What does it mean that in Christ, we are a new creation? We know that it guarantees us a new start. We'd heard that when our lives are given to God, we're forgiven for our sins and given a fresh start. "White as snow" is what we claim to be because of Christ's blood covering us.
The news has been featuring a number of criminals lately that are out of jail after serving their terms. Some of them are "high risk to reoffend". Some of them aren't. But regardless of who they are, I've found myself thinking like I'm sure many of you do. "I'm glad they aren't in my neighborhood!" "We've gotta tighten up our laws so these people never get out!"
As Christians though, shouldn't we be the first to advocate for second chances? Since we've experienced Christ's true forgiveness, grace and mercy, shouldn't we understand - more than anyone else - how important it is to have a fresh start and how lost we are when we don't.
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2 comments:
I think there's more to it than giving grace to people who have offended. The issue is that people are afraid of being hurt by them. It is always a risk to allow people who have hurt "us" (us being society) to be in a position to potentially hurt again.
If I knew there was a sexual offender living next door, honestly, there is no way I would feel safe at home anymore. If, however, there was someone who had commited a crime that wouldn't affect me, for example, fraud or something, I would feel much more willing to offer grace.
Really, we are all sinners in need of grace for some area of our lives. The risk happens when that area has the potential to hurt someone else. All sin does affect someone else, people or only God. So we do risk when we offer grace because there is the potential to be hurt. I'm sure it hurts God each time we sin, yet he offers grace again and again.
I feel the need to find a way to offer grace to those released offenders, because this label could be applied to all of us.
Kathleen Y.
When I came up with this idea, I didn't think about some things:
-people would actually reply and a conversation would start.
-those conversations would be with each post and so many simultaneous conversations would be happening.
-computers do weird things and may choose to erase what I write with no warning leaving me frustrated.
Back to what you write...
Doesn't forgiveness always come at a cost of being hurt again? And isn't grace about giving where they don't deserve it?
I know I wouldn't feel safe with a sexual offender living next door. Just as any of us would. But I'm wondering about the cost of forgiveness and grace. Doesn't God forgive us knowing we'll hurt him again? There isn't a sequel to the Prodigal's Son story but my guess is that this kid didn't change overnight. His dad threw this party for him and as far as we know, he might have hawked the robe for some more fast living. But that doesn't change the story because it isn't about the boy.
I'm not advocating that we simply let prisoners go. I'm just saying that I'm thankful God treats us better than many of us treat them.
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