Positive Faith & Sin: Last One

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This conversation on how we talk about sin as people of faith comes down to this (for me): Are we creating more faithful people?

If the way we talk about sin and separation from God isn’t creating more faithful followers of God then we’re doing something wrong. Again, just my opinion.

I personally believe that if you beat people over the head with their “sinfulness” then they get defensive, feel ashamed, and enter survival mode (not in a good way). This isn’t helping people grow and blossom into people defined by their love, mercy, forgiveness, charity, and whatever else. It’s keeping people paralyzed by fear. And, largely, this is because people’s inability to live as who they’d like to be is not new information for them.

We do not need to slam people in the face with things they already know (and are ashamed of).

So, what do we do?

Positive Faith and Sin

The dreaded “s” word. I can remember being in seminary and having conversations with others about wanting to present faith in a more positive light- only to have them quickly dismiss it and accuse me of being “soft” on sin. Being “soft” on sin was their way of saying, “You’re not taking it seriously enough.”

Now, I would say I take it very seriously. I would also say most people I know take their own sin very seriously. I do not believe the problem, when talking about positive faith and sin, is an issue of seriousness. I believe it’s an issue of what’s the most *helpful* way to address sin that actually *helps* people live out their certain way of seeing. Yes, I used the word help twice in one sentence, and this is because I believe how we handle sin in community is a matter of helpfulness.

What is going to produce lives that more fully reflect God’s love?

I’ve got plenty to say on the topic but, in short, I’ll say this: I don’t believe shame and condemnation brings the best out of people. When we don’t bring the best out of people, we’re unlikely to see people at their best (obvious). When we don’t see people at their best, we’re unlikely to see the depths of God’s love that they have to offer the world around them. And that’s what I’m interested in seeing: God’s love springing forth in each of your lives, radically and uncontrollably.

Positive Faith in Scripture: A God Who Comforts

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:4, CEB

God’s goal, his plan, in fact, is to move creation to a place where there will be no death, no pain. There will be no more need for sadness because creation itself will perfectly embody his compassion, patience, mercy, and love.

And, even so, he will wipe away the tears from the sadness that has come before. Because he is a comforter.

There will one day be a time where no future comfort is needed- but we all have pasts- and he is here for us, to heal us.

Love Saves Us

"If nothing saves us from death, at least love should save us from life."

Pablo Neruda

In a beautiful photo book our son Scott created for us, filled to the brim with stunning photos of our grandchildren, there are also some amazing quotes on love. Neruda's is one of my favorites.

Life is hard.

My friend Kathy, like many others of late, has been living in the deep end of suffering. She has cancer and is going through rigorous treatment. She lost her hair. She also lost her dad. She's a pediatric oncology nurse - which sounds hard every day, and she's being doing it for decades. Hard times. Lots of suffering.

But one Sunday of late she chose to get baptized. And it was, by all accounts, glorious. Our community knows how to throw a baptism. There were banners (handmade with her favorite colors), butterflies (she loves butterflies), a gift table, food and a setting that was so beautiful, it could only be described as heavenly. I lost count, but she expected 5 people to show up and at one point I counted 40. She doesn't talk much in front of crowds, but that day? She spoke to her friends and family with a voice of conviction, hope and gratitude. I will never, ever, baptize anyone who is MORE grateful than Kathy.

Love saved her life. Love is saving our lives. Love saved the life of those who gathered for that holy experience. Nothing saves us from death...love saves us from life. Amen.

Large Loving

One day last week Norah and I went on a mission - takeout at Chik-Fil-A. For whatever reason, our car ride reminded her of the previous weekend when the two of us had left a family gathering to return to our house and she rode with me.

"Meme, tomorrow I was sad when you took me to your house," says Norah. (She meant a few days ago; she's still getting past, present and future straightened out in her head.)

"Why were you sad darling girl?" I ask.

"Because we left my sweetheart Christian with Mommy Meredith," she explains.

"But Mommy Meredith and Christian followed us to my house, we were only apart for 2 minutes." I reply.

"Oh Meme, it is just so sad to be apart from my sweetheart," she sighs and one little tear rolls down her cheek. I hope she brings me in my wheelchair to the awards ceremony when she wins an Oscar.

Wouldn't it be grand if we had the faith of children, who dare to believe that an enemy is just a friend in disguise - waiting to mature a teeny tiny bit?