My friend and colleague Jason Collins sent me a link to an article today. Go ahead and click on the link then come on back and let’s discuss.
As you know this blog is called “Scandalous” with the tag line “Grace is always a scandal.” Would you side with the pastor in taking the guy into his house? How would you feel if you lived next door? Is there a correct response for a person who follow Jesus? If so what is that response?
5 comments:
There is no "correct" response for someone who follows Jesus.
For you to suggest there is means you have already decide what someone who follows Jeuse should say. Who are you to make that call?
Even though I put it in the form of a question I can see what you are saying. I honestly don't know what I would do. I believe that some thoughts I have about what it means to follow Jesus would inform what I would do. But I still don't know if I would do what this guy did or what I would do.
Think About It,
Maybe you need to "re"think. To suggest that there is no correct response means you also have determined what someone who follows Jesus should say. Who are you to make THAT call??
I agree that I don't know what I'd do. I'd have think long long and hard about it, and I would be very concerned about the feelings of my neighbors with children. God has been bringing people who have been in prison into my life recently and I can honestly say that He changes people. I've been comfortable inviting these people into my home and have seen these people respond to God's love just as much as anyone can. This story also hits close to home in another way. It's been just about a year now since my first cousin Roy died in prison at the age of 49. He led a life filled with bad decisions and and that showed poor self control. Most of his adult life was spent in and out of prison and most of his adult life his family has prayed for him and never rejected him for the things he did. He was in and out of prison mostly on drug and theft charges, but the one that put him away until he died was a child molestation charge. There was no question as to his guilt or innocence; he was guilty. While he was in prison he became a christian. Even though he had a crappy education, he grew in Christ and was compelled to start a newsletter that gained a wide circulation among numerous prisons. When he died, the editors of the newsletter did a tribute issue to him. It was astounding how many people wrote letters to say that Roy led them to Christ and that they have seen genuine changes in their life. The people writing these letters were both in and out of prison. There's no question we have to trust God when we allow certain people into our lives, but I have seen with my own eyes that He can make enormous changes in people.
Hans thank you for sharing that story. I too have come to know some awesome people that God has used prison to change their lives.
Post a Comment