Out of Ur publishes a dilemma faced by a congregation choosing to welcome a child molester into their body or banish him to the hinterlands. The question that swirls around this instance and the countless others that the Church faces every day is just how far Christ expects us to extend our love, acceptance, and forgiveness. But then, if we have to ask it appears that we missed the point of His life and death and life.
A profound change came over the direction of my ministry when a young homeless man became a part of church that I belonged to. He was tolerated by some, shunned by others, and loved by few. It was hinted that I devoted a little too much effort to ministering to him. Love, accept, forgive became endure, tolerate, and watch. I can envision the reception that the child molester is facing in that body.
Did Jesus give us the option to turn away from repentant sinners? Is there a sliding scale on which our sins are judged, some being acceptable and others not? The answer to both of these is no. However distasteful we find the sin, our call is to view the sinner in his new light, pushing his previous sin as far away as the east is from the west. What are those who run away going to do when they encounter this man in heaven?
LOVE | ACCEPT | FORGIVE 