On 11th March, I recounted the story of a woman’s dreadful behaviour at a funeral. She ignored notices to move her car when picking up her son from the playgroup that uses the church hall, and got blocked in by the hearse. She then tried to have a row with me when I was about to lead the coffin into church. (Click the link for more detail.)
Yesterday, we gathered to bury the ashes of the much-loved mother and grandmother. I learned a twist to the story. Our church car park is at the front of the church. You turn into it immediately off the main road. When the woman finally roared off from the church, she failed to remember that the lowered pavement for the car park is off centre. As a result, she went over a large kerb, and damaged the underside of her car.
When we learned, we laughed. Should we have done? Plenty of church people had adopted a Christian attitude to the woman: ‘I hope she doesn’t get treated like that when she is mourning a loved one.’ But could this be an example of Romans 1 justice, where God gives up those who reject him to the consequences of their actions – in this case, the woman’s unrighteous anger? Were we right to laugh? Or should we have been saddened for her? It hardly compares with the longing of persecuted Christians for judgment on their tormentors in Revelation, but was justice done, or were we taking a perverse pleasure in an ungodly love of vengeance?
Thoughts, anyone?
Big Circumstance 
I think it’s ok to laugh. I say that because I’ve been forced to laugh at myself.
A few years ago I was driving my brand new car when I was suddenly cut off by a police vehicle. The officer did not have any lights on (headlights or flashing lights) and pulled out in front of me fast enough to cause me to slam on my breaks.
Anger arose in me and I proceeded to extend my middle finger in a show of contempt. I continued to do so for the next quarter mile or so. We came to a traffic light and our vehicles sat next to each other as it was red. I had ceased to give him the finger, but I was still angry and glared at him the whole time.
When the light turned green, I immediately made a left turn – right into an on-coming car that plowed into me (turns out the light had not turned green). The source of my anger turned on his lights and obviously was the first on the scene.
Romans 1 justice? I don’t know. But I was forced to laugh at myself and at how immature and unlike Jesus I was being. Had someone else observed the whole scene, I would expect them to laugh as well.
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Thanks, Nate. We’ve also found out where the woman works – a local 7-11 store, but I think sending the God Squad there might be a bit over the top 🙂
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Probably – but you should surely become a regular there.
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I think you should allow yourself a little satisfaction at the way this turned out. Call it consequential judgement. But as I gloat on your behalf, I’ll bear nate’s story in mind: it could always happen to me.
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Hi Dave
Oh dear…i too laughed …sorry…but am i sorry?…this is a dilemma..sorry i cant contain myself any longer…you know me …i am a little mischevious according to you!! ha ha
Paula
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