From The Editor: Grace and Consequences
Even the most on-fire-for-God Christian can fall. Unfortunately, we see it in the news all the time.
It’s so commonplace at this point that some people think that’s all the Church is — just buildings filled with hateful hypocrites. It’s a terrible witness to the secular world, but it hurts even more for those of us within the Church.
Setting aside personal and emotional implications, let’s look at the spiritual impact.
We are all sinners. That’s why Jesus came and died for us, because humanity intentionally disobeyed God and brought sin into the world. Through Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, we can be unified with God, both now and forevermore.
But we have to choose this. We have to choose life over death. The sin part is natural for us. Choosing life can become, and really should be, easy, but ever since the Fall we struggle against our sin nature.
Sin looks so good. It sounds and smells so bright and enticing. It’s so easy to reach out and touch it, to indulge and feel good. For that brief moment, you may find paradise. But look deeper and you’ll see that shiny façade is just a thin coating over rotting filth. That sweet taste is disguising an acrid, bitter poison. When the ecstasy fades, you may find yourself in an unknown, dangerous place surrounded by laughing enemies and no way out.
And once you take a sip, it’s hard to stop. Because you know once you stop, you’re going to have to face the rot and mess. It’s much easier to just take another sip and “find your bliss,” “live in the moment,” or “chase your happiness” for a while longer.
That is sin. It’s not true. It’s not good. It’s ultimately destructive and hurtful for you and everyone around you. And even as Christians who know better, sometimes the lure is too great, and we give in to temptation.
When someone in the Church gives in to sin, it’s heartbreaking. Not only are they hurting those around them and tainting their ministry and witness, but they are also choosing to be separate from God. They are choosing destruction because it feels good.
Praise God for His forgiveness and grace! Without Jesus, we would be doomed to decay, never experiencing unification with our Creator who fully loves us. But even though there is grace, there are still consequences.
The pastor who cheats on his wife still has to face his family and his congregation. He may lose both as a result, even though God forgives him.
The abusive minister may face prison time even after receiving God’s grace.
The embezzling preacher may have to pay heavy fines and face criminal charges for his misuse of funds. People will no longer trust his teachings, let alone trust him with their tithes. He can receive God’s forgiveness, but his ministry will never be the same.
When we sin, we can be forgiven. But we still must face the earthly consequences of our decisions. Relationships are strained or broken. Our previous ministry is gone along with trust. We can move forward through God’s grace and forgiveness, but things cannot be the same as they were before sin.
God can turn this brokenness into beautiful testimony if we let Him. If we choose to cling to our maker in repentance, people will see God’s work in our lives. A terrible choice can become a story of redemption. Things will never be the same, but God can make something beautiful from the brokenness.
In John 8, a woman who was caught in adultery is brought before Jesus. When his response convicts the hearts of her accusers, they all leave, until only she and Jesus remain. Jesus tells the woman, “Neither do I condemn you…Go now and leave your life of sin,” (John 8:11b).
God erased her sin and judgement, but she still had to then go back to her family and deal with the consequences of her actions. Even fully forgiven by God and spared from the law’s fatal judgement, she had to forge a new path forward; her life could never go back to how it was before her sin.
We are given grace after grace every time we fail. But let’s choose to remain close to our Father, eschewing the sin that so easily entangles. And when we do fall short, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9).
Now go and leave your life of sin.