I wrote here about having more grace -- grace abounding -- even where it's not easy.
Especially when it's not easy.
But even then, I do have my limits.
I'm not advocating for crazy license for anything anyone ever does; or tolerance that says, "I'm okay, you're okay" when, frankly, some things are not okay. I do believe in right and wrong. I also believe, however, that the grace is in how I handle those situations.
Take racism. It still exists. It's ugly and hurtful and downright mean.
If someone uses a racial slur toward me or my children do I sigh and say, "Well, there's room" and move on?
HECK NO!!
That needs to be addressed!!!
*insert mama bear*
But I will say this:
I think that these issues fall into the "love the sinner hate the sin" mantra we hear so much about.
Truthfully? I hate that phrase.
Mostly because I think it lends itself to actually hating the sinner and covering it with "well, I just really don't like your sin".
Whatever.
So I want to coin a new phrase for the same idea.
Like "address the sin and give grace to the wounded."
Sin.... grace.
That's why Christ came, right? That we would have saving faith in HIM and receive grace for all of OUR sins. Why not extend the SAME to our brothers and sisters? After all, their sin comes from their own woundedness.....and there is ALWAYS grace for that.
Or should be.
Back to the racism example. Children are not born racist. We learn racism, either from family or circumstances or communities. And that learned hate is expressed -- inappropriately -- through racism.
I HATE racism.
At the same time, I know it didn't come from nowhere and in this broken world I can do my part to educate about race, demonstrate racism-free living (or try), and have grace where it's needed.
To be clear, this is not easy. I despise it when people exemplify hate for any reason, but most of all the race reason. But if I don't show grace in those situations, who am I???
Truth . . . Grace . . . Love . . .
That's what it's all about.
Lord, help me to understand more about Your grace so I can extend the same to others. Amen.
Especially when it's not easy.
But even then, I do have my limits.
I'm not advocating for crazy license for anything anyone ever does; or tolerance that says, "I'm okay, you're okay" when, frankly, some things are not okay. I do believe in right and wrong. I also believe, however, that the grace is in how I handle those situations.
Take racism. It still exists. It's ugly and hurtful and downright mean.
If someone uses a racial slur toward me or my children do I sigh and say, "Well, there's room" and move on?
HECK NO!!
That needs to be addressed!!!
*insert mama bear*
But I will say this:
I think that these issues fall into the "love the sinner hate the sin" mantra we hear so much about.
Truthfully? I hate that phrase.
Mostly because I think it lends itself to actually hating the sinner and covering it with "well, I just really don't like your sin".
Whatever.
So I want to coin a new phrase for the same idea.
Like "address the sin and give grace to the wounded."
Sin.... grace.
That's why Christ came, right? That we would have saving faith in HIM and receive grace for all of OUR sins. Why not extend the SAME to our brothers and sisters? After all, their sin comes from their own woundedness.....and there is ALWAYS grace for that.
Or should be.
Back to the racism example. Children are not born racist. We learn racism, either from family or circumstances or communities. And that learned hate is expressed -- inappropriately -- through racism.
I HATE racism.
At the same time, I know it didn't come from nowhere and in this broken world I can do my part to educate about race, demonstrate racism-free living (or try), and have grace where it's needed.
To be clear, this is not easy. I despise it when people exemplify hate for any reason, but most of all the race reason. But if I don't show grace in those situations, who am I???
Truth . . . Grace . . . Love . . .
That's what it's all about.
Lord, help me to understand more about Your grace so I can extend the same to others. Amen.
