Another penny dropped...

When I asked God for wisdom, I didn't expect to have it to show up in the form of people in recovery. Hurting, rejected, struggling people who are grateful for a smile from a "normal" person. I am humbled that they share with me and are teaching me about forgiveness, acceptance, and peace. None of them are ordained ministers; all have been booted out of a church one time or another--and every one of them has found redemption and unconditional love--from God Himself, not the god that was presented by the local congregation/ministry.

My eyes have been opened.

Sin: A Reformed View

"For the churches I had attended sin was what you did or didn't do. But the Reformational view is more of our nature after the fall and what we do or don't do comes out of that. When this view is accepted, and I wholeheartedly subscribe to it, we see why the Christian Right, as well as legalism in so many churches, have failed. When sin is who you are instead of what you do, the only way out is through a complete transformation through the cross. Of course this will upset most Christians when things like homosexuality are dealt with. Let me say it again so you'll get it. Sin is who you are, not what you do. Sadly, the homosexual/lesbian/transgender community has IMO a better theology of their condition than we do."