One of the first hymns I memorized as a child was "The Spirit of God." The final verse begins with a very memorable line: "How blessed the day when the lamb and the lion shall lie down together without any ire." I didn't really understand it as a child, but I though it was talking about the peace during the millennial reign. Now I understand it to be talking about the mercy and justice of God. But I think, as humans, we still don't get it.
Those who look down on others as sinners tend to only comprehend the Lion, that is Christ as the eternal judge of all mankind. In the extreme cases, this kind of thought leads people to magnify their own opinions into doctrine and they assume anyone who doesn't agree with them will receive the punishment of God.
On the other extreme, I increasingly notice people who only seem to comprehend the Lamb. When people claim that Christ's primary doctrine was simply to love and accept others the way they are, I have to assume they have never actually read the Bible. Christ always confirmed the importance of following the commandments. For example, while he was merciful to the woman caught in adultery, he also instructed her to "sin no more." His mercy is not one of acceptance, but one of education. It's the love of a great teacher inspiring students to improve themselves and change for the better. Because eventually He will have to judge us, give us the final exam, so to speak; and we will have to measure up. Christ still has to fulfill his role as the Great Judge. And he wants us all to pass -- but without lowering the scale to the point that everyone passes automatically. We can't forget that He is both Lamb and Lion.
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