No Respecter of Persons

I remember years ago in San Diego we had a mayor who ran on conservative principles he abandoned in tears while fronting the media, and he stated his position on marriage had changed because of the persuasions of a dear family member.  Some might have appreciated the change in his stance, but the complete reversal of his position was a betrayal of his party and those who voted for him.  I believed he would have done better to cite a conflict of interest and resign rather than undermine the will of the people for personal reasons.

One aspect of God's character is He is not a respecter of persons--meaning He does not show preferential treatment.  He does not punish the heathen for sins yet find the rebellion of His people funny or ignore their disobedience.  Deuteronomy 10:17-18:  "For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. ¹⁸ He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing." (see Acts 10:24; Romans 2:11)  While God chose the children of Abraham as His people, He would not excuse their sin; He would not be moved by any attempts to manipulate or guilt Him into laying aside judgment and discipline intended for their good.  Since judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17), there is no question He will also administer it faithfully upon all flesh.

Yesterday I read a passage that illustrates well how God commanded His people to uphold His statutes under the Law of Moses--even if their own family or countrymen were guilty of rebellion against God.  If it came to light an immediate family member or best friend enticed others to depart from God and serve idols, God's people were not to cover up the matter or look the other way.  God said in Deuteronomy 13:9-11 the penalty for such rebellion was death, and you (the one who discovered the apostasy) was to throw the first stone to put that wicked person to death along with other God-fearing people.  The passage went on to say if a whole city in Israel had turned from God, those who heard of it were to inquire and diligently search out the truth of the matter.  If it was confirmed to be true, God's people were to strike all the inhabitants of the city with the sword and devote it to destruction and not take any spoil for themselves.  Deuteronomy 13:16 says, "And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, for the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again."  God directed His people to do physically what apostates had already done spiritually by departing from God, and it was akin to removing a deadly, growing tumour that threatened the entire nation when metasticised.

Since Jesus has come and established the new covenant in His blood, the Law of Moses is not our guide in dealing with rebels and apostates.  When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus, He commanded the ones who without sin to cast the first stone.  Though Jesus never sinned, He did not throw a stone:  He said, "Go and sin no more."  Disciples asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven like Elijah did upon the Samaritans to consume them when they would not receive Jesus as a guest.  Luke 9:55-56 says, "But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. ⁵⁶ For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village."  Paul commanded believers to purge the leaven of sin out of the church, that sinners who refuse church discipline ought to be excommunicated with the aim of repentance and restoration.  In the name of Jesus he directed them to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so his spirit may be saved in the day of the LORD Jesus (1 Corinthians 5:3-8).

If God's people were to be mindful of the state of their families, cities and church without partiality and take action, shouldn't we first consider our own ways and examine our own hearts?  Hypocrisy and partiality is easy to see in others but requires wisdom from God to identify it and repent of it ourselves.  No child of God has Him wrapped around their finger, and let us be those who choose to cling to Him in faith marked by obedience to Him.  Praise God Jesus did not come to destroy people's lives but to save them, for on our own we were already hellbent rushing to eternal destruction.  Following Jesus will never lead us astray from doing good.