“Punish the Deserving”

I saw an interesting tag line associated with a member of a forum I frequently visit this morning. The line read: “Punish the deserving.” Setting aside the fact that this line was associated to a video game forum, and in all likely hood was put there by some thirteen year old, it does open up a huge theological question. Who is deserving of punishment?

The answer could depend upon your personal outlook, your social-economic circles, and/or your life’s intrinsic philosophies. In economic context the poor could deem the rich deserving. In political; Republicans deem the Democrats and the Democrats deem the Republicans. Most major world religions would deem those who don’t subscribe to their particular belief system worthy and others still would like to believe that nobody, with the exception of perhaps maybe a Hitler or a Stalin, is deserving of punishment.

Christianity answers this question in two parts.

First, and this is where I believe many have issues with the faith, it plainly states that ALL are deserving of punishment. Romans 3:23 clearly states:

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

There are no two ways about it. The Mother Teresas of the world would stand condemned along side the world’s Gangus Khans. When judged by the divine standard, there is no difference.

The second part of the answer is also quite unique to Christianity. Within a world gone wrong, and all in it deserving of punishment, a just and loving God took matters into this own hands — literally, by having nails driven through them — to repair the damaged relationship.

In short, though all are deserving, God’s desire is that none would be.

2 Peter 3:9 says:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

So who is deserving of punishment? If it weren’t for grace, I would be. This was a well placed “Good Friday” reminder for me.