Yesterday in Richmond, an upcoming Good Friday celebration got an asterisk...with the asterisk meaning *certain crimes non-applicable. And in an opportunity to really demonstrate what makes Good Friday good, many heads of church fumbled; opposed to embracing the broken...as Christ did...they pushed the broken away. However, the reaction that [allegedly] encouraged Geronimo Aguilar, the embattled former pastor charged with several counts of child molestation, to step down from a pre-Easter service that featured an all-804 line up, will go mostly unnoticed. Because for most of us Aguilar's reported transgression is too much for us...so we'll pray for him from a distance.
Around this time of year, the images of Jesus suffering and dying for the sins of all of mankind are starting to pop up. Many are tailored for child-friendly audiences while others are as brutally honest as possible. But even with the horrible, graphic images of the lynching, there are still some things that aren't fully thought over by a sizable group of Believers.
Consider the knowledge of Christ. He's at the creation of the world with God the Father (John 1:2) and throughout time seeing all of the vileness of man. In His sinless being, He spent all these centuires knowing He would provide the appropriate atonement by suffering and dying as if He was sinful. Murder, theft, fornication, and yes, even child molestation was covered. He willingly traded His majestic nature for one that's as filthy and distorted as ours. While we attempt to weasel out of our flaws with excuses, He in essence claimed responsibility for them. Most of us would beg not to die for our own mistakes, much less for someone else's. But what if Jesus, Savior of the planet, while looking at your record said, "now that's a sin I'm gonna move away from; they can take that on their own"?
Well, that's what happened in the capital of the Confederacy this week. Those who profess to be Christians and even have the heart to attempt to make other Christians, distanced themselves from a beaten one. Through media and political pressure, they determined that Mr. Aguilar's sin was too great; and that a pulpit could not be shared with him. Instead of taking the chance to show how much Christ forgave us, they decided to not be associated with the shame...even though Christ made their own shame His burden. They determined that God's grace, which was shown by God with the intent that men would show it to others, is indeed limited.
Truth of the matter is that God's Grace has no limits; but we do...and we show them everyday. We forgive the cheating husband and shun the homosexual. We condemn the dog fighter but admire the drug-addicted owner. But we don't realize that in all of those situations forgiveness from us is available, powerful, and needed. Ephesians 3:20 says that He can do more than we ask or think, that is if we believe He can. And throughout life we must remember that it's our certainty in God that gives us the strength to forgive and help restore broken people, including those whose actions directly or indirectly have hurt us. Even when being a past victim, we have received the ability to overcome the hurt and shame because Christ overcame the world (John 16:33). And again, that power is completely connected to our ability to believe in God instead of our own opinions, emotions, or realities. Unfortunately in this situation, it appears that in these brother's minds, the ability to confront and forgive child abuse and the [alleged] child abuser is beyond their belief. Well, at least while people are watching and offerings need to be collected. It's all good though, because Christ paid the ultimate debt for all sin...even a little unbelief.
Peace
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