On Acceptance
May I share something with you today? I know I tend to go on and on about things God shares with me, but they excite me. When I finally "get" something it, well, it turns me on so to speak.
Acceptance is a big deal for me. I won't bore you with the details of my childhood, but let's just say that middle school was not a good time for me. Consequently, my beliefs and feelings about myself were so completely scarred that I'm still dealing with the effects of it today. Over 20 years later.
But today I hit a realization. A "revelation" if you will. Jesus accepts everybody. Warts and all. Now before you slap yourself in the forehead and say, "I coulda had a V8. Is that all you're worked up over???" just hear me out a little more. I already knew that Jesus loved me. I knew He died for me. But there's a slight shade of variance between acceptance and love. I can't completely explain it, but there is. For me, love means that God had compassion for me in my pitiful state and gave Himself up for me. Acceptance means He likes me. He likes me.
Now all of you devout and learned theologians are going to start squirming at this, and it's OK, but guess what else I think. I think God likes everybody. Even the sinners.
Pick yourselves up off the floor. You look outlandish sitting down there with that look on your faces.
Perhaps I should clarify the statement a tad. I didn't say that God likes sin. I said God likes the sinners. Loves them in fact. (We already went throught the love/like thing but I still thought I'd remind ya'll of that)
So.
What does this mean for me? Well, actually it's liberating if you want to know the truth. Now, if Jesus loves/accepts everybody, especially sinners, how am I supposed to feel about them? More importantly, how am I supposed to act toward them?
Let me put it this way. Why does the church continually expect sinners to behave like they're saved before we'll love them? Why would we expect them to stop sinning before they know anything about Jesus' love/acceptance? I have my thoughts on that, but I need to flesh them out a bit more before I post. So look for part 2 on this Monday. I'm takin' the weekend off.
Isn't Jesus the greatest ever?
Romans 5:8 (New American Standard Bible)
8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Acceptance is a big deal for me. I won't bore you with the details of my childhood, but let's just say that middle school was not a good time for me. Consequently, my beliefs and feelings about myself were so completely scarred that I'm still dealing with the effects of it today. Over 20 years later.
But today I hit a realization. A "revelation" if you will. Jesus accepts everybody. Warts and all. Now before you slap yourself in the forehead and say, "I coulda had a V8. Is that all you're worked up over???" just hear me out a little more. I already knew that Jesus loved me. I knew He died for me. But there's a slight shade of variance between acceptance and love. I can't completely explain it, but there is. For me, love means that God had compassion for me in my pitiful state and gave Himself up for me. Acceptance means He likes me. He likes me.
Now all of you devout and learned theologians are going to start squirming at this, and it's OK, but guess what else I think. I think God likes everybody. Even the sinners.
Pick yourselves up off the floor. You look outlandish sitting down there with that look on your faces.
Perhaps I should clarify the statement a tad. I didn't say that God likes sin. I said God likes the sinners. Loves them in fact. (We already went throught the love/like thing but I still thought I'd remind ya'll of that)
So.
What does this mean for me? Well, actually it's liberating if you want to know the truth. Now, if Jesus loves/accepts everybody, especially sinners, how am I supposed to feel about them? More importantly, how am I supposed to act toward them?
Let me put it this way. Why does the church continually expect sinners to behave like they're saved before we'll love them? Why would we expect them to stop sinning before they know anything about Jesus' love/acceptance? I have my thoughts on that, but I need to flesh them out a bit more before I post. So look for part 2 on this Monday. I'm takin' the weekend off.
Isn't Jesus the greatest ever?
Romans 5:8 (New American Standard Bible)
8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Comments
I LOVE the thought that Jesus likes me. Right now. Not for who I MIGHT become someday. Right now. That's HUGE!! Thank you for putting it out there for me to remember again!
So....what are you trying to say? *grin*
Stephanie....where ya been?
Connie, Lundie & Heather...thanks for the encouragement. I truly appreciate it.
Thanks.
dou!