Let The Redeemed Say So
(NIV) John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
(NIV)Rom 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
We met a young man this week who shared some of his story. Married with a small son, his wife no longer loves him. She took their son and left.
But the saddest part of his story for me was this: he had been attending a church with a female pastor. Spoiler alert: I am a female pastor. He said the pastor told him he was irredeemable and he was told to leave the church.
I don’t know the background of the conversation, but he was convinced the reasoning for the pastor’s behavior was solely because she was a woman. I assured him that every person is redeemable. How do I know? The Bible tells me so.
Does John 3:16 mean everyone will be redeemed? No, but it does mean everyone is redeemable. Paul says in Romans 10:9 that we access salvation by declaring with our mouths and believing in our hearts that Jesus is Lord. Faith plus repentance brings salvation.
As a pastor, I was called to proclaim God’s Word and provide comfort to God’s people. I was not called to declare people unfit—as I told a young gay man, I’m just here to share the gospel—anything else is above my pay grade.
Do I water down the Bible? No. Do I assure people God would not condemn anyone? No. But neither do I try to move God over so that I can do His job.
As part of your morning routine, I suggest that you ask God to send someone across your path that you can help. And then get ready.
May we today consider the impact of our words and actions upon all those we meet.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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