The Aroma of Forgiveness

Last updated on: March 7, 2015 at 12:35 pm by Kenneth Tanner

The Aroma of Forgiveness 2015-03-07T12:35:56-04:00 Kenneth Tanner

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I can always tell when someone has no idea what they are talking about when they talk about sinners in the abstract, especially particular kinds of sin.

When you have encountered sin and sinners in the real world, walked out redemption amid their brokenness (and your own), the aroma of forgiveness overpowers denunciation.

You concern yourself a lot less with where the world and the culture are failing at the moment because you know earth’s destination—and the end of the road for mankind—is a new creation, the kingdom of God.

The church needs to be more active in forgiving sin; the identification of sin is not our primary mission.

The world does a pretty damn good job denouncing sin and identifying sinners, but even when it does not, the church represents Jesus Christ, who took upon himself the sin burden of the whole world.

Sin that is denounced remains a burden. Sin that is forgiven brings the possibility of renewal and conversion of the heart.

Here is a good test for a church leader: watch how often they denounce sin in proportion to announce forgiveness. How often are they actively forgiving?

Forgiveness involves personal encounter. We can denounce sin from a distance but to forgive involves proximity. You have to leave the bubble we Christians erect around ourselves.

When you make yourself available, when you pour yourself out for all, you never need to say anything about loving sinners but not loving their sin.

Everyone knows your love by its fruit. Everyone knows you live a different way because you enact that narrow road by self-giving. Words become superfluous.

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