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I believe one of the critical issues that the church faces is how to not shrink from naming sin and still be the bearers of grace. Christians have tended to deal with the subject of sin in one of two ways: either by being silent or by being judgmental. Either we skip over the uncomfortable bits and wind up conveying a gospel of warm feelings and cheap, sentimental grace or we behave and speak in ways that appear condescending, judgmental and critical.
–Rebecca Pippert

What an interesting (and accurate) statement. We decide we shouldn’t judge so we remain silent. Or we decide we must judge and that we must do so with the hammer condemnation. And so there is no grace to help a person be told the truth so that he will be offered the chance to escape his sin, or there is no grace to allow the person to understand the sweet offer of forgiveness even in the midst of terrible mistakes. That wasn’t the way of Jesus.

Jesus held a strong view of sin and a strong view of grace. He was not silent about sin, but he spoke about the availability of forgiveness in a loving way. The Samaritan woman at the well was treated with dignity and love, even during Jesus pointing out her relationship sin. He told people over and over to Repent, and to sin no more (judging sin), but people still loved being around Him (because He offered love and grace).

When will we learn to do the same? We don’t want to offer cheap grace, nor should we want to condemn. We should love all people to the point of wanting them to know Jesus!

I want to prefer God above everything else — including recognition — and live my life in such a way that it wouldn’t make sense if there were no resurrection.
–Anonymous, from Embracing Obscurity

Me too.
You too?

The word majesty, when applied to God, is always a declaration of his greatness and an invitation to worship. The same is true when the Bible speaks of God as being on high and in heaven; the thought here is not that God is far distant from us in space, but that he is far above us in greatness, and therefore is to be adored. “Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise” (Ps 48:1). “The LORD is the great God, the great King…. Come, let us bow down in worship” (Ps 95:3, 6). The Christian’s instincts of trust and worship are stimulated very powerfully by knowledge of the greatness of God.
–J. I. Packer

He is not far from us, but He is far above us in greatness, power, might, dignity, and worth!
May God show each of us His greatness today so that we will naturally adore Him!

People who looked to Jesus as their political savior were constantly befuddled by his choice of companions. He became known as a friend of tax collectors, a group clearly identified with the foreign exploiters, not the exploited. Though he denounced the religious system of his day, he treated a leader like Nicodemus with respect, and though he spoke against the dangers of money and of violence, he showed love and compassion toward a rich young ruler and a Roman centurion. In short, Jesus honored the dignity of people, whether he agreed with them or not. He would not found his kingdom on the basis of race or class or other such divisions. Anyone, even a half-breed with five husbands or a thief dying on a cross, was welcome to join his kingdom. The person was more important than any category or label.
–Philip Yancey

Jesus honored the dignity of all people, whether He agreed with them or not.
I am to be like Jesus.
I am to do the same.
All men are created in the image of God, and therefore have dignity and worth. May I always remember that when I look at people who are different than me. And may I strive to love them with the love of Christ – with compassion and kindness, seeking to be a friend to them.

The cross should be the only stumbling block any “outsider” would ever face when entering our churches. God’s Word gives clear space for the cross to offend. The church is not.
–Ed Stetzer & Thom Rainer

What prejudices, biases, or preferences do you hold that would keep you from welcoming someone into your life? God calls us to “be all things to all people” in order to save some. He tells us to live at peace with all men, as far as it is possible. We, the servants of God, those who know His love and compassion though we did not deserve it, we are the ones who are to bend over backwards for others, so that they can experience God’s love through us. The only thing that should possibly cause them to be offended is the message of the cross and the Lordship of Jesus, these are the things that many people find too difficult to accept. But other than that, it is our role to lay aside every prejudice, bias, and preference so that we can by all means save some by bringing them to Jesus!

God, remove from my heart and mind all things that would hinder me from leading someone to You. Help me to be willing to befriend everyone in order to help lead them toward Your great grace.