Sin is anything that separates you from God, love shared in human relationships, and the creativity that began 'in the beginning' when God set all of creation into motion. It's the bad stuff of life of which we are aware that we are doing, as well as the bad stuff that we don't know that we're doing. It's the brokenness of the created order. It's why bad stuff happens to good people; why good stories end in tragedies. As a seminary professor lectured in my theology class, "sin is the reality of the human condition." I refer you to the first several chapters of the book of Genesis to review the mess of humanity. Especially poignant is Genesis 3:19, The Lord God says to Adam and Eve after they eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree, "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust and to dust you shall return." The reality of the human condition is the reality of sin- it is what it is...
Is this a good way to start Monday morning? Yes, Martin Luther would say. When we face the reality that we are humans scarred by sin, that we are limited, that we make mistakes and we can die at any time from the onset of life - we remember how dependent we are upon God. We remember how badly in need we are of God's unconditional love found in Jesus Christ. And out of that love we remember that in God's eyes we are forgiven.
Forgiveness is freedom from anything that separates us from God, love shared in human relationships, and the creativity that began 'in the beginning' when God set all of creation into motion. Through forgiveness we are freed for love.
This week in worship, each of you picked up a rock as a visible sign for an area in your life where you desire forgiveness. During worship, you brought that rock to the foot of the cross - where you remembered that through Jesus' death and resurrection - you are freed from your sin.
Now, a day later, how are you doing with that "rock of sin" issue? Have you let go so that you can experience God's love? Try this exercise as a visual reminder: Find a quiet space, remember a 'sin' that weighs you down. Make the sign of the cross on your forehead reminding you of your baptism. Say to yourself the following words, "Jesus died and rose again for that sin, so that I may have new life today."
God is waiting for you to experience this gift of freedom. God wants you to celebrate this gift today. How will you do that?
-Pastor Rhonda
