Can I come back to this church?

The story that spilled out in the confession was not pretty. There were sins, regrettable choices, human failures, and disappointments. After telling it, the person asked, “Can I come back to this church?” The question hurt! What a misunderstanding of what the church is and why she exists. More on that in a moment, but first, let me ask you -  do you find yourself avoiding the company of other Christians, or concealing your past, or wondering if you belong?

I did not dismiss the sins of that person as insignificant. They were.  God does not look at my sins, or yours, and wave them off as inconsequential either. We are not made whole by excusing ourselves, by comparing ourselves, or by insisting that ‘everybody does it.’  We need to be loved, forgiven, and justified. And, that is exactly what Jesus Christ offers to those who receive Him in faith. John reminds us that "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10, NIV) Our self will, our pride, our greed, our hatred were evidence of our true state; sinful, deserving of destruction. "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)" (Ephesians 2:4-5, NLT)  No one should ever forget that grace gift is his or her only hope.

Moreover, the Word reminds that God goes beyond forgiveness. "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2, NIV)  The profound love of the Father invites us to be ‘at one’ with Him.  He does not merely tolerate us, trying to overlook our past; He makes us ‘just as if we had never sinned.’  The stain is erased and we are reconciled completely to Him, accepted wholly into His holy family. Shame and guilt are to drive us to the Father, but once we have confessed those things, they are no longer needed for "there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1, NLT)

That is why that question about coming to church, about belonging, need not be asked.  
First, those who come to Christ stand on level ground before the Cross, none greater or less.

Second, the church is a place to find wholeness, to be healed, to have the wounds that  sin and life cut into us healed by His mercy and the love of the people of God.

Remember the story Jesus told (my favorite, one I cannot tell without tears of love spilling over) about a wayward, selfish, sinful son? The man abused his father, rejected the love freely given, and was ultimately ruined by his sins. He thought he could make a deal with his father so he headed for home, his defense and appeal readied.  But, “while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20, NIV)  Take note of that little phrase tucked into the story – “He ran to his son.”  God is not waiting for you, glaring, loaded with condemnation, ready to heap scorn on you.  He is looking for you to come home. And when you do, He will RUN TO YOU, with amazing, scandalous grace that offers love, forgiveness, justification, and a place at His table.

So, come on home!

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When God Ran  (listen at this link)

Almighty God the great I Am

Immovable Rock omnipotent

Powerful awesome Lord

Victorious Warrior

Commanding King of kings mighty Conqueror

And the only time

The only time I ever saw Him run

 (Was) when He ran to me

Took me in His arms

Held my head to His chest

Said My son's come home again

Lifted my face

Wiped the tears from my eyes

With forgiveness in His voice

He said son do you know

I still love you

He caught me by surprise

(He brought me to my knees)

When God ran

After I left home I knew I'd broken His heart

I wondered then if things

Would ever be the same but one night

I remembered His love for me

And down that dusty road ahead I could see

It's the only time

The only time I ever saw Him run

I saw Him run to me

And then I ran to Him

I was so ashamed all alone and far away

But now I know He's been waiting for this day

 (And then) He ran to me

Took me in His arms

Held my head to His chest

Said My son's come home again

Lifted my face

Wiped the tears from my eyes

With forgiveness in His voice

(I felt His love call me again)

He said son He said son

My son do you know I still love you

He ran to me

When God ran

Benny Hester | John Parenti

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