God on the Side of Sinners by Margaret Manning

Take about 5 minutes to read this snippets version of The previous day's 'A Slice of Infinity'. Follow up by reading TODAY'S SLICE and forward any comments on your faith journey.


(Romans 5:1-11)

(2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

A Slice of Infinity Snippets:
C.S. Lewis, the most reluctant and dejected convert in all England, penned this now famous and oft-quoted account of his conversion. Unlike some who decided to follow Jesus with urgency and willingness of heart, Lewis came into the Kingdom of God kicking and screaming! While some of us resonate with Lewis’s dread of conversion, most of us, like the Prodigal Son, gladly pursued the path home.

Lewis’s reluctance fascinates me, but I am even more moved by the portrait of God presented by his conversion story. Lewis reminds us of the love of God that relentlessly pursues even the reluctant prodigal who would turn and run in the opposite direction in order to avoid God’s gracious embrace. The God revealed in Lewis’s account is a God on the side of sinners. Indeed, even the reluctant convert is wooed, courted, and pursued by God’s love. How sadly ironic, then, that the reluctant are often the ones I am quick to reject and judge...

Paul, the “chief of sinners,” knows this great reconciliation personally...

This profound allegiance of God with sinners raises many questions for us. Do we witness to the God who is on the side of sinners as we share the gospel of Jesus? Are we as reconciled sinners proclaiming the message of reconciliation in our words and our deeds? Have we been so moved by God’s alignment alongside us as the helpless, the sinful, and even as enemies that our first motivation is reconciliation, and not judgment, towards those God loves? Miroslav Volf beautifully sums up these questions when he states “God does not abandon the godless to their evil but gives the divine self for them in order to receive them into divine communion through atonement, so also should we-whoever our enemies and whoever we may be.”(3) As we reflect on our own standing before God, may we not be reluctant converts blind to the depths of our own reconciliation. Rather, may our common heritage as sinners move us to pursue others as God has pursued us.

Comments:
If you remember a few days ago, I had written that perhaps many need to hit bottom in order to look up. While this still may hold a truism, I recognize my selfishness and my all too 'eager-to-get-on-with-Other, Greater things' spirit.

Last evening, Kaci and I went out for ice cream. While we were driving away, I saw a couple of Mormon guys. You know the ones, they wore black pants, white shirts and name tags. To a man walking by, I heard one of them say, quite sincerely it seemed, "good evening sir, would you be interested in hearing a message about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?"

Regardless of how much truth the Mormon faith holds, I have to admit I was slightly humbled by the reckless abandon of the question.

I continue to hold the view that relationship is key, but open air preaching has seemed to have much great effect throughout the ages.

May we continue to Love our neighbors and bring to them the message of reconciliation at any opportunity God puts on our hearts.

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