Late February [2015] brought the sad news that Josh Hamilton of the Angels may have had a relapse in his fight against alcohol and drug abuse.<\/p>\n
Hamilton\u2019s story arc \u2014 from first overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft, to being out of the game because of drug and alcohol addiction, to recovery and a spectacular comeback \u2014 has inspired many people, including many Christians. Hamilton credited his faith in Christ with helping him overcome his demons and finally fulfill his enormous potential.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know Hamilton, or even anyone who knows Hamilton, but I know a thing or 75 about personal demons and patterns of sin. I suspect that among the many things going through Hamilton\u2019s mind is the idea that he has let a lot of people down, many of whom he has never even met.<\/p>\n
That last part is the biggest, if not only, difference between Hamilton\u2019s story and mine. (Or yours.) His struggles and failure are public and, thus, the stuff of potential humiliation; mine are private and \u201conly\u201d the stuff of guilt and shame.<\/p>\n
Many years ago, I heard someone change the words of the Apostle\u2019s Creed from I believe in \u201cthe communion of saints [and] the forgiveness of sin\u201d to \u201cthe communion of sins [and] the forgiveness of saints.\u201d The phrase has stuck with me all these years because I\u2019m frankly counting on God enjoying the play on words as much as I do. I derive comfort from the possibility that when St. Paul told the Philippians that he was confident \u201cthat he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus,\u201d he was suggesting that along the way forgiveness will abound.<\/p>\n
I need it. We all do.<\/p>\n
My favorite illustration of what the \u201ccommunion of sins\u201d might look like comes from Brennan Manning\u2019s \u201cThe Ragamuffin Gospel.\u201d In it, he tells the story of an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting in which a guy he calls \u201cPhil\u201d admits that he fell off the wagon after being sober for seven years.<\/p>\n
Phil knows he screwed up. He even has an idea of why: He didn\u2019t pay enough attention to what A.A. calls \u201cH.A.L.T.,\u201d which stands for \u201chungry,\u201d \u201cangry,\u201d \u201clonely,\u201d and \u201ctired,\u201d the emotional states that make you more vulnerable to taking that first drink.<\/p>\n
The response to Phil\u2019s confession wasn\u2019t condemnation, disappointment, or even surprise. Instead, his fellow recovering alcoholics said things like \u201cThank God you\u2019re back,\u201d \u201cBoy, that took a lot of guts,\u201d and \u201cLet\u2019s get together tomorrow and figure out what you needed relief from.\u201d At the end of the meeting a woman Manning calls \u201cDenise\u201d kissed Phil and told him, \u201cYou old ragamuffin! Let\u2019s go. I\u2019m treating you to a banana split at the Tastee Freeze.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phil\u2019s confession did take guts. It also took belonging to a communion of sinners where the forgiveness of saints, or people who would be saints, is lived out. Stated plainly, Phil felt safe to be what he was, a man struggling with his demons, instead of striving to be what Manning calls \u201cthe imposter,\u201d the false self that everyone admires and no one knows.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know if your church feels safe. I suspect not. Unlike A.A. meetings, where, in Manning\u2019s words, \u201cEveryone is there because he or she made a big slobbering mess of his or her life,\u201d churches are invested in seeming to be filled with shiny, happy people even when they\u2019re not. I know. I\u2019m one of those people who doesn\u2019t always find it easy to be shiny and happy.<\/p>\n
So I pray that Josh Hamilton finds such a safe place. And that I do, too.<\/p>\n
==================<\/p>\n
Comments:<\/p>\n
I agree completely. \u201cI don\u2019t know if your church feels safe. I suspect not. Unlike A.A. meetings, where, in Manning\u2019s words, \u2018Everyone is there because he or she made a big slobbering mess of his or her life,\u2019 churches are invested in seeming to be filled with shiny, happy people even when they\u2019re not. I know. I\u2019m one of those people who doesn\u2019t always find it easy to be shiny and happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
I attended 12-Step meetings for two years, and, sad to say, in one month I found more honesty about problems there than I saw in the church in ten years. People in 12-Step groups attend because they feel a need, \u2018cos they know they are messed up, and desperately need help. (Dare I say, \u2018a Savior\u2019?) Otherwise, what\u2019s the point?<\/p>\n
What is an increasing wonder to me is that we are the people and this is the entity by which our Lord Jesus has chosen to change the world, and to change Eternity. As C.S. Lewis wrote, \u201cWho can duly adore such a Love…?\u201d<\/p>\n
Posted By: Kevin Peet on March 04, 2015<\/p>\n
========<\/p>\n
Thank you, Roberto. This is the best thing I\u2019ve seen here in a long time. I pray our churches learn not to project \u201cShiny and Happy,\u201d but project forgiveness.<\/p>\n
Posted By: Dan Gill on March 03, 2015<\/p>\n
________<\/p>\n
Also see HolwickID #35389 and #63433.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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