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Repentance, forgiveness
Repentance, forgiveness Monday's Meditation: Beautiful People?
Monday, May 24, 2010 at 12:02AM This weekend I read a touching and transparent blog post by Jon Reid called “Repentance.” Jon details attending a leadership retreat for his church, The Journey, located in San Jose, California. I’ve never been to The Journey, but I can assure you it’s a church capable of making big-time mistakes: mistakes in representing the Lord Jesus, the gospel, or mistakes that would certainly provide good reason for those who are wounded to hold enmity against the people in leadership. I know this because The Journey is staffed by people, and people can be a real pain in the . . . well, you know.
Jon mentions his own history of frustration and pain, disagreement and ambivalence (even now) toward The Journey, yet found himself in close and apparently revealing quarters with the church’s leadership team. Jon found them to be “beautiful people,” even though clearly he has been at odds with some of them. And this impressed me.
I wondered if I had ever referred to those who had hurt me as “beautiful people.” I’ve certainly been willing to give others the benefit of a doubt, but also reserved the right to consider them misguided, selfish, clueless, or even wicked. I’m not sure “Beautiful” has ever made it into my list of adjectives. Perhaps they could become beautiful if they would just see things correctly (and I’d be glad to enlighten them on that account).
So this Monday’s meditation is an invitation to us all. Without excusing selfish and sinful behavior for even a moment, I believe we have to acknowledge Jesus himself chose to “staff” churches with . . . people. And people can be a real pain in the--well, you know. In my frustration I’ve frequently turned to Colossians 3: 12-14. Perhaps it will hold some meaning for you, too:
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."Either Jesus miscalculated, or part of our own personal spiritual formation depends upon practicing these words. Admiring these words is not enough: the life of God is found in the act of living them out. But where? Then I think to myself, “where else can I put these words into practice--other than my family and my church?” I never seem to come up with a better answer than either of those two places. Blessings abundant to you, Jon, and to all of us on our journey.
Reader Comments (7)
Wow. I love it when people take what I share and turn it into a broader meditation for others. You'd think it would make me proud, but I find it quite humbling — I think because it becomes clearer that it's not about me, and that God is orchestrating things beyond my reach.
It's funny, but when I sat down last night to blog something, I had no intention of writing that. I actually had something else in mind. But that's what came out.
Thanks for running with it, Ray. I hope others use what you've written, and that it continues to spread beyond either of us, to the glory of God.
I've had to basically intercede for pastors who have injured me in order to get the bad taste out of my mouth. And I still have to do it. OTOH I am genuinely concerned for their well being now, as a result of praying for them. Praying for those who curse you helps you dissipate the emotions of being on the receiving end of treachery; but the memory remains.
Good morning, Jon & Charles:
Jon, I'm grateful you listened to the still small voice--keep it up!
Charles: "Praying for those who curse you helps you dissipate the emotions of being on the receiving end of treachery; but the memory remains." Exactly I'm pretty sure we are not supposed to forget. The resurrected Jesus kept the scars of his crucifixion, and those scars became part of his testimony.
Peace!
This post is more timely for me right now that I can begin to get into. Sometimes it feels like you have a direct link to my head and heart! I can especially relate to this:
"I’ve certainly been willing to give others the benefit of a doubt, but also reserved the right to consider them misguided, selfish, clueless, or even wicked. I’m not sure 'Beautiful' has ever made it into my list of adjectives."
Time for me to post Colossians 3:12-14 on the wall by my desk.
Thanks for this Ray. You really nailed this one. I wonder if some of our conflicts result from the veneers we place over others. We create an image from our own perceptions and experiences, but our goal as disciples is to see others as God sees them.
This post is more timely for me right now that I can begin to get into. Sometimes it feels like you have a direct link to my head and heart! I can especially relate to this:
"I’ve certainly been willing to give others the benefit of a doubt, but also reserved the right to consider them misguided, selfish, clueless, or even wicked. I’m not sure 'Beautiful' has ever made it into my list of adjectives."
Time for me to post Colossians 3:12-14 on the wall by my desk.
Thanks for this Ray. You really nailed this one. I wonder if some of our conflicts result from the veneers we place over others. We create an image from our own perceptions and experiences, but our goal as disciples is to see others as God sees them.