Romans 2:1-16
2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
Boo is a rooster who was raised for meat but was rescued by the Bowman family after developing a health issue that a vet was able to fix. The family brought the chicken into their home and raised it with their other pets. As he grew up, he started to believe that he was a dog, doing everything that a dog would do. The family have become obsessed with this animal because of its strange behaviour.
We all have expectations of how animals should act. As many children’s books have taught us, dogs go woof, sheep go baa, chicken cluck and cows moo. So, a ‘barking’ chicken will raise a few eyebrows.
In this passage, Paul is saying that we are all corrupted by sin. To judge someone for being sinful is like a cow complaining that another cow walks in the mud. He says that it is wrong to judge others for what we have done as well. Sin is a universal condition and acting self-righteous or judging others is hypocritical.
Our response to sin should not be external judgment but internal repentance.
My friend often says that the loudest boos come from he cheapest seats. Those who criticise the loudest usually contribute the least. Paul sees Christians who criticise others but are doing nothing themselves. They point the finger at where others should be doing better but are doing nothing. He says that their activity reveals their identity. Chickens don’t bark like dogs. Geese don’t squeak like mice. (except in that one story book my 4 year old loves). Those who have received grace and forgiveness from God do not respond with criticism, comparison and self-righteousness.
Why? Because you have received grace. If you are a son or daughter of God, don’t respond like an orphan. He is saying that faith is outlived. What you believe transforms what you do and what you do reveals what you really believe. God does not want to change just your ideas, he wants to heal every part of your life: mind, heart and activity.
Have you ever found growing in holiness led to self-righteousness?
Who do you criticise the harshest? Why does recognising the grace on your life change that?
Is there any area of your life where you are you acting out of character today and need to repent? What is God revealing to you?
