Lord’s Day 19: Q&A 50-52: A Harsh Judgment?
This week’s Lord’s Day begins to look forward to the Eschaton: When Jesus will return in glory to judge the living and the dead and bring about the New Heavens and the New Earth. We believe the judgment of God at the end of days is either a blessing or a curse, depending on where you stand with God. If you believe in God, then the judgment is actually a blessing, as you are covered fully by the blood of Christ, but if you do not believe in God, then it is a curse of eternal condemnation. What exactly that looks like has caused untold numbers of books and blog post to be written, but there will be separation from God for eternity for those who do not believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior.
How does this impact our witness or how we act towards people? Do we even think of it all that often? Do we think of God’s judgment as too harsh?
From my experience, there has been a shift in some evangelism circles away from preaching fire and brimstone as a scare tactic to ‘make’ people fear for their eternal souls and more towards preaching the love of Jesus for everyone, to motivate with positive experiences toward exploring belief in Christ because people don’t want to hear how they’re going to Hell.
That’s all fine and good, certainly, but perhaps we have lost our urgency as a church in preaching the gospel. Sure, we are still saved ‘for’ Christ, but maybe we need to remember more that we are still saved ‘from’ sin and condemnation and bring that urgency to how we share the good news of the gospel.
I could certainly go on, but suffice to say that it can be difficult to talk about God’s judgment, especially in worship contexts. This week’s liturgical resources attempt to bring some honest talk about judgment into our worship and reorient us to have our will aligned with God’s, that we might better understand God’s love and justice.
Lord’s Day 19
BENEDICTION
People of God, Jesus Christ is seated at the Father’s right hand, pouring out the gifts of the Spirit upon us, his body, his church. He will return to judge all creation and to bring his chosen ones into eternal glory. Go, therefore, as called followers of Christ, the risen and ascended Savior, to bring the good news of the Gospel to this fallen world, in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Amen.
Q&A 50-51
PRAYER OF ADORATION (Ephesians 1:20-23)
All: We praise you, O God: Father, Son, and Spirit.
Leader: We praise you, O Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.
People: Who put everything under his feet: all authority, power, and dominion.
Leader: We praise you, O Christ, seated at the right hand of the Father.
People: We praise you, O Christ, head of your church, your body.
Leader: We praise you, O Spirit, pouring out the gifts of God.
People: We praise you, O Spirit, interceding for us when we do not have words.
All: We praise you, Father, Son, and Spirit: One God in Three.
Q&A 52
PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND LAMENT
God, we struggle with your plans sometimes. We know, Jesus, that you will return in glory to judge the living and the dead; to separate the sheep from the goats and to cast those who are against you into condemnation. We have faith that you will bring us who follow you into glory and the New Creation, and yet we have trouble reconciling your love with your justice.
Jesus, we mourn with you over those who do not follow your way or believe in the salvation you offer. Holy Spirit, may you work in their hearts to believe as you work in our hearts. Empower us, Spirit, to bring the good news of the gospel to those who need it, that we may partner with you, Christ, in bringing your Kingdom to this fallen world as we await your return.
Align our will to yours, O God, that we may desire that all would come to you, that more and more people would not have to fear your judgment, but await it eagerly as forgiven people, as you have forgiven us.
Help us, O Lord, to share our faith in you. Forgive us for falling short of your plans for us and for our lack of urgency in sharing the gospel with others.
We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, seated at the right hand of the Father, Amen.
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
Jesus, we know that you are seated at the right hand of the Father, and that you will indeed come to judge the living and the dead. We trust that what you have promised is true, and we know that you will judge all, including us.
We confess that we do not take your judgment seriously. We rest on our assurance that we will be forgiven, forgetting to live in the way that you have called us to.
Despite our status as your co-heirs, Christ our Savior, we act as if we have no inheritance with you: lowering ourselves to what this sinful world around us would have us do and say, rather than being hearers and doers of your word.
Forgive us, O Lord, for being lazy in our recognition of our sins. Forgive us for not doing all that you have commanded us to do. Forgive us in your name, O Jesus, and spur us on, O Holy Spirit, to follow our calling to Christian living.
-time of silent confession-
Leader: People of God, Christ will judge the living and the dead, the holy and the unholy, but he has offered himself up to fulfill God’s judgment. Our judge has taken on the judgment on our behalf. Because of this, we can confidently await him as our judge, through any distress and persecution that this life may bring.
People: We have been forgiven! We eagerly await the coming Kingdom, knowing we can stand before our judge who will welcome us into the joy and glory of the New Heavens and New Earth. Thanks be to God!
