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Those People Sin? How Convenient! We Have Something in Common!
Devotional Thought of the Day:
15 Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof—Public Sinner Number One— 16 of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (MSG)
367 Among believers ( original read Catholics) it might perhaps be that some have little Christian spirit; or so it might seem to those who have dealings with them at some particular moment. But if you were to be scandalised by this fact, you would show that you knew very little about human wretchedness and… about your own wretchedness. Furthermore, it is neither just nor loyal to use the example of the weaknesses of a few to speak ill of Christ and his Church. (1)
it is a rare day when looking at facebook and twitter doesn’t cause a bit of sadness. Simply put, a lot of those who count on God forgiving their sins, forget that it is God’s desire to forgive all sinners.
Yeah – it means those people we don’t just judge but those we condemn. Politicians, athletes, movie stars, our neighbors, ex-spouses, bosses, employees, immigrants, criminals, instead of fearing God’s wrath and repenting, they feel our wrath. And that is a problem, because if they feel our wrath, they won’t know the blessing of fearing His, of having the Holy Spirit cut their hearts open and bring them healing. They won’t ask us about the mercy of God, the forgiveness poured out in love. They won’t engage us in discussion, they won’t come into our homes or invite us into theirs.
There are a lot of religions out there, there are even some that have no deity, except perhaps one’s self. Reaching them with God’s love isn’t some kind of war, some kind of argument. Even Elijah’s “battle” at Mr Carmel wasn’t a head to head battle. It was, let’s see whose God will answer prayer, let’s see whose God will reveal Himself, not for the prophet’s and priests sake, but for the sake of the people God would make his own.
When we realize we are sinners as well, there are a number of blessings that come. The first is that we can hear that our sins are forgiven. The second is that once forgiven, we can still identify with those who struggle in guilt or shame, we know what it is to deny the truth, we know the brokenness, and can speak their language and point them to the hope we know, the mercy we’ve experienced, the love that brings us comfort, and heals our brokenness.
That’s what Paul is getting at, when he says his sins top all ours. (and no that is not a challenge) That is what St Josemaria is pointing to, when he calls to mind our own wretchedness.
We have been given hope, we know we’ve been delivered from the muck and mire of sin.
They need that – and yes sin can be confronted in a way that lays out hope – that takes them along the path we’ve been on, as we come alongside them. that works a lot better than lasso’ing them and dragging them into God’s kingdom, or just leaving them in their brokenness!
Lord have mercy on us, and teach us how to have mercy on others…..
Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). Furrow (Kindle Locations 1683-1687). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Pastors, Christians and Enforcing “the” Law
Devotional Thought of the Day:
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)
15 This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, 16 but God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 To the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God—to him be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen. 1 Timothy 1:15-17 (TEV)
Yesterday, on the way to church, I stopped by my usual fast food restaurant at 6 am. This has become, if not tradition, something close to it.
One of the reasons is the manager, who at 6 am always has a smile and a warm greeting for me, something I imagine is part of her – for who else is cheery and bright that early in the morning! ALthough I have noticed her staff is usually that way as well, perhaps because hers is contagious. About a year ago, I started to notice that she was discounting my large Ice Tea from on the ticket, and thanking me for serving others. You see, on Sundys, especially, I am wearing my clerical collar. It’s a nice thing – but the reason I return is their friendliness and attendtiveness – even when I am wearing a polo shirt with the church’s name on it, or even old raggedy clothes.
Yesterday, I actually looked at the receipt and noticed that the discounted Ice Tea was labelled. “Law Enforcement Discount” and I had to chuckle, actually laughed quite a bit. Because I know that is how some perceive pastors, and far too often, Christians in general. Matter of fact, people often ask me why I don’t slam those who regularly flaunt God’s law with their very public behavior. The Miley Cyrus’s, or the politicians, or those who would shut Christmas celebrations and signs, those who would justify killing, whether euthenasia, or abortion, or depriving the poor of food. I get the sense that many Christians are disappointed when I don’t single out one sin, and that non-Christians often expect me to condemn them.
My primary mission isn’t to condemn people, or to enforce the law. In fact, it is just the opposite. It is to comfort and free sinners from shame and guilt, carefully using the Bible and the sacraments, the ways in which God has promised His grace to be be delivered.
Neither is “law enforcement” the mission of Christians, it is not in our job description, for were we to do it well – all would stand condemned. That’s why Paul points out that he is the chief of sinners, so that others who have sinned (IOW all of us) can know the joy and peace of being freed from sin’s effects. That is the light we are called to be, the grace that is the “salt’s” flavor. Condemning others robs them, and us of the grace of God, which should be so predominant in our lives, that others know it, even before we begin to explain the reason we have this hope.
Yes, there are times, as a pastor, where I ahve to confront some specific sin, some problem that is on going and is wrekcing people’s lives. Yes there are times where it helps to identify the sins and temptations that overwhelm us, to warn of the dangers, to encourage people to come and confess them – so that they can hear those beautiful words, “your sins are forgiven”. So they can realize the need for Christ’s grace, at that point in their lives, allowing Him to bring healing, restoration, and enable them to peacefully rest in His presence. Perhaps then, as we understand that pastors are priests aren’t law enforcement officers, we will be less anxious when the guy in the black uniform with the little plastic “badge” at his throat shows up,
So that together, free in Christ Jesus, we can praise and glorify God
Law Enforcement is a good thing, and I thank God, and often those involved in it, for fulfilling their calling.
But mine is different, as is the church’s.
May we get this – and may Christ’s grace bring light whereever we go! AMEN
Grieving our Condemnation of a Photo being taken
Devotional Thought of the Day:
1 Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand 2 No insults, no fights. God’s people should be bighearted and courteous. 3 It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. 4 But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, 5 he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. 6 Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. 7 God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! 8 You can count on this. I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone. Titus 3:1-8 (MSG)
16 If a hostile witness stands to accuse someone of a wrong, 17 then both parties involved in the quarrel must stand in the Presence of GOD before the priests and judges who are in office at that time. Deuteronomy 19:16-17 (MSG)
758 You say that he is full of defects! Very well… but, apart from the fact that people who are perfect are found only in Heaven, you too have defects, yet others put up with you and, what is more, appreciate you. That is because they love you with the love Jesus Christ had for his own, and they had a fair number of shortcomings. Learn from this!
Yesterday my twitter and facebook accounts were flowing with criticism of three world leaders for taking a picture of themselves ( a “selfie”) at the celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life. They were smiling, but the atmosphere of the celebration was a joyous one. How “shameful!”, how “horrible”, “How disrespectful”. were the cries. To be honest, the two prime ministers, both of very reserved countries, were not criticised as much as President Obama was. I wonder, if he had said no, and insulted the Danish lady who asked, how the press and the cybersphere would have handled it?
I challenged a few of the more virulent attacks, wondering where their compassion and understanding went, when the rush to judgment occured. I asked a few questions,
1. When exactly in the celebration was the picture taken?
2. Who asked for the picture?
3. Did you know this wasn’t the funeral, but a public celebration and testimony of this remarkable man’s work?
I’ve learned to ask these questions, because of my own experience rushing to judgment, and falling on my face as I realized I didn’t know the entire story. I am not immune to such rushes to judgment, yet I can stop myself a little more often. Those I asked – came back defensively, as if there was no valid reason to question their public questioning and condemnation of this action. The irony is slightly amusing, but far more, it grieves me. Especially among those who know God, who understand His mercy, who know His commandments to love, to build up each other,these comments were made, and so I grieve.
I am afraid we’ve lost our way, that we’ve become so polarized in our comfort, that we don’t lift up leaders, that we don’t remember that they, like us, are human. We don’t take on the big issues, but we look for what we perceive to be charachter flaws, signs of betrayal, and we latch onto those things. What kind of example are we setting, what kind of love are we showing people that God has for them? If theyknow the scriptures, how could they see us as obedient to God, as treasuring the kind of life that He commissioned us to live?
If we claim to live in GOd’s presence, if we claim to know the Holy Spirit dwells in us, how can we continue to be so ready to believe and pass on every criticism about someone, whether we know the details or not. How will this behavior reflect on the God who appointed us as His ambassadors? Will this pattern of behavior, far more self centered than “selfies”, become part of our church relationships? Our family life?
At what point will we lay down our idolatry, our self appointed judgeships, and will we pray for our leaders? When will we look to encourage them and respect them rather than tear them down?
Will will confess these sins, and hear those incredible words – your sins are forgiven you – go and sin no more!
For God is faithful – and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!
Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). Furrow (Kindle Locations 3150-3154). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Related articles
- A Real God Addressing Real Brokenness through and in us = Real Church (justifiedandsinner.com)
- Dealing with the Resentment That Hinders us…. A Lesson from Mandela (justifiedandsinner.com)
- Advent Devotion: Convenient, Comfortable Christianity? Hmmm… (justifiedandsinner.com)
Sliding into a Culture of Death
Devotional Thought of the Day.
As a society, we love to play God.
And we are fascinated by death – both physical death, and spiritual death.
All you have to do is peruse blogs and facebook this day, and see that we are doing battle over death constantly. First there is the HHS mandate, and the idea that anyone but churches need to pay for abortions – that is, we need to pay for our insurance to pay for the option to abort. Church leaders of many denominations are fighting this, and sometimes – they are fighting other church leaders who hold the opposite view. It is very sad, even more so when we realize that the pro-life movement is re-trenching around this. We used to challenge abortion as a whole, now we are reduced to fighting who is responsible for it.
Even as all the focus is on abortion and the Health Care Mandate, there is another battle brewing on the horizon. In Massachusetts, the state where I was born, the looms a battle over Doctor assisted suicide. It is on the ballot there, as it has been in Oregon. Again we as a country are being decided whether some have the right to play God, and determine whether a life has the value or lacks it, and should be terminated with prejudice. Yes – prejudice, for if we make the decision that a life, whether in the womb or in their 90’s isn’t worth it, we are deciding the issue based on prejudice.
But I would bring up one more way that we, as the church, are faced with “sliding into a culture of death”, although sliding may be a bit of an understatement. We condone spiritual death with much more ease and much more frequency than we do physical death. We do this, in two ways, one very active and violent, the other, passive and without care or compassion.
ACTIVE CONDEMNATION: This is the first way in which we embrace a culture of death. When we outright condemn others – (for instance, those who back abortion or euthenasia) because we feel they are too evil. In doing so, we steal the authority of God and make a determination only He has the right and authority to make. (Yes, God gives the church the authority to bind the sins of those in our midst who are unrepentant – but that is so they will learn to repent – and more importantly, its in regards to those we are actively and personally calling to repentance) When we condemn someone, when we mock and deride them (see the Sermon on the Mount) we are committing murder in thought and word even as others commit it in deed.
We can judge them, call and encourage them to depend on God’s mercy, without damning and condemning them.
The other way is more subtle, and shows a lack of care, and indeed a lack of compassion. It is when we decide, actively or passively, that there is no need for them to know Jesus, to be embraced by His love and mercy, to be given the opportunity to know the life that is germinated as faith and repentance is given to them. We know how it happens, in hearing the gospel, in the Holy Spirit working through word and sacrament to create and nurture that life. And we passively and again with prejudice, let them continue to live without the knowledge of God, save what they can learn through nature.
In all four of the above ways, we see the church and the world sliding into death. Sliding into the seemingly inevitable consequence of sin’s dominion. Death, both physical and spiritual.
Except that it is not – there is always God’s gospel, the call to not take life, but to sustain it. The call to not terminate, but to enourage. The call to not condemn, but to talk and offer forgiveness. There is One who embraced death, so that we would not have to – that we could live, and even if we physically pass, we shall live forever. For that is where death is defeated, as Jesus hangs on the cross, and asks the Father to forgive us all….
May we realize He has, and even as we realize how that frees us to live, may we help others to see it as well.
Lord Have Mercy… and thank you Lord, for letting us know You have!
