Judgment Begins at The House of God

One verse of the Bible was formerly quoted more often than it is today — although today we are arriving at the time of its fulfilment: that is I Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?” But strangely enough, this verse is almost always used by the ministers to threaten their own congregations with judgment and condemnation, as though it was the Christians who should be in fear of this judgment. Perhaps that does get more money in the offering that Sunday: but is this a correct use of the word of God? Let’s examine this subject in detail.