The Great Tragedy

There once was a man who was caught in sin. He was immediately taken to a meeting of Christians. Exposed before them all, he said nothing as each one of these Christians whipped him, jabbed him in the back, and spit on him. They condemned him, and left him in a gutter to soak up his tears. Somehow he managed to drag his wounded body back home. At least there his family tended to his wounds, washed him of his filth, and nursed him back to health. But he wasn't the same anymore. The more time that passed, the more hollow this man seemed. He was a kind man, and a hard worker. He had dreams like everyone else, but above all, it beame obvious that this man was seeking one thing. A safe place, where arms of compassion would welcome him home, where sweet mercy falls like rain, and where a band of brothers would fight for him and never leave him behind. He sought a place called grace.

And then this man received a chance to try again. He took it, but reluctantly, because all he wanted was that place. But his reluctance turned to hope when he heard rumors that this was that place. He tasted excitement when more and more people talked about something that sounded so strongly like this place. There he walked into another meeting of Christians with the memory of his stoning still weighing heavy on his heart. And much to his surprise, they listened to the account of his horrifying experience of being caught in sin and they accepted him. He was convinced that it would only be a matter of time before these men extended their arms of compassion to welcome him home, show him sweet mercy, and fight along side of him never to leave him behind.

While the men acted like they belonged to this place, this never happened. He excused their distance, and went on with life as he always knew it to be: hard, painful, and lonely. As the weeks passed, tears constantly filled the man's eyes. Reminders of this place called grace tormented his weak heart. He longed to meet Jesus, but he was trapped with strong men who maintained their distance. It was true, they had good excuses why the man wasn't welcomed into their safe place. One claimed it would be too awkward for himself if the man were included. Another feared that the leader would probably hurt the man instead of help him. Some were uncomfortable with sins being confessed. Others of them believed their culture couldn't handle it. Their women seemed perfect, and could not tolerate a man's weakness. This made these men afraid of letting a sinner into their safe place because their wives would never understand. And that's just it--they were afraid. They never tried. They went on with their lives as usual, and soon forgot all about him.

But months later, when they finally remembered the man, it was too late. The enemy attacked. He found the man in total isolation and ambushed him with accusation until he fell apart. The man fought back, but he was too weak, and he fell. His family agonized over this tragedy, but none of the people knew how to help them. They never learned how in Sunday School. They never were taught by their Teacher. So they did what they've always done: put on a smile, and pretend like everything's okay. And it worked. And don't worry, it really is okay. The man got to meet Jesus. And Jesus wrapped him in His arms of compassion, washed him with tears of joy, and welcomed him home. And there, in the arms of Jesus, he found the sweet mercy that fell like rain. There, he met his Band of Brothers who would never leave him behind. And the man was fully alive for the first time in his life. (and it was he to whom eternal life was given)

*I wrote this parable or story a year ago to express a deep longing in my heart for the church to put down the stones and unveil the A's we all wear deep inside. That longing was re-awakened tonight, and so I post it, yet again. My prayer is that someone will read this and consider what the Spirit wants us to become for the sake of one another in this battle of life. Or, will we continue to hide, and pretend, while the world around us is destroyed.

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
"If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20
see John 8:1-11

Grace isn't fair

"I marvel at Jesus' tenderness in dealing with people. John gives the account of Jesus' impromtu conversation with a woman at the well. In those days the husband initiated the divorce:this Samaritan woman had been dumped by five different men. Jesus could have begun by pointing out what a mess the woman had made of her life. Yet he did not say, "Young woman, do you realize what an immoral thing you're doing, living with a man who is not your husband?" Rather he said, in effect, I sense you are very thirsty, Jesus went on to tell her that the water she was drinking would never satisfy and then offered her living water to quench her thirst forever.

I try to recall the spirit of Jesus when I encounter someone of whom I morally disapprove. This must be a very thirsty person, I tell myself. I once talked with the priest Henri Nouwen just after he had returned from San Francisco. He had visited various ministries to AIDS victims and was moved with compassion by their sad stories. "They want love so bad, it's literally killing them," he said. He saw them as thirsty people panting after the wrong kind of water. When I am tempted to recoil in horror from sinners, from "different" people, I remember what it must have been like for Jesus to live on earth. Perfect, sinless, Jesus had every right to be repulsed by the behavior of those around him. Yet he treated notorious sinners with mercy and not judgment." (from Yancey's remix version of What's so amazing about grace?)

Re: Submit to One Another

A certain friend posed this question: "Can we truly allow another believer to 'bear our burderns' if we do not open ourselves up and allow him access to the depths of our being?" (Re: Submit to One Another)

No, I really think it's not possible. Sadly, though, I'm not sure we're willing to....unless..... we've heard from God what He thinks of us with our fig leaves removed, standing totally exposed before Him. It's probably the most mystical, vulnerable thing we can do. And I think it has something to do with the process of being rescued from darkness and the despair of evil (what fundamentalism calls "saved" or "salvation" or maybe "rededication").

Uh, here's what I mean. A mentor-friend of mine taught me that grace means to stand totally exposed yet be totally accepted. A few years ago, I tasted this grace for the first time in the journey. I think he's pretty close. See, what caused Adam and Eve to shamefully hide in the garden now is cause for us to fall into the arms of our Rescuer, Jesus.

Because as ugly as my hidden life had become, I was convinced in my shame to hide myself from God and man. But, finding clues that His heart was good, I surrendered. And, I myself am totally exposed before God, yet totally accepted. I am bewildered by the truth that we, being His children, have everything we need to be victorious in the painful struggle against sin and the evil one. But here's the heart of my battle, the choice I must make daily in this struggle: Is my reputation (what other people think of my greatness) more valuable to me than the health of the body, and becoming a man like Jesus in His death that I might live like him through His life? I finally made the choice to take the road less traveled, and I assure you, it is terribly painful. But, it is totally worth it. I know the truth of who I really am...I am strong, and I have overcome the evil one (see 1 John 2:14). God makes me strong for the sake of my brothers and sisters also on the journey. But, I am strong because I am weak. I am only strong because I'm not alone in this battle/journey. I need brothers and sisters who can wield the sword and take up the shield of faith beside me, especially when I can't. And I cannot, and neither can you, unless we know (are convinced of) who we really are--knowing the power of being accepted by our heavenly Father, knowing Christ as our brother and perfect high priest, and above all, knowing the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.

It's all in the journey. Are we ready for it? The the health of the Church depends on it. Hey, there really is a battle underway for middle-earth.

So, we're to confess our sins to one another, because we struggle and desperately need healing. We're to bear one another's burdens, because Jesus bore our shame on the cross and we have nothing left to hide.

So, no, to answer the question, I don't think it's possible. We can't allow another believer to 'bear our burderns' if we do not open ourselves up and allow him access to the depths of our being. We cannot open ourselves and grant one another access to the depths of our being until we know the Truth, and the Truth sets us free. What can we possibly be waiting for?