Preacher #1 once asked me to step up to the plate in the war against the Homosexuals.
I told him no.
Preacher #1 also asked me to have grace on his son, because he was divorced.
I told him yes.
Preacher #1 later thanked me in tears.
I told him that it had been very much in my heart to do.
We hugged.
I hope he will learn to see people different from him the way he sees his son.
___
Preacher #2 walked up to me at a party for the son of Preacher #1. He was upset with me for having grace on the divorced son. He proceeded to lecture me. “Do you know why God hates divorce?”
“Because it hurts his kids so much,” I suggested.
“Well yes there’s that, but it’s mainly because he hates broken covenants.
“That is the truth. Isn’t that why he came down here to hold up our end of the bargain when we couldn’t keep it?”
“Well, yes…”
“I think God’s love for his kids is so outlandish that it rushes out to find us in our brokenness, decay, pigsty stench, and stupidity. I think he throws his arms around us to hug us before we even get the words, ‘I’m sorry, Dad,’ out of our mouths.” Isn’t that the way you are with your kids?
“That’s not the issue here.”
“Right, you want to talk about the son’s divorce status.”
“It’s more than that. I don’t even think he is a Christian.”
“And you think that because…”
“There is no fruit of repentance. He hasn’t’ dealt with his sin.”
“You’re living in sin,” I mumbled sinfully under my breath too quiet for him to hear.
Just then the divorced son walked up and interrupted our conversation. “My neighbor is really depressed today. I’m more than a little concerned for him. Would the two of you mind walking next door to check on him?”
“Now?” we asked, “In the middle of your party?”
“Yes, now,“ he emphasized. “He needs some good care.”
“Wow Greg, you really are a surprisingly, good neighbor,” I observed.
And when I looked over at Preacher #2 I figured I’d be doing most of the talking with the neighbor. He was too busy choking on a large piece of fruit.
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Check out my other blog, Jesus or Squirrel. It’s a fun attempt at figuring out what should truly be credited to Jesus, Religion, Hype, Tradition, Superstition, Satan, Oral Roberts and his Friends, or The Squirrel.
Studio Casey
Hey Chad…
I agree 100 percent with what you did. And If I didn't, I can guarantee Chris would hit me up side of my head – hard!!
I wanted you to know that with your permission, Erin and I are printing up many copies of your facebook tribute to Chris which we'll distribute to her friends and my friends at our little reception here at Casa de Ashby on June 26. I hope you can make it if only for a few minutes. But if you can't please feel free to call and stop by anytime you're in the City of Angels.(forgive me, I'm a native!)
I also want to tell you about a little encounter I had the other day with one of our "web" entertainment reporters. I'll mail that to you separately.
May God continue to bless your mission.
Joe
Joe, of course you have permission. I am very honored that you'd want to share my reflections with others. thank you! I left you a message on Facebook regarding the reception. Thanks!
you tagged "forgiveness, fruit, and redemption". That's awesome.
Are people still that undone by divorce, when statistics indicate that divorce within the church is actually higher than without? Wow, talk about unforgiveness. I have seen that "I don't even think he/she is a Christian" thing quite a bit lately. Doesn't it say somewhere in the Bible that no one knows the heart of a man except God? (I know it is in there somewhere!) At the church I am currently attending, the leaders of my son's Sunday school class said something about a musician and questioning that individual's Christianity. I was appalled that they would question someone else's belief's when they know nothing about this person as an individual, only what they see in the news and on videos. How would you recommend I handle this with my church? I already explained my stance to my son. But I am strongly against slamming someone else in a public forum, especially when you have no personal knowledge of the person (and if you do have personal knowledge, you should also restrain because that is just wrong!)
"How would you recommend I handle this with my church? "
Great question. You know, you probably will have a lot more success by living an example in front of your son (that he might emulate) than it would be to try to correct your Sunday school teacher. Think about it, do you think he would just say, "OH MY GOSH! YOU ARE RIGHT!" and do a 180 in behavior? Not that likely.
Of course, if you have the relationship with him that you can give him, good, honest, loving feedback, do so! But if not, I'd suggest letting the Holy Spirit be the one to correct him.
My thoughts come from a blend of the article and the picture.
There is a time and a place for confronting and rebuking. I'm sure we all have a friend who through years of love and friendship we can go to them(or they to us) and say WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!!..and it's appropriate. A pastor certainly has the right to scold his congregation and speak to them individually in regards to their faith as God leads him to do so. So does a divorced young man young man need to be rebuked and confronted? Well, I think it's a copout to say we don't judge.. because we DO judge. Divorce is wrong and not in God's will, pure and simple. So, shouldn't we take that judgment and realize..uhoh.. he's out of God's will=brokenness, guilt, avoiding God because of guilt, shame, loneliness, he needs Grace! Awesome you were there to show him some! He needs love and encouragement and support and for us to be an arrow to Jesus. If his life were to go down a bad path from here, then those who have earned the right to do so can rebuke, confront and speak into his life as the Lord leads them.
…In regards to the picture and your preceding post…I know people look at the old puritans who would go to the public square and preach on sin, call sinners to repentance and warn them of Hell. The difference is a George Whitfield for example. He would be so broken in his heart over people's sin that he often would just stand there and weep. Compare a weeping man with the expression on the faces above..and i don't know about you but if a man is weeping over me..I want to hear everything he has to say about me! Thanks for letting me post.
Glad you are posting! I love the illustration you used about Whitfield. Thanks!
4 sinners meet up at a party……
Exactly!
Great Site……
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Its not about judging but judging righteously. Its about loving the sinner not the sin.
Judgement of a persons heart is forbidden in the Bible. Judgement of the sin is given to us to do. It is wrong and will cause pain to many people. Sin causes heart ache and many other problems. It separates us from God. We then need to confess our sins and ask Gods forgiveness. It is for our side that needs to come plain before God and acknowledge our sin
How can two walk together unless they are agreed. How can we truly walk with God if we do not see things his way. Its about a relationship and not the sin per say.
The real problem is that we too often judge the person and his heart by sin. We ourselves have excuses for out bad behavior but give the person in sin none. Trying to make ourselves look better.
We should hence forgive others as we are forgiven but still guide them to the truth that sin will hurt God and others.