I grew up in a non-denominational Christian church, attended their high school, the whole bit. I also grew up with my father owning a restaurant next to the town's Catholic church. It was never outright stated but there was a palpable belief that our church held the real knowledge, a few rungs higher on the stairway to heaven (does your husband dance to that one, haha). My view began to change many years ago after hearing an unassuming man pose a poignant question. Suppose you were to ask the biggest religious leaders of the time what percent of their beliefs concerning God they believe are completely accurate. What might their answer be? If ever posed that question, I would slowly begin taking steps backward and look for a getaway knowing it was a trap. But what would they answer? I believe many of their numbers would be much too high.
When I read your prayer of annoyance to God, it made me tear up. Many prayers, and I have heard my share, boast of God's majesty and glory, all while the one praying is subtly (or overtly) the one boasting. But yours is a prayer of honesty and I believe repenting man’s way vs God’s way may be different. Remember, Christ physically healed the sick by forgiving their sins. Christ died for the sinner, not the saint. He came for the sick, not the healthy. And as Paul stated, he did all of this ”while we were yet sinners”, knowing that we will continue to sin.
The next time someone questions your heathenness concerning your “adultery” (and that someone could be you) direct them to Matthew 5:27-28. We are all in need of grace!
It’s funny how we are so good at understanding other people’s shortcomings but ours are always the unforgivable ones. Sometimes I wonder if my sin, rather than “adultery” is actually pride, in my mind i am beyond redemption, but, as you say, man’s ways are not God’s ways. In the end, as you say, we are all in need of grace, and who am I to say God, almighty and omnipotent, cannot forgive me? What type of love would that be? I will have to practice again and put myself in the way of forgiveness more often, be available for whenever God comes calling.
Thank you Joshua for this thought you planted in my head.
I grew up in a non-denominational Christian church, attended their high school, the whole bit. I also grew up with my father owning a restaurant next to the town's Catholic church. It was never outright stated but there was a palpable belief that our church held the real knowledge, a few rungs higher on the stairway to heaven (does your husband dance to that one, haha). My view began to change many years ago after hearing an unassuming man pose a poignant question. Suppose you were to ask the biggest religious leaders of the time what percent of their beliefs concerning God they believe are completely accurate. What might their answer be? If ever posed that question, I would slowly begin taking steps backward and look for a getaway knowing it was a trap. But what would they answer? I believe many of their numbers would be much too high.
When I read your prayer of annoyance to God, it made me tear up. Many prayers, and I have heard my share, boast of God's majesty and glory, all while the one praying is subtly (or overtly) the one boasting. But yours is a prayer of honesty and I believe repenting man’s way vs God’s way may be different. Remember, Christ physically healed the sick by forgiving their sins. Christ died for the sinner, not the saint. He came for the sick, not the healthy. And as Paul stated, he did all of this ”while we were yet sinners”, knowing that we will continue to sin.
The next time someone questions your heathenness concerning your “adultery” (and that someone could be you) direct them to Matthew 5:27-28. We are all in need of grace!
It’s funny how we are so good at understanding other people’s shortcomings but ours are always the unforgivable ones. Sometimes I wonder if my sin, rather than “adultery” is actually pride, in my mind i am beyond redemption, but, as you say, man’s ways are not God’s ways. In the end, as you say, we are all in need of grace, and who am I to say God, almighty and omnipotent, cannot forgive me? What type of love would that be? I will have to practice again and put myself in the way of forgiveness more often, be available for whenever God comes calling.
Thank you Joshua for this thought you planted in my head.