The Doctrine of Justification

In today’s society we often look at situations that we are involved in (and inwardly feel we shouldn’t be) and rationalize/justify them with a host of reasons.  When we rationalize something it means we explain the situation with plausible reasons even if they aren’t true or appropriate.   The justification process is in trying to show or prove the situation is true.  An example - Government says everyone must have health care and tries to regulate the provider of that healthcare. Government officials do not have to be regulated by their own standards and can opt out of the regulated healthcare.  Now, I can just see the wheels burning and the excuses flying and that’s where we start rationalizing and justifying why and it is therefore no longer a simple equation.  Yes, both groups wind up with healthcare, so you can win that dispute if you want to, but it isn’t equitable.  If you start qualifying with wealth, race, sex etc. you are rationalizing. 

Illegal immigration is another.  Many would like to come across our borders to live what they believe is the American dream.  There is a waiting list, a “right” way to become a citizen.  Those who choose not to enter our country this way usurp our laws and in my opinion make a mockery of all of us who have to abide by those laws.  I don’t have first-hand knowledge on the horrors of oppression and I do not wish harm to anyone, but legality is not a conditional thing.  Any explanation of condition earns the mark of justification through rationalization.  Ok, I’ve ruffled a few feathers I’m sure with these are 2 examples.

I am not morally better than anyone.  I am a sinner, who daily struggles with being real in my walk, yet believes that Jesus came to absolve all of our sins.  He is the common denominator for all of us, whether we believe in Him or not.  At some point, we will all have our turn facing God and having to answer for the lives we chose to live.  I’m reading the book, “Hero” by Derwin Gray, and the chapter I’m on is the one where he talks about wearing a new suit.  Derwin was a former football player, now a Pastor at Transformation Church.  In his youth, Derwin was poor and he watched a movie “Trading Places” where the main character is taken from being poor, given a new suit, a job and money and he seemingly changes.  So, Derwin using the same equation, buys a new white suit when he makes it big time in the NFL (an acronym, and I quote him, meaning “Not for long”).  When wearing the new suit, Derwin feels clean and proud and avoids anything that will make him “dirty”.  What he shares in this chapter though, is our outside cover is just that, if our inside character doesn’t equal what our outside suit is, we are a façade of cleanliness.

Homeowners, do you pamper the outside of your homes or even the insides of your homes making everything appear to be “right looking” but have family lives that are so out of control with abuse, or addictions or discord? Or loneliness or depression? Isn’t it difficult to keep up that type of scenery!  I know so because at one time or another we have all faced something that makes our lives out of sync and we have to act “as if”.  Do you think widowhood is easy in a couples’ world?  A neighbor of mine just said this yesterday stating her widowed friend told her this.  Then thinking of Robin Williams and I would never have guessed he was such a tormented soul, but the mask he wore became his burden.  What is reality?  With whom can we be real?  We even delude ourselves!  We get trapped into a role and can’t seem to find our way out because too often pride stands in the way.  We are afraid of looking weak, so we continue to persevere in our misery with lies that fool no one but ourselves. 

What is the answer? Put on the Jesus suit.  What’s that? I can give a brief description here but I suggest further reading in the Bible.  Jesus suit = Love.  At Transformation Church there is a saying: Upward, Inward, Outward.  It means love God completely (Upward), love ourselves correctly (Inward) and love others compassionately (Outward).  The Jesus suit!  Putting it on daily, means we get unstuck, because we aren’t focused on ourselves, even when we are loving ourselves, because it does say “correctly”, meaning understanding that we are a valued child of God.

This piece is all over the place in its subject matter, but the point is in here somewhere!  And the point is that we need to stop making excuses for everything and go back to our roots/core and take a stand.  How?  Is there a guide line to follow?  Let me leave you with this one, I found it to be pretty powerful – We are all wearing the Jesus suit, whether we want to or not, how does it look on you?  See, when I borrow someone’s clothing, I find myself more conscious of getting it dirty…just saying!  When we meet with resistance rather than taking offense, try thinking that the perpetrator of discord is not liking how their Jesus suit is fitting them and they like how yours looks and can’t understand why it is different.  In response you can keep your suit clean with words of affirmation or sink to their level and risk getting a blemish on yours.

 

Looking up!