An open letter to the imperfect
Hi,
I hope you will agree that there is nobody perfect in the world. Well, there may be some egotists that think they are perfect and God’s gift to humanity. God has given us a better gift.
Many people have a problem with ‘church’ because they believe that they will not fit in. That any blemishes in the past will be an issue with those in ‘church’. I am sorry to say, that with over forty odd years of ministry, it can be so often true. I have to admit I certainly have not had a perfect past – far from it! Alcohol was my biggest problem. Like all alcoholics, I hid it well. However, when I was accepted by Jesus and eventually brought it to Him, He delivered me from it immediately. The problem was that too many in church would believe that the matter was over and done with. They did not understand that though the alcohol issue was resolved with God, the human wrestling with staying dry, remains. It took well over a year until I could say I had, more or less, overcome the alcoholic problem. The issue with some church folk, is their refusing to accept the imperfect. ‘Once a drunk, you’ll always be a drunk!’.
There are some other matters that are even worse. Those who have wrestled with homosexuality, adultery, divorce, even having murdered, their past is forever a shadow that hangs over attempts to get right with God and be accepted into church life. There is an unfortunate truth. What is seen as the ‘bigger sins’ – those I mentioned, along with others – are so often ‘Bible-thumped’ from the front. Yet there is often very little said about what could be best described as ‘respectable sins’. These are things like pride, gossip, slander, criticisms and disobedience to proper authority. Also, materialism and lack of supporting God’s work. This is not to mention the black economy, when the ‘please pay me in cash for a cheaper price and no VAT’ offer, is so often accepted, knowing that it is a criminal act, to avoid tax.
This is because there has been a trend in society and even in church to shy away from talking about SIN. Not just the breaking of the ten commandments but seeing that these other respectable sins are still sin. As has been said many times getting 99% or 1%, when 100% is required, still means failure. Therefore, we have to accept the truth that we have all fallen short and stand in the need of forgiveness, through grace and mercy of God.
Let me be clear – sin is sin – it has to be dealt with in our lives. Only God can forgive sin, it says in the Bible. When He does forgive, He promises never to remember it and hold it against you. Yet so many who say they follow Him, will not follow His example.
Therefore, I can understand why many imperfect people, are reluctant to come to join with a church group. Many of you bear the wounds of past attempts to try. This is why I want to encourage you. God knows you through and through. If like me you are happy to admit you’re a sinner, then the good news is, Jesus is your friend. Come to Him in honesty and confess the sins you wrestle with. He will give you every assistance, if you have an open heart. The Bible does tell the story of the religious Pharisee who boasted to God, about how perfect he was. Another man just told God he was a sinner. Jesus tells us, it was the sinner who left justified.
Getting forgiveness from God is the start of a journey. There is a need to forgive yourself for the sins. That is often very hard to do. Then you need to live a new life that involves turning away from the past. Giving up old habits. My own experience shows, that being perfect is never going to be achieved by myself. I went through baptism and God sealed me with His Holy Spirit. My problems didn’t disappear, but I found a loving Father who gave me strength to deal with the continuing struggle to overcome. This was all done in the certainty of God’s love and no condemnation from Him. My prayer is that all churches would adapt that same attitude!
I am in a good place now. Settled into a loving fellowship where the truth is preached. There is a discipline that is in place - governed by love and grace. Where there is an encouragement for all to love and accept each other as God changes us. Where there is Godly encouragement to sort out life and its problems. We are all still imperfect, wrapped in the perfection of Jesus. In Him we continue to be changed from glory to glory, with the help of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of Godly leadership.
I pray, dear imperfect one, that you will not give up on church. Look for a community for the imperfect, some do exist. Drop me a line by email from here, if you think I might help.
Yours faithfully
Martin - the imperfect