As a follower of Jesus, I know that there is nothing that anyone can do that puts them beyond forgiveness. Even our greatest accomplishments are filth apart from God's grace, which basically puts everyone on the same level. It is neither my right nor yours to criticize someone else's offer of forgiveness or a second chance to anyone even if many think that person doesn't deserve it. Regardless of someone's motives for offering a second chance, forgiveness is an amazing gesture of grace.That being said, I supported Michael Vick's return to the NFL even when many people didn't (or still don't) think he should be given a second chance because his crime was too bad. So, now I will welcome Dante Stallworth to the Ravens even though I have always thought that his crime was worse than that of Michael Vick. I will root for him in hopes that he proves worthy of the grace he has been given. People need to take a good look at their own lives and stop trying to decide who gets a second chance and who doesn't. We all make mistakes and we all sin. "To err is human; to forgive divine!" Go Ravens!
A few years ago I counseled a little girl who was preparing her testimony for her baptism. She told me that although she was a sinner, she hadn't committed any of the really "bad sins." I was curious as to what she considered "bad." She told me she hadn't murdered anyone or stolen anything. So I asked the obvious question: were there any "good" sins??
ReplyDeleteJames 2:10 tells us if we have broken one commandment, we are just as guilty as someone who has broken them all. There are no shades of guilt. We like to pick and choose acceptable sin. We look down our noses at people who abort babies or at homosexuals, but avert our eyes from our own gossip or discontentment. Yet Scripture tells us we are all guilty. We are all in need of grace.
There is a great quote in "The Singer" by Calvin that goes something like this: We cry over the carcass of one dead animal, but whistle past the slaughterhouse.