Simul iustus et peccator in real life

Several months back, Gretchen wrote on her blog about the nature of Christian ethics, the unfortunate hypocrisy of many churchgoers (splinter vs. log - or even just another splinter), and the role of God's grace and our good works. (What a surprise that I would fall in love with someone articulate and intelligent when it comes to matters of theology... *LOL*)

Anyhow, as much as I love her, this post isn't a paean to Gretchen, but to the church she attends. See, she quoted in her blog something her new church shares with everyone who wishes to join the congregation, and it really knocked my socks off. I don't think I've ever seen such honesty about the presence of sin and the power of grace within the walls of the Church before. How many congregations are brave enough to lay it all out like this?

Our expectation is that this church, and [our pastor] in particular, will let you down and disappoint you in some shape or form over the coming years (as you may let down or disappoint Jesus Christ and his church). Since we understand the church to be a feeble, broken vessel in the hands of an accepting, forgiving, and patient Christ, we only ask that you extend the same grace to your church as you expect Jesus Christ would extend to you. Our prayer is that you will accept us at [this church] just as we are, but that you would love us enough to help us become the very best church God is calling us to be.

People need to hear this about the Church and its pastors. But even more than that, I think the Church and its pastors need to learn to own up to our brokenness (even as we try to live faithfully) and to seek and receive God's grace and words of forgiveness from those to whom we minister, just as readily as we ourselves speak those same words and proclaim that same grace to our people.

It's unnerving to admit our weaknesses and failings - and perhaps even scarier still for institutions and their leaders to seek the healing that confession and forgiveness bring. Much safer to cling to structures of power and authority than to publicly recognize the simul in our lives!

There is something else to reach for, though, when the truth of the simul leaves us vulnerable and afraid: God's promise to the apostle Paul.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

When we cling to that promise, we are holding tight to the Good News - the forgiveness of God that makes sinners into sinner-saints, and in the fulness of time will turn all us sinner-saints into saints sans hyphens.

Gretchen's church gets that. I hope the wisdom (and gift!) of clinging to God's grace together will be a hallmark of all the congregations I'm blessed to serve, too.