I expected to go into the synagogue, see how confused and sadly lost these Jewish people were, and exit more resolved than ever to convert all Jewish people to Jesus.
I had brought in the attitude of the Pharisee. In a paradoxical reversal, I was now the Pharisee and these modern day Pharisees were the tax collectors. I was thinking to myself,“God, I thank you that I am not like these Orthodox Jews but that I know my sins are already forgiven.”
I thought, how sad that people would beat their chest. What a pathetic and wasted display of ritual and emotion when simple faith in Jesus would do!
Yet as I watched, my mind was changed. I started praying for them to be saved, but the spirit of repentance was contagious. Didn’t I have enough failures that I should also beat my chest before the Living God? Or should I expect that grace makes all such displays of contrition irrelevant?
There is a Grace Myth to the effect that we are automatically alright with God because of the cross and that we are in need of very little repentance.
My experiences with Christians leads me to concur: There's an abuse of grace in the Christian Church today. Some have gone as far as to say repentance of sin isn't even required; you're automatically forgiven in Jesus. That is, if I sin, say I committed adultery, I would have no need to go to the Lord and repent; I would be forgiven without repentance because of the cross of Jesus Christ.
I'm going to stop there; this isn't a let's-bash-Christians post. I only want to say, each person who loves the Lord needs repentance and forgiveness.
Why?
Because everyone fails, even the best-intentioned, upstanding Christian -- even me. Even you. Each knows what evil is in him. So let's have a heart of repentance as we near the final 3 Feasts of the Lord this year.
These final 3 Feasts are a shadow of Messiah's return in Yom Teruah, his judgment and atonement in Yom Kippur, and finally his coming to live with us in Tabernacles.
Given this light, as His feasts draw near this year, keep in mind his quick forgiveness. Remember how His mercy has no end, just like the psalmist said. Come humbly before the Master of all Creation, the one who formed you. Repent -- turn your back on those ways of darkness you keep to yourself -- and come clean to the One who loves you.