Fairness is Relative

Is it fair to forgive the wicked who repent and punish the righteous who transgress?

If the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die. None of the transgressions that they have committed shall be remembered against them; for the righteousness that they have done they shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? But when the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity and do the same abominable things that the wicked do, shall they live? None of the righteous deeds that they have done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which they are guilty and the sin they have committed, they shall die. Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. - Ezekiel 18:21–28

We see examples every day of people who do horrible things to others, from slashing on subways to shootings on the streets.

When we see these people released back into society without punishment it doesn't seem right.

I guess you could call these people wicked, in the sense that they are harming others intentionally, and Ezekiel tells us that God will accept them if they turn away from their ways and keep God's statutes.

That's a bit different than just being released without bail, right?

Now, one could make the argument that these are not necessarily wicked people.  They are just troubled and lost, surviving on the streets the best way they know how.  Or they could be ill, and it is not really their fault that they act out in these ways.

OK.  Then shouldn't they get help?

We are finding the money and resources to help the migrants who have made their way into our cities seeking asylum.  Shouldn't we be able to find the money and resources to help these troubled souls?

If they are truly wicked, they will continue their evil ways regardless of what we do.  For them, getting them off the streets makes sense, until they find it in themselves to repent and change their ways, if that is even possible.

But for everyone else getting caught up in the frenzy of lawlessness, something needs to be done.

So, what about the righteous who turn and do wrong?

Ezekiel says that the Lord will punish them more severely, since they know righteousness and reject it.

Wow!

No wonder we are in the state we are in.  

If someone who has been good all his life does something bad, punishment will come, but if someone has always been evil and wicked, they can still save themselves.

I wonder if that is what God sees when He looks at our cities today.

More to come...