Opinion
Faith Forum: Will God forgive repeated sins?
July 14, 2007
Advertisement
God is an experience that doesn't condemn
The Rev. Darlene Strickland, senior pastor, Unity Church of Lawrence, 900 Madeline Lane:
Consider this: God does not forgive. How so? God does not condemn.
As humans, we personalize God. Yet God is not a personality that must be pleased or persuaded; God is a presence we experience and express. God is spirit - source - the creative presence that animates and sustains all life.
As such, life has a built-in system of correction - cause and effect. Every action or choice we make results in a reaction or outcome. If I disregard the law of gravity and leap from a rooftop, I suffer the consequences of my actions. I do not suffer God's personal wrath or condemnation.
As long as we believe our God condemns, it gives us permission to condemn. Jesus taught that we should forgive "seven times seventy." This did not mean 490 times. The number seven is symbolic for "completion." In other words, forgive as many times as it takes. If we are instructed to forgive "as many times as it takes," how could our creator offer us anything less?
"God is love'" and love is life-affirming. It inherently guides us to discover and express our self as God's emanation - love. Love teaches and corrects without diminishing. In the presence of love we bloom, discovering and freely giving our unique contributions to our world. This spirit fosters the highest level of responsibility and accountability, both individually and collectively. As we come to know this love as our very essence, we discover the keys to the kingdom: heaven on earth, here and now.
- Send e-mail to Darlene Strickland at revdarlene@sunflower.com.
Gospel's good news: God forgives all sins
The Rev. Paul Gray, pastor, Heartland Community Church, 619 Vt.:
Fortunately for us, God promises to forgive ALL our sins - past, present and future. Otherwise, we'd be in big trouble.
It's obvious to anyone that we're going to tell more than one lie in our lifetime, lose our temper more than once, etc. The original definition of "sin" is to "miss God's perfect mark." Romans 3:23 says, "We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard."
God states in Hebrews 10:17 that when he forgives us, he chooses to "never again remember our sins." Psalm 103:3 says, "Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who could ever survive?" We get paid wages for what we've done; we get what we deserve. God says, in Romans 6:23, "the wages of sin" - which we've all committed - "is death."
If he just stopped there, we'd all - even the nicest old saint - be in big trouble. Thank God, he doesn't stop there. The rest of that verse says, "But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord."
The Bible makes it clear that unless we personally accept the free gift of eternal life that Jesus Christ provides, we'll have to pay for our sins ourselves. But when we accept Christ, he pays for our sins. We all sin - more than once - and God won't forgive even the littlest sin unless we accept Jesus Christ as our personal forgiver. But when we do, he forgives all our sins - past, present and future. That's the good news of the Gospel.
- Send e-mail to Paul Gray at paul@hcclawrence.com.
More like this
- How can Christians keep the Easter spirit alive year-round? 1 comment / April 22, 2006
- Faith forum November 19, 2005
- Faith Forum: Are some parts of the Bible more important than others? 4 comments / June 2, 2007
- Faith Forum: Why did Jesus have to die, according to Christians? 90 comments / October 13, 2007
- Faith Forum: Is baptism necessary for salvation? 2 comments / October 27, 2007
Top ads RSS
- Financial Manager Research & Graduate Studies (RGS) and the KU ...
- Research Assistant KU Requires bachelor's degree in biochemistry, chemistry, molecular ...
- Lawrence Chamber of Commerce
- Coordinator with Teaching Responsibilities University of Kansas Requires professional knowledge ...
- KU Student Health Services
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- KU's Wright didn't approach Perkins November 21, 2009 · 18 comments
- Nation has right to ask ‘why?’ November 21, 2009 · 56 comments
- Mangino's contract outlines probe November 21, 2009 · 70 comments
- Lawrence man charged in hit-and-run accident that killed bicyclist November 19, 2009 · 116 comments
- Palin stirs feminist ambivalence November 21, 2009 · 27 comments
- Blog: Palin Book Could Be Your Cheapest Source For Winter Fuel November 20, 2009 · 83 comments
- Blog: We Noticed November 19, 2009 · 125 comments
- Blog: How Has Obama's Stimulus Helped You? November 21, 2009 · 2 comments
- Mangino denies validity of former player allegations November 19, 2009 · 158 comments
- Blog: Why Do People Repeat Falsehoods? November 20, 2009 · 58 comments
- Four decades in crisis mode November 21, 2009
- Winter sports officially begin for city schools November 17, 2009
- The cowboy way: Williamstown church ministry draws unique following November 21, 2009
- No line at H1N1 immunization clinic November 21, 2009
- Health and stress affect grades November 10, 2008
- Lawrence couple excel in triathlons November 21, 2009
- Americans save more but earn less as interest rates fall November 21, 2009
- Obesity activist crossing country to urge American Indians to embrace healthier diet November 20, 2009
- Mangino's contract outlines probe November 21, 2009
- Leaders offer tips for chancellor’s successful tenure November 21, 2009
14 July 2007
at 7:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
SettingTheRecordStraight (Anonymous) says…
Thank you, Paul Gray!
14 July 2007
at 11:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Ragingbear (Anonymous) says…
When the time comes, everyone is going to be absolutely shocked to discover that only Atheist go to Heaven. Wouldn't that play with people's heads?
15 July 2007
at 9:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
queequeg (Anonymous) says…
fine examples of the sick xtian 'philosophy'
15 July 2007
at 5:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Mr_B (Anonymous) says…
There is no such thing as sin. If there were such a thing as sin, it would be teaching our children that they were born in sin and come short of the glory of God.
If you exist. You ARE Gods glory.
God looks upon us in absolute awe of the most awesome, the most magnificent creation he has ever made.
The only evil in this world is in the minds of those who, having chosen their beliefs, would force another human being to conform to those beliefs.
This is the cause of the death of Jesus. This is the cause of the fall of the Roman Empire. This is the cause of the Inquisition. This is the cause of the Holocaust. And this is the cause of the terrorism that we face today. This will also be the cause of the fall of America if we do not stop trying to force other nations to follow our beliefs.
Neither Heaven nor Hell are places, but states of being. When we all come to believe and understand that the spirit of every living thing IS the spirit of God, and all things, living or not, ARE the physical body of God, then we have come very close to creating the state of Heaven. When we unconditionally love all of God, then we have created heaven. Until then, we will continue to create a hell, here on earth.
Forgiveness is not required if there is no pre-judjments.
16 July 2007
at 10:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Lepanto1571 (Anonymous) says…
Anti-Secularman,
The Pope told me he forgives you and will absolve you of your many sins!
Mr B,
“What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone [on this board] is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
20 July 2007
at 2:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Mr_B (Anonymous) says…
And the pope's religion is one that sanctifies the sexual molestation of the children by the clergy.
Man is a Religious Animal. He is the only Religious Animal. He is the only animal that has the True Religion - several of them. He is the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his throat if his theology isn't straight. He has made a graveyard of the globe in trying his honest best to smooth his brother's path to happiness and heaven. ~Mark Twain
I believe in God, not religion. I stand by my previous statement.
20 July 2007
at 3:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
beatrice (Anonymous) says…
As a child, I prayed each night for a bicycle, but never received one.
Then I realized God doesn't work that way.
So I stole a bicycle, then prayed for forgiveness. — emo (paraphrased)