“God Doesn’t Judge”
A new tourist attraction has been drawing crowds recently in Times Square. Women wearing nothing but paint from the waist up are standing in the streets and posing for pictures with visitors to (and perhaps residents of) Babylon—uh, New York City. When interviewed, the women said they were a popular attraction, and that people were paying to have their pictures taken with them. When asked if they thought it might be a bad influence on youngsters, one woman made two astounding statements. One was to claim, “Oh, no. Mothers hold up their babies to have their picture taken with us. Nobody is offended; we’re just having a good time.” Are people really that corrupt there?
The second statement of amazement was, “remember God doesn’t judge.” It’s obvious she has heard more from Dr. Phil than she has read from the Scriptures. “God doesn’t judge.” Really? Has she never heard of The Flood? That was not just an example of early “climate change.” It was God’s judgment on the earth. They didn’t use body paint on women in those days (so far as we know); nevertheless, “every intent of the thoughts of his [mankind’s, GWS] heart were only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). If the ungodly practice of painting a naked body and posing in the streets was not thought of, it is certain that the people practiced things equally evil (or worse).
When God told Abraham that his descendants would live in Egypt 400 years and suffer affliction (Gen. 15:13), He added: “And also that nation whom they serve I will judge…” (Gen. 15:14). The final plague upon Egypt was the death of the firstborn, after which Pharaoh let Israel depart. Following that, however, many more Egyptian soldiers drowned in the Red Sea (Ex. 12-15). God judged them! He also judged His own people by allowing Assyria to take Israel into captivity and raising up Babylon to take Judah captive.
Salvation itself is based on the fact of God’s judgement. Because He does punish with everlasting destruction those who do not know Him and those who do not obey the gospel (2 Thess. 1:8), people must repent of their sins (Luke 13:3). Jesus will be that Judge (John 5:22, 27; 2 Cor. 5:10). God judged Sodom for their homosexuality, and He did not even spare the angels who sinned (2 Peter 2:4-8). God is holy; therefore, He can perfectly define and judge sinfulness. Nakedness (even when covered in paint) is still a shame and a sin. It further influences young people toward evil, and it will be judged.