The Huge Myth About God continues

I read this passage this morning and thought of what I wrote in my blog yesterday:

12-14 I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were violence and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. (! Tim.)

This passage, from 1st. Timothy 1, speak to another part of the human difficulty of believing that God loves, care and acceptance for those who have live a-not-so-good life.  Those who have made unfortunate choices that they are now ashamed of.

Saul, who became Paul, was one who lived by strictly following the Jewish Law. Not open to anything new.  He was convinced that his job was to eliminate anyone who followed Jesus. 

Here he admitted his flawed life: 

The only credentials I brought to it were violence and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully....

True story:

About six years ago now a young man sat in my office telling me what an “evil” life he had led.  He had treated his wife and children in unforgivable ways. 

He had just returned from a month long detox program for drug and alcohol use.   

Now he was fully atoning for his past; and was asking me to support him in his faith life.  He said he knew that God had forgiven him.  He now needed to forgive himself and feel that his family would forgive him.

The light and joy in his body were so evident.  He wanted to stay “clean” and live a different way of life.

He had hope.

For about a month, maybe two, he was on track.  He was sitting with his wife and children every Sunday at church.  Trying to do things that really matter for others.

It was a good and positive energy he had.

But sadly it was too short lived.  His wife was done with him — no possibility of forgiveness there.  And he couldn’t forgive himself.

He went back to his old ways.  

I never saw him or his family again.

His wife did call me a few time after that. Members of the congregation were so loving to her.  Making sure she has what she needed.  She felt so unworthy of their generosity.   However I am assuming that her own shame and confusion got the best of her as well.

I will never know for sure.

And the myth wins the battle. 


People who struggle with their lives most always have this feeling that they aren’t good enough to be loved by God; and probably any body else for that matter.

That is the terrible glitch in this myth.

Unlike Saul, they were just making immature decisions and stuck in unfortunate  behavioral patterns.  This young man and his family were not actively fighting against God.

They were not out-to-get everyone who believed in God/Jesus.  

I happen to know that he and his wife were actively raise in Christian families.  And his wife brought the children to Sunday School regularly.

They were just living unfortunate lives that hurt each other.  As a result shame and guilt kept them from believing in the possibilities of forgiveness, grace, mercy and the love of God in their lives.

It truly is a sad truth about many of the people who seek God’s love.  But somehow never believe its all true for them.

12-14 I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were violence and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.

15-19 Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.

Deep honor and bright glory

to the King of All Time—

One God, Immortal, Invisible,

ever and always. Oh, yes! (!Timothy The Message)