Borrowed Breath

Over at Prophets, Priests and Poets, Brendt posted these thoughts from Michael Spencer’s book, Mere Churchianity which I have not read yet. But Brendt’s post prompted this little parable:

Once there was a wealthy man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So the father divided his property between his two sons.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had and set off for a distant country. There he squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he was in dire need. So he went to a citizen of that country looking for work. He was sent to the fields to feed pigs. He was so hungry that he considered eating the pods that he was feeding the pigs. But no one gave him anything.

When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with anger and resentment toward him; he ran to his son, and berated him for how he had damaged the family name by his actions.

The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

The father agreed and said, “But since you have returned, and appear to be repentant, I will make you one of my servants. Your food and lodging will be your only wages. And in time, when I decide that you are truly repentant, I will also give you a small stipend.”

How often do we confuse the attributes of God with our own flawed views of religion. Newton’s third law of motion somehow slips into our theology. For every action of mine against God, there will be reaction from Him that meets or exceeds my infraction. But grace is not limited by physics. Instead, our sins are met with mercy and forgiveness.

Granted, my sin will have consequences in this life. But not in the eyes of God, not in His dealings with me. Discipline is sometimes confused with retribution in some Christians’ minds. But grace overwhelms me by covering my sin and instead giving me freedom and peace and forgiveness and love and mercy which I do not deserve.

And rather than the fear of punishment causing me to turn from my evil ways, God’s love leads me to repentance.