GOD IS BOTH JUST AND MERCIFUL

Two parables –the wheat and the tares and the workers in God’s vineyard – show God’s mercy and justice.





Pastoral Letter 3: Now is the time of harvest, that both wheat and tares are seen, and each distinguished from one another.
From the King James Version of the Bible: Gather ye together first the tares and bind them into bundles to burn them but gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew 13:30There is no way to make the parable of the wheat and tares warm and cuddly. The wheat is put in a safe place, i.e., Heaven; the tares are burned. i.e., Hell.

This parable makes Fox uncomfortable so he writes "will be distinguished." For a man who usually writes plainly this is vague.


Everyone who is called into the vineyard to labor shall have the reward of their heavenly penny – faithful servants laboring in love, some threshing, some ploughing and some keeping the sheep. All are to watch over one another in the spirit of God.

If in the parable of the wheat and the tares, some find God too severe, in the story of the vineyard some find Him too lenient. "God, are you against labor unions? and "What about a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work?" we ask.

We are so strict with God and know just how He should behave. But God, in His mercy and unlimited Love, gives the same heavenly penny to those who start in the morning and work through the heat of the day as to those who start work later on.

If we are one of the workers who are there at the crack of dawn or one who comes at the last minute, we still get the "glistening pearls" of great price; we get into heaven.


It is easier to think of God as merciful, not just. (This is why the parable of the wheat and tares makes everyone so uncomfortable.) It is much more comfortable to dwell on God's kindness, generosity and love than it is to think of his justice. But Fox knows God as a God who loves the righteous; One who punishes the disobedient.

God shows holy love and holy anger; both mercy and justice are characteristics of God. He shows His mercy in kindness and pity; He spares and forgives us when we break His laws. Justice means dealing fairly and equitably with us. We are held accountable and responsible for what we do.

GOD IS YES

God is Yes, affirmation. Fox has a positive, upbeat vision of God. Even though he knows that he is a sinner, he doesn't wallow in sin. He believes that God's love heals and makes him whole.

WHAT HAS GOD REVEALED ABOUT HIMSELF?

          First, that He is.

          Second, that He made the world and everything in it, creating us in His Image.

          He loves us and has a plan for our lives.

          One way in which we are made in the Image of God is that we may love Him in return.
         
          We need to love God but can't love someone we don't know.

For real love to exist there must be some reciprocal action. God loves us, and we love God in return.

CHERISH COMFORT NOURISH

Cherish: to protect and care for lovingly.

God cherishes us: Dear Friends, wait upon the Lord, that all of you may grow up in the inward man, and be comforted and cherished.

We cherish other Friends: If any soldier be put out of the army for Truth’s sake, they should be nourished and cherished.