This is something I felt compelled to write this morning instead of doing something that would put food on our table.  Read on you sinner you!

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of being convicted.  I’m fed up of being told what a toady I am.  I’m up to my eyes in conviction.  And what’s worse, we are told that we must help others to the cross too!  

However, Nick Maguire last weekend put it perfectly.  Not only do we need to help people to the cross, but through it and beyond it, to allow them to come to realisations for themselves.  We help them to the cross – we bring them towards Jesus.  That, is our job. Not to bring them to salvation, not to convict of sin.

Am I a sinner? – er yes.  Do I feel convicted – unfortunately yes again (buts that’s my own fault).  More importantly, am I forgiven? – YES, yes and yes again.

Paul tells us in Romans that we fall short of the mark.  Too many of us stop reading or at least taking in the words we read after that.  But Paul goes on to explain that we don’t wallow in our “unworthiness” but use our faith in a risen Jesus ( a risen Jesus! – back from the dead – resurrected – burying all the dross of our lives and coming up clean), that we have a fresh start.

Rom 3:21-31

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.                NKJV [emphasis mine]

One of the few things God asks of us when we take the RISK and give Him our “yes” is that we scatter seed.  WE spread the good news (as disciples, not converts), that we let people know who we are and what we believe.  We are not commissioned to convict and convert, that is not our job.  Our job is to get the doors of church open to all – to ALL – all faiths, all peoples, druggies, shoppers, bankers, prossies, even lawyers!

I’m fed up of hearing about original sin – what about original good – we were after all made in the image of God.

Helen Hayes said -  “Every human being on earth is born with a tragedy, and it isn’t original sin.  He’s born with the tragedy that he has to grow up.  That he has to leave the nest, the security, and go out to do battle.  He has to lose everything that is lovely and fight for a new loveliness of his own making, and it’s a tragedy.  A lot of people don’t have the courage to do it”.

At PV we have declared the transition period over.  What’s the first thing the leadership team have done?  Made changes.  It’s the same old Vineyard clichés folks – “change is here to stay” and “everyone gets to play”.  We are in a unique position to really impact our city by playing Jesus.  Being the friend of sinners – not because they are “sinners”, but because it what Jesus DID.  When Jesus touched people hearts – they changed.  Jesus did not make anyone follow Him – it was by choice that folk decided to follow and take the risk of faith.  It pretty much the same today – perhaps more so.  We have so much choice these days, it seems only right that we show those outside of our comfort zones and church doors, todays special offer.

Post script:  oh- and please stop referring to sinners........................................

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