Judgement

It could be argued that nowadays people are not into 'judging' themselves but can be led by the media, who are extremely good at 'judging' everyone else and apportioning blame. Likewise society appears to demand that the guilty be punished and the stiffer the punishment, the better. There is a feeling that people should be made to pay for whatever they do wrong. However, there is usually no appeal to a 'higher authority' or external set of values to help think through the issues.

Christianity believes that the way individuals conduct their personal life, whether public or private, does matter but most of all it matters to God, in his purpose for that individual life as well as for the great scheme of things. Ultimately, how individuals live their lives will be judged in justice and also in mercy. Christians themselves hold differing beliefs about whether people will be eternally punished or rewarded or whether ultimately everyone will be redeemed through God's plan. Certainly there is less threat of Hell fire in Christian teaching now but there are definitely Christians who believe that you can cut yourself off permanently from God through your own choice of dismissing God and not acknowledging sin and the need to be 'saved' and forgiven.

Questions

1. Why does it seem to be easier to judge other people rather than oneself?
2. If people do not believe in a religion, do they feel the need to assess their behaviour, to take stock? If so, why? If not, why not?
3. Do people need a concept of judgement in order to do their best? What might the benefits of such a concept be to the individual and society? What are the potential pitfalls?
4. Can individuals or societies determine whether people are 'sheep' or 'goats'? What grounds would they use? How easy is it to categorise people on the basis of their behaviour?
5. What limitations are there in the extent to which individuals can really judge another person?
6. How does human justice and punishment compare with God's judgement? What might the characteristics of each be? Which has most authority?

Rewards and punishment

These are integral to human life. They figure in trivial areas of life as well as in the more important. Rewards spur people on and make them feel they have achieved something worthwhile. Punishment helps control behaviour and maintains standards. Both of these concepts assume there are different standards and some are more desirable than others.

Christianity is concerned with the good and bad in relation to God's standards and the consequence that follows. People should seek to do the good, not out of fear of punishment or because it will produce a reward, but because that is what God desires of people. So the motive for behaviour has to be pure. That is what God deals with and judges - what lies behind the way the person behaves. Some people believe that when bad things happen to them, God is punishing them, a belief that was widespread in Old Testament / Hebrew Bible times when belief in an after-life had not really developed. It is difficult to hold this view while believing in a loving God.

Questions

1. Why do people find it so difficult to do things for their own sake, rather than for the reward or to avoid the punishment?
2. What different types of rewards are on offer in life? What effects can they have on humans for good or bad?
3. What different forms can punishment take? What effects can they have on humans for good or bad?
4. Which encourages personal growth more, reward or punishment?
5. What qualities do those who administer rewards and punishments require?
6. What effect might education have on someone's view of rewards and punishment?
7. What responsibilities do schools have in relation to administering rewards and punishments?

Good triumphant over evil

The Christian belief in God's judgement is really an acknowledgement that good will triumph over bad, that evil will not have the final word. This is the central belief of Christianity, that even if it does not appear as if good will be victorious in the short term, in the long term, it is. This is the hope on which Christianity is built and which is seen as confirmed in Jesus' resurrection from death. It brings a positive, affirmative note to life. In this way, the view of religion as a negative force is a misunderstanding. Believers see it as able to release a positive approach to life; being life-enhancing and infusing optimism into the blackest situations.

Questions

1. What evidence is there that the forces of good and evil are battling it out in life?
2. What difference might it make to the way people live their lives if they believe good will ultimately triumph?
3. Why might it be important to an individual to base his or her life on some philosophy or belief?
4. What evidence is there that people are becoming more miserable and negative, or more happy and positive, as traditional religious belief appears to dwindle?

Changing the world

At the heart of Christianity is the desire to change the world for the better, to establish God's way on earth, through the lives individual Christians live. From belief springs action and this parable highlights the importance of very practical actions of caring for others. Rather than concentrating on how to worship God through rituals and words, this parable acknowledges that what actually counts in God's eyes is the meeting of the needs of people. Service to others becomes service to God. That is how the world will be transformed, according to Christianity, to become the Kingdom of God, which is its destination.

Questions

1. Does the world need changing? Why or why not?
2. Whose responsibility is it to decide what needs changing? Who should carry out the change?
3. How do the beliefs people hold affect their actions?
4. How important is it for the well-being of the world that people act with unselfish motives?
5. Why is it important to take account of the needs of the weak and vulnerable in plans for progress?
6. Can individuals make a difference? Why or why not?