Now be honest, did you see this word "justify" and think about all the folks who justify their actions in various irritating and damaging ways? We do it ourselves, especially if we have an inkling we have done something that does not reflect our best selves...something selfish or foolish or sketchy. We try to justify the actions of our loved ones when they get in trouble and get caught on the merry-go-round of how "what they did is not as bad as others who suffer lesser consequences", and how "they are really so broken that normal good citizenship is beyond their capacity." ( mean, when we justify bad behavior in others or ourselves, is that not what we are saying....we just are naturally bad or so broken we can not do better?)
Oh, I don't mean to be harsh. I do it myself, but I have learned that this kind of justifying is generally a strong neon light yelling, "look again, more closely because there is something here you need to be honest with yourself about!"
So the OED entry for "justify" hits home for me when it says: "Be a good reason for -- the situation was grave enough to justify further investigation." And under a theology sub-heading another even says "Declare or make righteous in the sight of God" which falls under the heading of accurate but not helpful, I think.
But today the OED seems to be spot on, though maybe not in the way we commonly think of it, when it says "Show or prove to be right or reasonable -- the person appointed has fully justified our confidence."
Because this occurred to me when I heard that word in this morning's service: that when we are justified, God shows us to be right with God, to have found our sanity by trusting the only truly reliable One. Justification demonstrates that God is trustworthy and keeps His Covenant with us by covering our brokenness with His Love while helping us heal from our sin and willfulness. (I think this second part is sanctification if you want the theological word.)
Being justified mean's God finds me righteous because of Christ's work in me. I am good enough. I am better than good enough, I am amazing and delightful and able to love and be loved because that is the only way God ever creates anything. And no matter how the sin of this world can warp or distress or misconstrue life, all that has no power to harm my essential self except as I allow it, just as God's forgiveness and hope and transforming love heals to the extent that I allow it.
So this week, I am going to eschew trying to justify myself in favor or rejoicing that God finds me worthy and continues to empower me to grow in being able to love as God has always loved me.
Oh, I don't mean to be harsh. I do it myself, but I have learned that this kind of justifying is generally a strong neon light yelling, "look again, more closely because there is something here you need to be honest with yourself about!"
So the OED entry for "justify" hits home for me when it says: "Be a good reason for -- the situation was grave enough to justify further investigation." And under a theology sub-heading another even says "Declare or make righteous in the sight of God" which falls under the heading of accurate but not helpful, I think.
But today the OED seems to be spot on, though maybe not in the way we commonly think of it, when it says "Show or prove to be right or reasonable -- the person appointed has fully justified our confidence."
Because this occurred to me when I heard that word in this morning's service: that when we are justified, God shows us to be right with God, to have found our sanity by trusting the only truly reliable One. Justification demonstrates that God is trustworthy and keeps His Covenant with us by covering our brokenness with His Love while helping us heal from our sin and willfulness. (I think this second part is sanctification if you want the theological word.)
Being justified mean's God finds me righteous because of Christ's work in me. I am good enough. I am better than good enough, I am amazing and delightful and able to love and be loved because that is the only way God ever creates anything. And no matter how the sin of this world can warp or distress or misconstrue life, all that has no power to harm my essential self except as I allow it, just as God's forgiveness and hope and transforming love heals to the extent that I allow it.
So this week, I am going to eschew trying to justify myself in favor or rejoicing that God finds me worthy and continues to empower me to grow in being able to love as God has always loved me.
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