a tale of two souls.

one man was a devoted husband, loving father, and worked hard to see social change and make a difference in the world. he was a follower of God. he lost everything. his whole world crumbled. did he deserve what happened to him?

the other was a disturbed man who committed heinous acts and paid the price by being placed in prison. he had no wife, children, but was a follower of God. his entire world crumbled as well, as he took his own life. did he deserve what happened to him?

we have all fallen short of the glory of God. i think the problem is that we are asking the wrong question. when something bad happens to a great person, we think they did not deserve what has befallen them. and i would agree. when something bad happens to a bad person, we think they got exactly what they deserved. i have felt that way before, as ashamed as i am to admit it. the answers we get from this question are fairly obvious. but the problem is that we are asking the wrong question in these situations. our minds have become so twisted and warped that we care more about "just desserts" than people. i'm tired of hearing hatred spewed forth from the mouth of Christians who claim to have the love of God in them. "He got what he deserved." "He was a good Christian, he didn't deserve that," insinuating that someone who isn't a Christian or that someone who has "fallen" would deserve it. the problem is we have been asking the wrong questions for too long now. it's not about who deserves what. it's about whether we believe in God's grace.

do we believe God's grace can bring healing to the broken man who has followed Him faithfully and lost everything? i do. do we believe God's grace can bring healing to the criminal who is at the end of his rope with nowhere to turn? i do. Jesus said so to the man nailed next to him on the cross. the question is, do we believe in God's grace? it's not, 'are we getting what we deserve?' somewhere along this twisted path we follow in 21st century north america, we have started to ask the wrong questions. is God's grace real? if we believe that, is it real for a select few, or do we believe that God's grace is true for everyone. i believe God's grace can bring healing to the most heinous of people. after all, his grace brought healing for me. and it did for the criminal. and it does for the murderer. and it does for the faithful follower. God's grace has to be so much bigger than what we in the church have imagined it to be. otherwise, what's so exciting about this "good news" we keep talking about? good news as i hear it put forth from Christians today isn't that good, in my opinion. do we believe Jesus saves? do we really believe that? and do we believe he saves even those who are different than us? on the other end of the spectrum? we are too narrow. and we need to live what we believe, and show grace and mercy to the least of these. because i am the least of these and God has shown grace to me. why would we not do the same? are we better than God? any rational person would say no, so why do we act like we are too good to forgive and show grace, while God is overflowing with forgiveness and grace? why? we better start thinking of an answer. because i think we have gotten off the narrow road and onto the wide path. we are heading for destruction with our hatred, spite, and malice. most of Jesus harshest criticisms in scripture were to the religious leaders of the day. and i believe they apply to us. we must take heed.

please notice that throughout, i said we, and not you. i am in the same place you are.