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There are some teachings in the Bible that draw more fire than others. Imputation is one of those doctrines. Why? Because it doesn’t seem fair. And you’d better be glad.
Just as we would have little problem with the fairness of $1 million being randomly put into our bank accounts, so our consciences struggle little when Jesus’ righteousness is credited to us as a free gift—this part of imputation is no problem. We struggle much more with the guilt and pollution of Adam, someone we did not even know, settling on us.
But we Christians don’t think too much about this latter problem—it doesn’t actually affect us, we think. The imputation of sin (guilt and pollution) is not a concern for us anymore. Whether it’s fair or not is not our problem, right?
Tell that to Joshua. Tell that to the families who learned that their fathers, brothers, and sons had been killed on that slight slope of a hill called Ai. Tell Achan’s wife and children, who were dragged out of their treasure-laden tent to be burned and buried with him.
Within the covenant of God, there is a connection between those who stand before God as leaders and those who follow. That connection is only a dim shadow of the imputation of sin via Adam and righteousness via Christ. But there is a real connection that bears meditation.
In Joshua 7, Achan breaks the rules of combat that God has laid down by taking precious items from Jericho for his own use. It is not until Israel attacks the next town, tiny Ai, that it becomes aware of the problem. Joshua, godly leader that he is, immediately falls on his face before God and begins to pray. Notice what God says to the penitent Joshua, especially the pronouns:
“The LORD said to Joshua: ‘Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived.… “He who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!” ’ ” (Josh. 7:10–15).
The pronouns preach persuasively. All Israel is cursed. Why? “ ‘He has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and … has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.’ ”
As Jesus’ disciples said, “This is a hard saying.” But consider a modern illustration that may help us understand the economy of God. If the leader of your country declares war on another nation, even though you personally may not fire a shot, be called to serve, or have your personal property threatened, you are at war with that nation. Because your leader is your federal head, your commander in chief, you are now at war with the other nation. It matters not whether you disagree with the war. You are a citizen, and you are at war.
Thus, with Adam as our federal head (Rom. 5:12–21; 1 Cor. 15:21–22), we are, as a race, at war with God. In Christ, our new federal head, we are at peace with God (Rom. 5:1). And in Achan, all Israel was covenantally at war with God. The source of this covenant warfare must be eliminated, God says, lest Israel remain under a curse (Deut. 29:19–29).
Why was the rest of Achan’s family killed (Josh. 7:25)? Because their covenant leader, their federal and filial head, had declared war on God. Perhaps some of them were additionally guilty because they knew of Achan’s sin—surely some were not. But capital punishment awaited them all.
Why do Christian families suffer so today? Can it sometimes be traced to our proximity to the sins of the federal and filial heads, the fathers? Why does the church suffer so today? Can it be traced to our lack of courage in church discipline, and how we allow public sin to exist in our very midst, even in our leadership?
It’s not persecution that has me worried. Persecution always has and always will make God’s church stronger. It’s God I’m worried about. It’s Revelation 2–3, where God looks at the sins of the leaders of the churches and promises to take away the covenant blessings from entire churches. Many people were in danger of discipline and hardship because of the rebellion of a few (Rev. 2:20–25).
I have no crystal ball that allows me to see a one-to-one correspondence between certain sins and certain negative consequences upon the visible church. And if anyone says he does, he undoubtedly is trying to sell something. But we must stop ignoring the fact that God will discipline His people as we allow covenant-breakers to live in our midst.
Elect elders who are serious about biblical church discipline. Choose pastors who believe they will be barred from the pulpit if they break their vows as ministers. Encourage your church to have membership vows and extensive membership classes. Encourage others in the covenant community to make their calling and election sure, just as you are doing.
Does imputation seem unfair? You bet. But it is a part of God’s upside-down economy of the kingdom. If we want to live here and prosper, we must bring our hearts and minds in line with His ways.