At the very least we must remember where we came from: complete darkness, a world of swirling pain, a cesspool of death and self-centered ego. When we know the depth of our sin, there’s no way we cannot be compassionate towards the lost. When we know the cost of our rescue, it’s impossible not to love with the same love.
— Self-Dissociation: How A Christian Can Condemn The Very Sin He Loves Doing
J.S. Park: Hospital Chaplain 
Please accept the following statements knowing I mean them with only good intentions :)Although I understand the intention of this statement, I disagree with the part of where it states we come from because it completely debases human creation by not acknowledging we come FROM God not some swirling cesspool. Not only is Jesus a Savior and Redeemer, He also stands as our mentor in understanding the purpose of persevering through life’s journey because of who, how, and why we were made. Because we are salvageable, despite our priorities towards sinning or disobedience to the way, the buried good God Himself breathed into us IS the very cause of our rescue. In essence, God is reclaiming an infinite portion of Himself through the process of allowing us to to chose to become an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17).The Gospel MUST be based in encouragement not in some passive aggressive fear campagn, after all – God did not give us fear. We must remember “where” Christ came from, endured our brokeness, then returned to. Remember Who thought of us and determined where to place us into human history, knit us in the womb, allowed us to choose the indestructible life found through the blood of a Savior and return to the One who praises His children as “good servents.” For me, it is understanding how Jesus endured obedience to His Father will while persevering to lead us through our brokeness all the way to Calvary. It therefore encourages the heart to transform in Faith to know that the mission of Christ overshadows all fear because He knew where He came from and where He was returning – despite His temporary time spent walking with us that culminated in the death of His innocence for our sake. Finally, we cannot even grasp the cost of our rescue or even braoden our minds to God’s understanding the breadth of God’s love. Faith is an unintelligent decision to simply believe the Gospel in our calling upon the name of Jesus. Note: “unintelligent” is wholly meant in a non-derogatory sense by comparing our limitations to the unknowable capacity to God’s love. Again, please accept these comments in the light of encouragement not derision or harmful criticism. Finally let me end on an encouraging word:
From Max Lucado’s Grace for the Moment:
March 28
The Father has loved us so much
that we are called children of God.
And we really are his children
1 JOHN 3:1
Let me tell you who you are. In fact, let me proclaim who you are.
You are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17).
You are eternal, like an angel (Luke 20:36).
You have a crown that will last forever (1 Cor.9:25).
You are a holy priest (1 Pet. 2:5), a treasured Possession (Exod. 19:5)…
But more than any of the above – more significant than any title or position
– is the simple fact that you are God’s child…
“We are his children.”
As a result, if something is important to you, it’s important to God.
I hope you are well and pray God orders your steps today.
His child,
Chris
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I agree with you, and in fact this quote has more to do with “my past” than anything else. Ultimately I believe God doesn’t make junk.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and yes to Max Lucado. 🙂
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I thank God for you, your transparency of your “darkness”, and your contribution to this mysterious body of Christ. I pray you continue in your humility straight into the grotto of Gethsemene just to quietly sit and hear sorrow in Christ’s prayer. I pray I too can join you in allowing the echoes of those anxious words of “nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will,” sink deeply into the heart of all our intentions.
To God be the Glory..
Shine on bro,
Chris
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“When we know the depth of our sin, there’s no way we cannot be compassionate towards the lost. When we know the cost of our rescue, it’s impossible not to love with the same love.”
THIS is my problem. I’ve been living for and loving only myself for 3.5 years now! I can’t seem to get over myself to see me as Jesus does – good, bad, and ugly. I’ve also been making idols out of Christians (Wilberforce, Tyndale, McCheyne, Martyn, Goforth, etc) instead of seeing where their goodness comes from: Jesus. I don’t even know what grace and mercy look like. I’ve never experienced them from my family nor seen them displayed. They’re just theological terms to me, without spiritual reality…
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