Sinners & Saints

To those hurting,

There is something that I need to get off of my chest. I’m afraid that if I hold it in any longer than I will succumb to sickness. I must get let this out or it will fester, ooze and creep into every crevice of my life.

Ready?

Here it goes…

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Guys I’m a sinner

Whew feels amazing to let go of that Atlas- like burden. Now some of you may be laughing at me for what I’ve just written but I mean it. I’m a no good, dirty, rotten, disgusting sinner. If I had a nickel for every time I even thought about sinning, well there would be a new Bill Gates in town. 

I want to clarify that I am in no way making jokes about the confession of sin. In fact I believe that what I just did is one of the main things that people struggle with. It may be hard to acknowledge, but as Christians we often find it hard to admit our flaws, our mistakes, our mess ups, our imperfections. One of the funniest things I have discovered about our version of Christianity is the belief that every other Christian is perfect. Think about it. How many of you would rather jump of a bridge then tell one of your closest friends you cheated on a test? How many of you would rather suffer in sin and shame then admits to a fellow Christian that you looked at pornography? How many of you would rather hold your pain and sorrow in instead of allowing the love and peace of God to enter?

Why is it that we pretend that the person sitting next to us on Sunday is holy?

Paul writes in Romans 5:8 that “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He didn’t say Christ died for us and thus eliminated all of our sins, but instead Christ cancelled the payments for our sins.

Martin Luther once said “Sin Boldly,” and yet all I see around me are people too ashamed or too afraid to admit that they actually stumble. 

I’ll admit it. I’m a sinner! And it is because I recognize how much I do sin that I am free to recognize how much I need God. Without God all of my “righteous acts” are but filthy rags (Isaiah 66:6).

If you’re hurting, if you’re trapped in a cycle of sin and shame, if you feel dirty and unclean, you’re not alone. 

As Christians we should be comforted with the knowledge that we have brothers and sisters who can relate all around us. 

As a Christian you’re guaranteed to fall into temptations.

The difference is… are you willing to admit it?

Merely,

Chris Gerac

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23, NIV