Anyone
who is serious about growing in Christ and honest about the reality of our shortcomings
will look back at many things we have said or done that we have come to regret.
My own journey has involved significant changes over time, and since my
theological evolution happened while in full-time ministry, there are many
articles and sermons I published over the years of which I am now ashamed. But
this week I was reminded that God works all things together for the
ultimate good of his people (Rom. 8:28). God’s purpose is not only to save us
from our sins but to conform us to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29), and God
uses everything in our lives to accomplish that purpose.
All
things
include suffering, pain, loss, and loneliness which can drive us closer to God
and teach us to depend more fully on him. All things include seasons of
joy and abundant blessing, material prosperity, health, and friends, the
pleasures which prompt us to give thanks and be mindful of the goodness of
God’s providence. And all things include even our sins and shortcomings,
mistakes we make in theology, stupid choices to give into temptation, and
wicked ways in which we think, speak, and act in response to provocation. This
is both a dangerous and blessed truth. It is dangerous because we may be
tempted to think of our sin too lightly. “After all, if God uses even my sin
for my sanctification, I needn’t worry too much about it!” That is the Devil’s
doctrine, and we dare not embrace such folly (cf. Rom. 6:1-23; 1Jn. 3:4-10).
But it is a blessed doctrine because it reminds us that even when we fail, God’s
purpose will succeed. He can use even our sins for his glory.
This week as I reflected on mistakes I have made in ministry, theological errors I have promoted, and decisions from years past which I regret with shame, I was led to thank God for his faithfulness in the midst of it all. It was my own theological errors and mistakes that God used to begin opening my eyes to his grace many years ago. It was division created by my own misunderstanding that eventually led me to re-study justification and to realize I had never really understood the gospel at all. For many years I preached a false gospel in the Churches of Christ, but God remained faithful and used even my errors to crush my pride and open my eyes. Be encouraged, Christian. Hate your sin and flee from it, but rest assured even it cannot thwart God’s purpose in your life. When we are faithless, he remains faithful (2Tim. 2:13). –JME
This week as I reflected on mistakes I have made in ministry, theological errors I have promoted, and decisions from years past which I regret with shame, I was led to thank God for his faithfulness in the midst of it all. It was my own theological errors and mistakes that God used to begin opening my eyes to his grace many years ago. It was division created by my own misunderstanding that eventually led me to re-study justification and to realize I had never really understood the gospel at all. For many years I preached a false gospel in the Churches of Christ, but God remained faithful and used even my errors to crush my pride and open my eyes. Be encouraged, Christian. Hate your sin and flee from it, but rest assured even it cannot thwart God’s purpose in your life. When we are faithless, he remains faithful (2Tim. 2:13). –JME
