"A Christian Irony" July 21 Readings: Luke 7:36-8:3, 19-21

Today's Reading -  Luke 7:36-8:3, 19-21

Background

In Luke 7:36-8:3 we see two stories that show Jesus' concern and compassion for a group of people that the religious world often forgot, discounted, or disrespected - women. Jesus treated them as people, as co-bearers of the image of God and as people of worth and value. At the end of Luke 7, we have a shocking story of Jesus showing compassion for a woman of low character, someone the religious leaders would uniformly shun. He gave grace and forgiveness to the woman and a bad case of heartburn to the Pharisees. Then, in Luke 8:1-3 we read acknowledgment of the women who traveled with him and were his friends, his disciples (though not part of the Twelve), and his support.

These are part of a theme in Luke, showing how Jesus moves beyond human boundaries to love and reach those the world rejects.

Devotional - A Christian Irony

What is a Christian?

We are good people, right? People who do what is right, who live the way we are supposed to and have proper values and say no to sin and make wise choices and, well, are just a cut above the wickedness in this world. Have you ever heard someone speak about needing to get their lives cleaned up and get back to church? Or heard someone say that they wouldn't fit in with those church people because of all the sin in their life?

We have grossly misunderstood Christianity and in many ways come to treat it more like phariseeism than the faith Jesus died and rose to establish. Of course, living in the righteousness of Christ is the goal of every believer, but Jesus told a story in Luke 7:40-43 that showed the true nature of Christianity. Two men had debts, one large and one small. Both debts were forgiven. Jesus asked which person would love the one who had forgiven him more. Simon answered the man who had been forgiven the most.

This does not mean that there is any blessing in sinning so that we might be forgiven, but it means two things. First, our faith is rooted in an understanding of the depths of our sin. Christianity is not about trying to prove you are better than others but in coming face to face with spiritual reality - that we are all hell-deserving sinners whose only hope is in Christ.

Having understood the depths of our sin, we then revel in the breadth of God's love and grace. His grace is greater than our sin and because of that, we rejoice. The old saw says that the church is a hospital for sinners, not a country club for self-righteous saints. It is true. It is a place where sinners gather the glory in the Cross and in the salvation won there for us.

There is another aspect of this forgiveness, of course. Forgiven sinners treat others with mercy and grace. We are not dismissive or arrogant toward others because we know that we are no better. We love even the unlovely because of our recognition of sin.

It is a great irony that the heart and soul of Christianity is the salvation of repentant sinners, and yet God's people spend so much time trying to act as if sin has not touched us in any way.

Father, I know my sin. I thank you that I do not have to earn you love or I would be lost forever. You give me eternal grace through Jesus Christ. May I show that grace to others. 

Think and Pray

Do you hide your sin, cover it over, pretend it isn't real? Or do you admit it, confess it, and trust the grace of Christ for forgiveness?
Do you extend the forgiveness you have received to those who have offended you?