I think for me the word sensitivity would be the best one to use in dealing with all issues of sin.
Sensitivity in general is something I like, and I guess I don't see it in Driscoll, or at least not from his platform persona. He is quite strong about some people in his book but seasons his written words much better with grace.
Sin is wrong, it's how we deal with sin that is contentious, it's also how we grade sin. Now I occasionally drink to much, which is a sin, I have been known to look at naked ladies on websites which is a sin, my thought life is sinful on a daily basis, I am a weak earthen vessel. I try not to excuse my sin, but quite often I do excuse it. Basically I am a sinner who has experienced Grace, my father in heaven graciously restores me when I mess up, he even graciously loves me when I mess up yet refuse to admit it. I am not judged but I am loved.
This is where I think it all goes wrong, no matter how gracious I try to be there is still a bit of the judge in me. I like to think I am gracious in some areas, especially towards the people I am working with, yet sometimes I not very gracious to others!
There are lots of contentious issues out there, loads of positions and sides to take. So people take them. I have often found that I don't like people who sit on the fence. Yet increasingly I feel this could be a good place to be. Now I am reading that statement and I find it hard to accept, because I am a very definite person who has an opinion on most things. What I am finding is that in the world that we are called to love our opinions will often be challenged by real life people, in real life situations and have to change.
We have to handle people with sensitivity, because after all they are all equally loved by God.
5 comments:
Great post Brian. I agree that Driscol's written words are far more tempered and less judgmental, while sensitivity is a path I have tried to follow with regard to any contentious issue.
I love the way you articulate your thoughts here. Keep it up!
Great honesty Brian! I too judge others and sometimes try to correct them, not because I think I'm right, good or better but because it's easier to point the finger at others rather than at myself. (It's then that God reminds me "First get rid of the log in your own eye;then you will see well enough to deal with the spek in your friend's eye")
I am truly joyful of the verse John 3:16, but more importantly would be to apply the behaviour of Jesus in John 3:17 into my daily actions.
Spot on Brian.
I wonder whether the problem is not with sin, but with the church (i.e. the human institution). As it is an institution, and usually a hierarchical one at that, it needs rules to function. The bigger the institution gets the more rules are required - and the more effort spent in sustaining the organisation. Any organisation has to use its rules to continuing functioning and to decide who its members (who is in and who is out). I am not saying this is wrong: it's just a statement of fact.
But I am not sure Jesus came to set up such an institution? Unless this is what "follow me" means?
I wonder if "church" could just be a more informal fellowship of sinners sharing stories of God's amazing grace, would some of these issues we spend so much time stewing over not be so significant?
Any thoughts...
Sin will always be a problem as long as we are in this fleshly body, however it is our spirit that was renewed when we were born again and that is how God looks at us. He looks at the perfect spirit in each of us, which is how we can now come to Him in spirit and in truth. God's grace is amazing and because of the work of Jesus sin is no longer laid to our account. He doesn't hold it against us, however what sin does is give the devil a foothold and he is the one who accuses and winds us up. We all sin, but God has already forgiven all sin.
As far as judgement goes, I agree with Tanya, we are only responsible for our own. Yes we can use scripture to correct our brothers and sisters if need be but we need to deal with our selves first, then check our motive for correcting others. If it's out of love and a desire to see the other person helped then that is valid. We can't make them change though but we can point them in the right direction. And when someone sins against you, remember that Jesus died to forgive THEIR sin too. Go and do likewise.
I think I am SOO much better at expressing myself in writing than I am verbally - so maybe this is the way with Driscoll. I've actually heard him preach when I visited Seattle and he did a really good sermon on the woman at the well (eg one of the first ever ewvangelists). Interestingly they don't let women preach at that church though!
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