In class today we discussed some of the ethical issues which students found provacative. I reminded the class before-hand to keep in mind that all judgment must incorporate both truth and grace. Our class discussion did well in modelling this - everyone showed one another friendly respect in considering all that was said.
The intended end of judgment is joy. Gracious truth/true grace infuses all aspects of righteous judgment. According to Revelation 20:11-15, at the Last Judgment when all humanity appears before the Great White Throne with One sitting there ready to judge everyone from the great to the lowly, there will be two books. All will be judged according to their deeds as recorded in the Book of Deeds; however, anyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life is to undergo what Scripture calls "the second death." Consider the Book of Deeds as a record of Truth which discloses all things with nothing remaining hidden from being known; consider the Book of Life as a guarantee of Grace which is made possible through the Crucified Christ now resurrected to sit on the throne of judgment (cf. Revelation 3:5; also Matthew 10:32-33).
We carry the power of judgment with us in living now. When face to face with another, the subseqent relationship must reflect the righteous judgment to come - gracious truth must define the interaction that takes place and true grace must remain foremost in provoking one another, not to wrathful wickedness, but to loving-kindness.
[See Hebrews 12-13 for one way Scripture describes such a lifestyle.]
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