There are times when I wish you had a better pastor (I know some of you do too!).

 

After the service last week, I was talking with Walt White about what he said to us.  He was talking about the idea that we should allow a Muslim convert to Jesus continue to identify themselves as Muslim (culturally).  I completely agree with the idea, and he and I expanded that idea to others and I expressed that I often have difficulty separating the sin from the sinner.

I’m not sure if it is a result of the way I was brought up (I struggle with my own rules for life), or if I believe I have to defend God, or if I am possessed by some Pharisee and he keeps trying to get out and take control.  It is probably a combination of all three.  It is difficult for me to see the line between the person and their actions.  I do not believe God wants me to be this way and I want to give Him room to change it.

I have always said that living the Christian life is a balancing act.  We are up on the wire and we need to walk carefully.  Too much weight on either side is equally dangerous.  We do not want to be too rigid with how we obey (or enforce) the Law, but we do not want to take the Grace we have been given for granted.

I am grateful that God let me see this because it means two things:
1)  He is still at work in my life.  He has not given up on me and He will continue to help me the make the change I need to make in my perspective.  My prayer in this particular case is the He will let me see everyone the way He see them.
2)  If He is still at work in my life, pointing out those areas of my life that have yet to be conformed in His image it means He also still loves me (Hebrews 12:6).  He loves me just as I am and He loves me enough to want to help me to be better than I am.  I am not looking to be the best person in the world, I just want to be the best person I can be.  I have the same goal for Greater Life Church:  Not the best church in Elko, the best church FOR Elko.

Keep praying for me – I’m praying for you!