What is forgiveness?

In Luke 18:9-14, two men go into the Temple. One takes pride in himself. The other asks for mercy.

What is forgiveness? Is it something we do or something we ask of God? 

We know that only God can forgive, even the most grievous of sins. Too often we equate our emotions--what we feel--with what actually happened--what God did. If we didn't feel moved, then something is wrong.

I have only had a couple of those "heart strangely warmed" moments. But I've never doubted the work of God. In our prayer of confession we are assured by the minister, "Christ died for us while we were yet sinners."

Yet.

That means that no matter what we do, we are yet saved. We are yet forgiven.

A table is still a piece of furniture. Even if it is scratched, dented, bruised, covered with permanent marker from a four and a half year old, it is yet a table. We are yet sinners, yet are we not forgiven.

That table can be smoothed, restored cleaned. And it will still be a piece of furniture at which people can share a meal, you can study, rest, or even give that permanent marker back to the four year old to make a drawing out of love.

Forgiveness is not seeking something for ourselves, but accepting what God has already given to us.

What do you picture when you hear the word "church"?

What’s your image of the church? A steeple, a building, Sunday worship?

Mine is now a wave. A wave hello is my picture of the church.

Two Sundays ago we celebrated and remembered our baptism at all services. We had an opportunity to touch the water. I had the opportunity to help with the Young Worshippers at the church during the 8:45 service. What you do when you help out is walk with the kids into the sanctuary and back, sit with them during the children’s moments, and teach a brief lesson while the service is going on. I’ve never done it before this last year and I highly encourage you to sign up to do it at least once. Here’s why:

You get to see the congregation differently than you would sitting in the pews.

That day, Mimi Brunson, Director of Evangelism, gave the children’s sermon about church family and baptism. She had all the kids wave at the congregation. Then she had all the congregation wave at the kids.

Wow.

My son, who I was lucky enough to sit by immediately then saw his preschool teacher. He saw the family that has watched him every Monday and been a part of his life since he was 6 months old. And he got excited. I was his family sitting next to him but he was so excited to see the people that he knew and he knew loved him--even at four years old.

That’s the church. That’s the reason why I’ll understand the church as a wave “hello” from now on.

I invite you to come say “Hello” to us at Peachtree Road whenever you get the chance. May God bless you in all you do.

-Thomas