Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

Brad Johnson posted a response to a question I asked him about ministering to people who have fallen in the church.  It was so powerful I had to pull it out and make it a post by itself because I realize some of you may not have read it.  Brad has been there so he knows what he is talking about.  

Hi Kevin–

You asked me an important question…how to show grace…

–collectively, teach your church with this case study. wrestle with it. talk about it…do something insane–like send money, make sure bills are being paid, have your members write letters to every family member (and especially to your friend). sounds like this incident involved a crime/victim. that victim should be lifted in prayer. affirmed for the strength to come forward (if that is what happened). your writing suggests you have a communication gift and bright mind. use those with your church to bring a collective response from a body/fellowship/local expression of the church.

–long term- suicide will be on this person’s mind. his depression, shame, guilt will deepen as the responses and consequences of sin hit him and those he loves, like a tsunami. this agonizing process will unfold for the next year—minimally (and for years, if there is prison involved). settle in for the long haul. establish a strategy to stay next to this family. partner with those in his local church who may or may not be doing something. i assure you he’s getting hate mail. he can’t go out of his house without pain; nor can his family. make sure they are getting an equal measure of kindness. staying with them –not just through, but after–the storm is character quaility of perserverance.

–personally, find a way to see this man, pray with him, hold him. yes, guys can do that. you don’t have to ‘fix’ anything, nor can you. long after he’s forgotten your words, he will remember you came.

–a pressing, and oft overlooked aspect of this is financial ruin. This family needs help. They will for a year.

–teach: yes, there are consequences–but Christians are to alleviate burdens, not add to. I assure you, God doesn’t need help in the spiritual realm for us to reap what we sow. your friend will suffer way more than anyone will ever know. so, do the outrageous…show the undeserved…THAT is grace.

beyond simple compassion, or sympathy or empathy or generosity…show the outrageous…the stuff that makes the world say: “Are you freakin crazy? The guy deserves a bullet, not a house payment”

ahhhh…..if it isn’t amazing, it’s not grace. hope this stimulates your thinking and response.

Wow!  Did you get that?  We sing Amazing Grace all of the time but how often do we offer Amazing Grace?

What do you think?

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