The Narrow Road!
It was mothers day and I wanted to hear one of the best preachers I have ever known. We drove across town to sit with my mom and dad and prepared for a sermon that would bring chills to my heart. Instead this man, whom I love dearly, got up to profess his addiction to drugs and that he had checked himself into rehab. I was so proud of this man, I admire, that he was willing to tell the people he loved that he had a problem, not unlike the problems we all have. The leadership of this church then got up and told us they had decided to terminate his employment. Is not church to be a place of forgiveness? Is not church to be a place of help and healing? I grew up hearing about the narrow road. To follow Jesus from every aspect of your life is the narrowest of roads, and I see very few relatively affluent church people taking it. We are all sinners whether on the street, or on a stage. Forgiveness has no criteria and no conditions. It is simply offered to those who seek it. Most of all by Jesus. Jesus didn’t love sinners and embrace the outcast to make them acceptable to God. He did it to show everyone that God already loves them. When we accept people right where they are at, regardless, we are inviting them to a table of love where they can have their needs met and experience a love of transformation. We should never turn away those that need our help or seek forgiveness. Tomorrow that might be you or me. I Love You! – Perry