When Peter said that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet 4:8) he wasnt suggesting that you could pay of a few of your debts by doing good deeds. He was reminding us that love is redemptive. We see it when God covers the naked bodies of Adam and Eve with animal skins rather than taking their lives, when Shem and Japheth cover their fathers naked body in the the tent to save him from shame, when Jesus gave up his clothes at the cross so our shame could be covered (Jn 19:23). Its what Paul was getting at when he said Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth (1 Cor 13:6). The church has been singularly unsuccessful at getting people to give up their silly and sinful obsessions by playing the moral policeman. If you really want people to improve, tell them how willing God is to forgive them. If they accept that they cant help but improve and whats best is they will do it for love rather than fear.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 06:22:31 +0000
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