, when channelled and used correctly.
There’s greater satisfaction from life possible, seeking first the satisfaction of others, by being spirit-led, loving and so filled with joy, peace and healing.
Thinking they had a good life, provided by ill-gotten money, sex and power, is to admit that you believe those are what bring you peace and joy, not God’s spirit flowing through you.