This question was prompted by something shoe1234 wrote in his or her very first post (and people say we’re not getting good quality newbies these days!). Anyway, shoe1234 wrote:
Here’s a
lnk to the entire post.
Shoe1234 isn’t the first person I’ve heard mention this idea. Me, I find it vaguely troubling, in part because I’ve known some rather nasty Christians and because I know full well I’ve continued to sin. There was one time when I deliberately, knowingly, and very willfully broke a very serious vow I’d sworn before God. My anger and outrage mattered more than what I knew was right. I’ll also be doing some shopping today, and knowing what I do of the town I’ll be shopping in, I probably won’t be loving my neighbor as myself.
I also think the idea that we are made perfect after becoming Christians is one which can lead to arrogance and sin. If we are made perfect and free of sin, what incentive do we have to obey God’s law. If God forgives us, why does what we do to our fellow man matter? Back in the late 1980’s, there were several scandals involving prominent Christians such as Jerry Falwell who were caught commiting adultery. Closer to home, I give you Richard Rossi who claims to be a good, devout Christian who ran a Charismatic congregation even after beating his wife nearly to death. Finally, at my old church, the minister we had when I returned home left the church and stopped being an active Episcopal minister after a life crisis which involved accusations of adultery; our last minister was asked to leave after problems arose between him and the congregation. One of the final straws, I’m told, came when he refused to apologize for the mistakes he’d made, and he did make them, because he thought it would be a sign of weakness. I knew and liked these last two men, and I considered them good friends. There is no doubt in my mind or my heart that they were Christians. I have some doubt about the truth of the accusation of adultery, but that may well be wishful thinking. I have little doubt about the refusal to apologize. In their cases, too, I’m pretty sure they believed that being Christians doesn’t mean we do not sin, but rather that our sins are forgiven.
As I’ve said earlier, I never had a Road-to-Damascus type conversion experience, just a faith which grows deeper and surer with each passing year. There isn’t a turning point in my life when I can say “I was a sinner then, but now I’m not.” I’d like to discuss the idea that, after a person commits herself to Christ, she no longer commits sins. Shoe1234, I’d particularly like to hear your thoughts on this, along with His4Ever and others.
Sorry about the length of the OP – I’ve been accused of singling out nationally known Christians, so I wanted to add some which I do have personal experience of, although I thank God that I never met Mr. Rossi.
CJ