Will the examination of the believer's life at the Judgment Seat of Christ take place privately or publicly?
In relation to this solemn subject it is often wondered whether the believer will stand alone at the Judgment Seat, or in the company of others. As far as we know there is no precise and clear indication regarding this in the New Testament. We are personally inclined, however, to think that such an examination will be of a personal and private nature. I do not see that all believers of this age of grace will be gathered en masse at the Bema. If this were true it might give credence to the idea that we will all then know the motives and faults of others. The words, "we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ" (Rom 14.10), do not, I think, imply that all will be there at one time, or that any others will be present. Each one of us will give account of himself to God (v.12). The words "give account" show that each believer will give an individual verbal account to God. This is a soul searching thought and can easily be overlooked. The tenderness and consideration of our Lord would surely tend to shield each one from the gaze and ears of others on that solemn occasion.
Some have taught that if others are implicated in wrongs committed in this life, which were never rectified, the wronged one and the one who committed the wrong will be there together in order that the matter be put right. Nowhere in the teaching of Scripture touching the Judgment Seat is this idea substantiated. Things should be put right now. The Rapture and the setting up of the Judgment Seat may not be far distant. Let us all be exercised to seek to live in view of the Judgment Seat of Christ.
John J Stubbs
Would a visit to the ballot box be seen as compromising our "separated" principles or, on the other hand, might it be viewed as "rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar's"?
In the prayer of the Lord Jesus to His Father, He says of His disciples: "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (Jn 17.14,16), Despite the societal and governmental wrongs, He did not interfere with the social affairs of His day. Peter (1 Pet 2.11) speaks of believers as being "strangers" (as such foreigners - they belong to another country) and "pilgrims" (they are travelling to another country, a heavenly). Paul says, "For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven" (Phil 3.20).
For a believer to be involved in politics at any level, whether local or national, is to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers and is certainly not "rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar's".
Thankfully, voting in either Local or General Elections is not compulsory in the United Kingdom. Believers in a local assembly come from all walks of life and different strata of society. On a purely human level, it is conceivable that such a community would represent a range of the political spectrum. Voting for a particular candidate would be sure to provoke discord among the people of God who, if all were to vote, would certainly not "be of the same mind" (Phil 4.2), "of one accord" (Phil 2.2) and "all speak the same thing" (1 Cor 1.10).
We believe that "the powers that be are ordained of God" (Rom 13.1); the political party (or parties) to be in power following a General Election in the United Kingdom has/have been predetermined by God. How would I feel if I had voted for what turned out to be the opposition party?
We are to pray "For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Tim 2.2). Our place is in the assembly Prayer Meeting and not in the polling booth!
David E West
