Forgiveness
In San Diego, one of the ministries we joined up with was a ministry to low-income hotels. These are places that rent out one-bed-rooms for $500 per month. The people living there share restrooms, kitchen, and smells (which were harsh). Imagine a kids bedroom and that’s what they’re paying for. It’s literally one step up the latter from living on the streets.
The ministry we partnered with goes in multiple times every week to pray and share the gospel with the hotel residents. There is high turnover, but some of the folks who are there every week have formed a small community. They take care of each other with Christs love.
We went to a weekly bible study and meal in their common room kitchen. Really, it was in a hallway. 30 or so low income hotel folks and about 10 of us from the ministry. We began with some singing, since I had my guitar. They don’t get music often, so this was a huge hit (despite my personal distain for 80-90s praise music). Then a guy from the ministry shared the gospel. Maybe 10 minutes or so.
But the real amazing part of the evening was after the sermon. There was a new guy from the hotel present. He was black, unhealthily skinny, disheveled, and missing some significant teeth. He raised his hand at the end of the talk and said, “You mean God forgives me of everything that I have done?”
“Yes, and everything you could ever do.” Replied the preacher.
And with that a huge smile broke out on his face (with his 3 or so teeth). He was so excited. We all saw true joy on his face. Shock colliding with the reality of the gospel. It was one of the best moments of the trip.
When I think about forgiveness I don’t have that kind of shock and joy anymore. It has become a given for my faith journey. Maybe I’ve lost something. When this guy heard of God’s forgiveness he wasn’t robotic or emotionless. He wasn’t calculated or stoic. He was beaming with excitement. He was like a kid seeing the presents under the tree on Christmas morning, “You mean all of these are for me!?!”
I pray that I would long for God’s forgiveness once again, and explode with joy because I already have it.
Repentance
My pastor, Scott, preached on the importance of Repentance this Sunday at church. It was a great look at the misconception that many Christians fall into, and that is: Repentance is something I did once, when I was first saved. Instead, we ought to look at repentance as an ongoing part of our progressive sanctification. Maybe as a spiritual discipline.
I have to admit that I realized this morning again that I suck at repentance. I was reading the beginning of Matthew and in 3:8 John the Baptist’s words hit me hard: “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”
I find myself so consumed with self-righteousness that I almost scoff at the thought of repentance. I am doing pretty well, so why would I need to repent. But then I wonder when I fail to “bear fruit” and fall into temptation.
Bearing fruit, good fruit, is a part of the repentance process. It’s interesting that John and Jesus both preach the same message in Matthew 3:2 and 4:17 – “Repent, for the kindgom of heaven is at hand.”
I need to repent.
You can hear Scott’s message here.
Sin & Salvation
Recently Jennifer Knapp, female singer-songwriter, has come out as a lesbian. In some new interviews (2) she talks about how she lives as a Christian and as a gay person.
There is a lot of talk out there about whether or not homosexuality is a sin, and that isn’t where I’d like to take this post.
What I would like us to talk about is the issue of sin, and where it fits into our theology of salvation. Here are a few questions to ponder and maybe try to answer:
- Can someone be “saved” if they have unrepentant sin in their life? What if they don’t know what they are doing is a sin? What if they do know, but choose to rebel?
- Can someone repent of their sins in part, but not in whole?
- At what point is someone saved? When they have repented for all their sins? When they have asked Jesus to come into their life?
And let’s be clear that we are talking about all sin here. Lust, greed, pride, selfishness, addiction, you name it. Can someone be saved if they are still unrepentant in their laziness?
Many people are out there saying, “There’s no way Knapp can proclaim to be a Christian and be openly gay.”
What do you think?
Close to God
In the midst of all the stuff that my wife is going through, I find myself drawn closer to God. I don’t really understand why this is, but I have some thoughts:
I feel angry and frustrated at the situation we’re in. I do not understand why my 25-year-old bride is suffering in this way. I cannot figure out what God’s purpose in this suffering is.
AND YET, I am finding that I have no where else to turn. There aren’t any answers that I can find, except to draw close to him, and in him I find hope.
I think some people feel closer to God in the good times (which I get) but I find myself drawn to him in times of struggle (I get this, too).
When do you find yourself closer to God: good times or tough times?
