Can't Steal Love and Forgiveness

A church in Spokane Washington was robbed this past week (see articles here & here).  Police say the thieves made away with thousands of dollars of equipment including sound boards, computers, TVs, microphones, and hearing impaired devices.  Now many people will react by saying, "that's disgusting who could do that?"  But, that is what sin is, disgusting.  The same can be said about what you said about someone at school, or what you thought about your neighbor's wife, or how you ignored the need of a friend.  All sin is disgusting in God's eyes.  What those thieves did is no worse than what we do every week in churches across America.  We tear one another down, teach falsehood, etc.


The response the pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church has been praise-worthy.  Instead of accusing and judging those who looted the church, he has opened his arms to them.  "The church isn't the equipment or the pews or the building it's the people," said the pastor.  That is exactly right.  The family of God is not material goods, nor a building where people meet, but the people themselves.  The pastor of Redeemer Lutheran has a clear understanding of Matthew 6:19-21:  

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 Redeemer Lutheran has invited those very same thieves back next Sunday with an understanding that people who do wrong as that, need a Savior like all of us.  Jesus Himself gave us guidelines to forgive as we have been forgiven:

  “‘Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 

¹⁰ your kingdom come, 

your will be done, 

   on earth as it is in heaven. 

¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. 

¹² And forgive us our debts, 

   as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

¹³ And lead us not into temptation, 

   but deliver us from the evil one.’"

-Matthew 6:9-13

 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.  -Matthew 18:21-22

A real understanding of the commands Christ has given us, allow us to see that Love and Forgiveness cannot be taken from us for they are gifts from above.  Let us remember to forgive those who have done us the greatest wrong, just as God forgives the greatest sinner.  

Blessings.