Why don't we weep over sin rather than judge it??

The Gospel of grace produces a heart that is broken and weeps over what sin has done to someone we love rather than a wounded heart that judges the hurt our loved one has done to us.





I was recently reflecting over a Christian family I know that has gone through a divorce. In this case the wife and mom left the marriage. The response of the husband and father was rather self righteous. As the carnal mind would react, he focused on his accusations of her regarding her sin. He created vitriol in the teenage children toward their mother by turning their attention to the mistakes she had made and how she had hurt them. The father and the sons reported how this trauma in their lives had turned them more to faith in God's saving grace. Yet, judgmentalism, bitterness, and unforgiveness continued to rule their relationships with her. The question is should this faith not change the hearts of the father and the children toward their mother?

The fact is that this mom is a special lady, a Child of the King, but had a life time of sin perpetuated on to her by others engendering in her fear and guilt. From childhood through years of marriage she had been harmed and violated in many ways, hindering for her the privileges and provisions of the Kingdom. Now, I am not professing that what is done to us excuses what we do. The point here is not explaining or rationalizing the sin in her life (or ours for that matter) but exploring the Grace reaction and response we should have toward others' sin, especially the sin against us by those who are close to us, like family. We should weep over what the sin of others has done to a person, not what sin that person has done.

The model for us:
The Jews had rejected Jesus as their Messiah and King. What was His response? He said He did not come to judge but to save. He wept over Jerusalem. The effects of sin on His children were His focus, not their sin actions. His heart is broken over our sin, He does not condemn us for it (Romans 8:1). In fact He died for the sin that affects and harms us, not for what we did or do.

Why would we, who have been transformed by Grace, not have the same mind toward others?  Something to ponder...

"Give more, expect less", REALLY?

Yesterday I saw a sign on the marque in front of a mainstream church which said "Give More, Expect Less". I am sure all people passing by got a warm and fuzzy from this message. It is true that this is a good challenge to the carnal mind that can only make sense of relationships by expecting something back from their giving. So as far as this goes, it is a nice admonition.

However, I believe this emphasis is primarily where the church has failed to invade the world with the Gospel message (the good news). The sign should say "Receive more, be obligated less!" That would turn some heads. That would get peoples' interest because that is the GOOD NEWS. It counters the other half of the destructive nature of the carnal mind. Its when we receive the redemptive work of the Cross that we are saved, transformed, no longer an orphan but an adopted child of the King. Moreover, we are in no way obligated to God for His gift, we are merely thankful and live from thanksgiving, not obligation (that's legalism).

Jesus says He came to serve, that is to give of Himself to us without conditions or expectation. Jesus also said 'no greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for a friend'. This simply means that a loving relationship occurs when the human agenda (social exchange) is set aside, done away with and Grace replaces it as the model for giving and receiving. Receiving without obligation ushers in the freedom to love another deeply and is what is sorely missing, more than the desire to give to one another. I know far more "good" people who freely give but cannot receive than vice versa.

As I have blogged before, the genesis of trust is receiving, not giving. When giving, we are in control. Trust comes when we choose to receive from another we cant or choose not to control, when we are vulnerable, maybe even hurting or lost. Joy comes when we have the privilege to receive from one who unconditionally loves us. Its the outflow of intimacy we experience when we trust.

The carnal mind says give with expectation (in this case the sign is helpful) but also to receive with obligation (not addressed in this sign or any other sign in front of a church I have ever seen).

The Kingdom mind says give without expectation and receive without obligation.

I'd love to see that sign in front of a church one day!!!
It just might get the interest of the cynic :-)

"Why not"

This is not a question but an answer to a question. Its the last line in the movie "We Bought a Zoo" and is the answer to the question "why would a beautiful lady like you want to go out with a guy like me?" which led to a life of love and adventure.

Too often when we face opportunities that come before us our response is "I can't" or "I shouldn't" or "what would people think?"

Often the only consequence of how we answer many of life's propositions is the extent of love and adventure in our life. Which response will we regret the most at the end of our life?

May this be a question of faith?  something worth pondering ......

making sense of "New Year"

Today is one of those times when many people reflect back and resolve forward. Looking back can bring both pride in accomplishments and guilt over failures. Looking forward brings us hope and determination about what can be but fear of what might be. Of course, next Jan 1 we will be reminded of how our resolutions faded, replaced by disappointment. Resolve for the new year becomes progressively less hopeful. This is our human dilemma because the good life revolves around what we do and how our circumstances form to bless or curse us.

Those who trust their well being to Jesus have a Kingdom mind. This should mean something very different to making sense of the progressive cycles of the new year. In the Kingdom God's view of us has nothing to do with what we did or will do. His view of our goodness is never based on our ability to set and keep good resolutions.

He views us as the recipients of His own love for us. He has made us good, not our resolve. When He sees us, He only sees His Son who paid the price for our failures, guilt, disappointments and yes, even the pride that keeps us at enmity with God.

Looking backward and looking forward is a great time for the Kingdom mind to overwhelm us and to make sense of the past year and the new year as simply blessings from the provisions and privileges of the Heavenlies!!

Lets replace New Year reflection and resolution with pondering His grace ....