So, had I posted a Facebook status update, it might have read something like this:
"I support the biblical view of God, the biblical view of God's love for humanity, the biblical view of the brokenness of all of humanity (including my own brokenness), the biblical solution to that brokenness, the biblical view of love, and the biblical view of marriage."
Now, I am keenly aware that, given the recent announcements by both the President and Vice-President of the U.S., my perspective will appear to be out of the supposed 'mainstream' of U.S. society on that last point. Possibly, but really, my views on all the points above quite often don't jive with 'mainstream U.S. society'. My views do express Truth, though, as I am reminded every day of my own brokenness and the brokenness of those around me. I work and live with broken people because I work and live on planet earth, and because I look at myself in the mirror every day. And that is why the message of the Gospel is such good news to me and every person on this wonderful planet because it is grace, mercy, love and healing for every broken part of every person.
Let's face it folks, whether our brokenness is alcohol addiction, a propensity toward gossip, unfaithfulness to our heterosexual spouse, addition to pornography, same sex attraction, violent and physical displays of anger, involvement in human trafficking of any kind, cheating on our taxes, or just plain unloving words spoken toward another because of our own insecurities, we're all broken and in need of redemption.
Thankfully, the biblical view of redemption includes healing for all of the above and much more. The two statements I cling to often when faced with dilemmas such as our nation and our world are facing today are these:
"Today, you will be with me in paradise."
and
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Both of these were spoken by a broken man on a cross who had every right to respond in the opposite spirit, but chose the HOPE-FILLED perspective of His Papa. The first statement is utter grace extended to a man who, in the world's eyes, 'deserved' what he was getting - death on a cross. This man knew his own brokenness and in his own words, cried out for mercy and grace and received it. His ways were not the ways of the Kingdom and he knew it; deep down, he knew it, and reached out to the only One who could extend mercy: The Son of the King Himself. I love that man's words:
"Remember me..."
Take that first word apart: RE-MEMBER...put me together again...I'm broken...lost...have chosen my way over and above the ways of Your Kingdom, and it has led me here...please re-member me...put me back to my true identity, the way I was intended to be.
And it was the man Jesus, the Son of God, the gracious, merciful, loving, kind, gentle, powerful, righteous One, who looked out over broken humanity and made a bold proclamation:
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
It wasn't just about their actions in that moment; this statement, I believe, was a prophetic declaration from the place of forgiveness, the cross, for every person there that day and every person to come.
The key is seeing the two statements together. Forgiveness is available as is healing, but we must bring our brokenness to the only One who can heal our broken hearts, and thus our broken lives. Then and only then can we walk in true identity, true freedom, true wholeness because only then are we one with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the authors of life.
So, as I put my hand in the hand of the only One who can RE-MEMBER me, I extend my hand to all who recognize their own brokenness; I have one thing to offer: love, and the longing to have them walk into the loving, healing arms of Papa, whose embrace brings life, healing, true identity, and love immeasurable!
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