388/444 Healing from Infidelity: Grace and the Buttocks Kicking Jesus (Ben Wilson, LPC)

387/444 Healing from Infidelity: Grace and Acceptance

389/444 Healing from Infidelity: Seeing True Beauty

388/444 Healing from Infidelity: Grace and the Buttocks Kicking Jesus

2012.09.28

While most of this blog includes subtle and not so subtle invitations to a deeper relationship with Jesus, the most public one comes in the post Did Jesus Come Just to Kick Your Ass. In that post I quote Denver pastor and author, Peter Hiett,

So I’m convinced your deepest problem is not the cigarettes you smoke or the alcohol you drink in secret. It’s not the slander you speak and the gossip you cherish. It’s not the pornography you pleasure yourself with when no one’s looking. It’s not the baby you aborted; it’s not that you betrayed your brother, cheated on your bride, lied about the whole thing, and retaliated with murder [King Herod]. It’s not even that you slaughtered the Lamb and killed the Messiah. Your deepest problem is that somewhere deep down inside, you believe Jesus the Messiah rose from the dead just to kick your ass, when, in fact, He rose from the dead so you would believe all is forgiven. It is finished! Justice is accomplished. And the Father is pleading, “Come home, come home, come home!”

Aaron Wilson (no relation), a new father for the fourth time (congrats) from Little Rock left this query,

I'm not sure what Hiett is talking about. Pardon my ignorance here. And whatever he's talking about, I'm not seeing the necessity to use profanity to make the point. Could anyone explain?

Here is my response,

Beats the h%^& out of me! :)

Just kidding Aaron. He's trying to say that most of us are afraid of God. We think it is our sin that is the biggest deal but our biggest problem is that we won't receive the grace and tenderness of our God. He's not saying sin isn't an issue but that we can get lost in worry, guilt and shame and miss out on the stupendous radical love of God because we see him as a stern, cold, disciplinarian and not Abba, a loving father.

Using the word ass instead of buttocks or rear end was probably a little for shock value but also it helped people to get past their 'church face' and get in touch with their underlying shame. The antidote for shame is acceptance which is a part of grace. God accepts us even in our heinous sin, (Romans 5:8) but that isn't the present reality for most of us. Blessings to you Aaron if shame isn't part of your battle. Thanks for stopping by.

Posted at 10:31 in 444 Healing from Infidelity | Permalink | Comments (0)

Comments

So I’m convinced your deepest problem is not the cigarettes you smoke or the alcohol you drink in secret. It’s not the slander you speak and the gossip you cherish. It’s not the pornography you pleasure yourself with when no one’s looking. It’s not the baby you aborted; it’s not that you betrayed your brother, cheated on your bride, lied about the whole thing, and retaliated with murder [King Herod]. It’s not even that you slaughtered the Lamb and killed the Messiah. Your deepest problem is that somewhere deep down inside, you believe Jesus the Messiah rose from the dead just to kick your ass, when, in fact, He rose from the dead so you would believe all is forgiven. It is finished! Justice is accomplished. And the Father is pleading, “Come home, come home, come home!”

Aaron Wilson (no relation), a new father for the fourth time (congrats) from Little Rock left this query,

I'm not sure what Hiett is talking about. Pardon my ignorance here. And whatever he's talking about, I'm not seeing the necessity to use profanity to make the point. Could anyone explain?

Here is my response,

Beats the h%^& out of me! :)

Just kidding Aaron. He's trying to say that most of us are afraid of God. We think it is our sin that is the biggest deal but our biggest problem is that we won't receive the grace and tenderness of our God. He's not saying sin isn't an issue but that we can get lost in worry, guilt and shame and miss out on the stupendous radical love of God because we see him as a stern, cold, disciplinarian and not Abba, a loving father.

Using the word ass instead of buttocks or rear end was probably a little for shock value but also it helped people to get past their 'church face' and get in touch with their underlying shame. The antidote for shame is acceptance which is a part of grace. God accepts us even in our heinous sin, (Romans 5:8) but that isn't the present reality for most of us. Blessings to you Aaron if shame isn't part of your battle. Thanks for stopping by.