Graced out... whatever happened to sin?

Back in the day, while trying to rid myself of some post-baby weight, I would do (suffer through) some of Jillian Michaels' dvd workouts.  I’ll confess… I didn’t stick with it.  But one thing she said still sticks with me.  Whilst motivating (read "berating") the at-home participants, she barked out this message-- "You have been given a false message of lethargy!” Basically, what she was saying (and I paraphrase) was that some people believe that taking the stairs or parking further away from Dunkin Donuts (so that you have to walk a bit) was enough to snap you back into shape.  False message.  Those of you who have worked hard to attain physical fitness know that this is simply not true.

Sometimes, I fear that a similar message is being preached in our American churches today.  Don’t we have our very own “false message of lethargy”? 

Since the time I was small, I have heard many sermons on God’s love and His grace… all true, all beautiful.  I’ve learned about God’s capacity for forgiveness.  In fact, when I was young and I had just learned about the atrocities of Hitler and the Nazi party, I asked my mom if God could have forgiven Adolph Hitler for his horrific sins.  Wise woman that she is, she answered, “If Hitler understood his sin and was truly sorry for it, then... yes.”  Wow.  If God could forgive Hitler, then He could forgive anyone! But, there is a smallish obligation on our part.  There is something we need to do. We need to repent. We need to turn from our sin and follow Jesus.

But what if we don’t recognize our sin? What if we don’t name it? What if we excuse it, justify it or blame it on someone else?  What if we live in a time, a place and a culture where we’re all okay and we are the way we are for any number of reasons, what then?  Frankly, then grace is less amazing.  For if we are all just fine, or at least not as bad as our neighbor, then from what, pray tell, do we need be saved? 

It’s not all about grace. (gasp)  Ask John Newton, ask the apostle Paul.  Newton is quoted as saying, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” Paul said this, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”  Grace makes no sense at all out of the context of our sin… and sin seems to have been taken out of the conversation.  Or if we talk about it… is it only a part of our rote church-speak? Do we really feel the pain of it? Do we want to be honest about it and confess it to others? If sin isn't hurting us, then why should we care about grace saving us?

I write this because I need to learn this. 

For the love of God, someone tell me how bad I am.  When I begin to understand how sinful I am, then maybe I will finally understand the depth of His love for me.  I want to know what it cost Him to sacrifice His own son for my sinful self.  I want to finally understand the goodness of the “good news.” And then, I want to live my days “working out my faith with fear and trembling” with a debt of gratitude to my redeemer... that He would save a wretch like

me.