Because I Deserve Hell, Therefore I Deserve to Be Abused?
Have you seen this? A Christian Wife’s Marriage Catechism. It’s appalling on several levels, but I wouldn’t have believed so a few years ago. My, how things change. I read the following response today, and it was so good, I had to link to it here. This is just a portion of his article. A link to the rest follows:
Q11. How good a husband is my husband to me?
A11. Much better than I deserve, and therefore I will thank God for him every day.
Here the writer makes a deadly error. Here we see the error of using a word with several different meanings as if it only had one meaning….
…What he is saying in effect is this: Because I deserve eternal punishment in hell for my sins, it follows that I deserve to take whatever injustice and abuse that my husband wishes to dish out to me.
Are we to believe that since no one has ever earned any favor from God whatsoever, but has received every good thing by grace alone that it would therefore follow that my boss can withhold my paycheck from me, since I deserve far worse?
If the blogger in question would be consistent with his univocal use of the word “deserve”, we would expect the following exchange: “My employer has robbed me of my wages. What should I do?”
Answer, “Rejoice that you have received far more than you deserve and continue to work for him with a meek and quiet spirit. Don’t make a fuss.”
Take it one step further: “My family was slaughtered by a wicked man.”
Answer: “It was better than they deserved. Let it go, and don’t make a fuss. No need to involve the police.”
It is indeed true that God’s mercy can never be earned – or deserved. We increase our guilt daily before God. We are fallen sinners. Unless we are born again, we deserve nothing but eternal wrath and damnation. This is taught clearly throughout Scripture.
(Eph 2:8-9 KJV) 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
But this is speaking of our standing before the Judgment Throne of God. It does not follow that we therefore deserve to be treated with cruelty, hatred and dishonor by wicked men.
If the grace of God can be used to justify injustice and cruelty, then words no longer have any meaning.
From the hand of God we always and continually receive far more that we can ever merit or “deserve”, for even the best works in this life are all polluted by sin.
Does it then follow that we do not deserve kindness, love, respect and honor from our fellow man? Not according to the Bible.
Consider the following passage:
(Rom 13:7-8 KJV) 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
God teaches here that there are those who deserve our taxes, our honor, and our tribute. But then in verse 8, he carries the argument further: We owe all men love. Not the love of the world, but love defined by the law of God.
For a husband, we owe our wives the same love with which Christ loved his church. Does she earn it? Of course not. But does she deserve it? She certainly does.
Read the rest of God’s Grace an Excuse for Cruelty?
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.