tagged 
Re-post from August 2012
Re-post from August 2012 Who Will Cover Me?
Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 11:26AM 
I’ve decided to do a bit of griping today—but only for one paragraph. Be warned. Here it comes.
The blogosphere is filled with criticism, finger pointing and name-calling between family members. A famous Christian minister says something stupid (and it was stupid) and before you can say “trending topic” he is pummeled by criticism from others within the faith. Someone is hurt by their mistreatment at a local church, so they adopt Lone Ranger status and start a new blog about how the “real” church has nothing to do with organized religion. One faction of believers promotes an opinion and, in response, another faction labels them heretical or dangerous. It’s Jersey Shore for believers, only uglier.
There. I vented for one paragraph. But—no surprise—I don’t feel any better, nor have I changed anyone’s opinion or behavior. We all remain the same.
There’s a more excellent way. In my frustration, I reach for an island of transcendent sanity. I turn the pages until I read:
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:7-10)
One phrase shines through the layers of meaning in Peter’s words: “love covers over a multitude of sins.” He is talking about a community of people who have received the great treasure of God’s grace and are called upon to steward that treasure by how they treat one another. This stewardship includes the kind of love capable of protecting others from themselves: love refuses to reveal the sinfulness of others. To publicly expose the sins of others indicates a lack of love.
Who will help me? In my shameful state I need a love that throws a garment over of my ugly nakedness—the nakedness I have put on display by my selfish, egotistical, controlling words and choices toward others. Who will protect me if not the members of my own family?
This week’s meditation is a quiet reflection and openness toward the Holy Spirit. He can help us explore the depth of our love toward others. We can simply ask him: Does my love cover other's sin?
There's a difference between excusing sin and covering it. Can I hold people—especially members of God’s family--accountable without exposing them?
Our call to steward God’s grace goes beyond our personal relationships and extends to everyone with whom the Father has a personal relationship. It means we learn to love others for simply no other reason than that the Father loves them. It means loving all the church. When I rail against the sins of the church I am simply demonstrating my lack of love for her.
We are each given a stewardship of grace. We can be like the man who foolishly held his one talent and chose not to multiply it. We can keep God’s grace to ourselves, or multiply God’s grace by extending it to others.
Reader Comments (1)
Hello Ray,
We know as followers of Christ that it appears that many Christians are looking for something more from their church. Are these Christians looking to have their sins covered? It doesn't seem so. Perhaps they are looking for more revelation. Some way to have more of God in their life. Many of these Christians are looking to find or obtain more of the Spirit of God, I think. In the apostle Paul's writing in Romans he states that we are able to conquer sin as believers. In other epistles he states how to live a godly life in the Spirit (or spirit). The apostle Paul says to put to death the deeds of the flesh. He states that we are no longer slaves to sin, that at the cross we died and therefore are no longer under the law. Sin's power is the law, although Paul states that the law is holy and righteous. We've been redeemed from the law in order to serve another, Jesus Christ.
Why are many Christians having so much trouble with sin and the deeds of the flesh? This is the question of our day. The Bible indicates that this should not be the case. No leader was chosen by the early church who was struggling with sin in their lives. I'm not thinking that this individual you refer to here in this blog has trouble conquering sin in their life, but they might. I believe this person reached out and condemned many other Christians to the status of an unbeliever because of his doctrinal or theology differences from others. Does he now want it all forgotten and forgiven? Covered over with 'love'? If he made a mistake he needs to say so. If he still holds to the same opinion.... then I don't believe that it is wrong for other Christians to point it out publicly. The apostle Paul pointed out the faults of other 'teachers' in his writings. Those who were peddling God's word for profit, those who were teaching that Christians needed to keep the law along with believing in Jesus Christ.
It says in the scripture from Peter that you source in this blog that the 'gifts' of God are given by grace. We steward these gifts.
Linda