Dear Louise,
Just when I start to get really down on myself for not remembering the truth of who I am in Christ, I meet someone, another Christian, who has never even heard of the concept.

God is very clear on the subject. We are not our sin. Our identity has nothing to do with what we do, but everything to do with who we belong to. And yet, so many... maybe the majority, of churches teach that we must work to make ourselves perfect. They say things like, "It makes God sad when we sin." or "God will judge each and every one of the sins we don't repent of." Those things are just not Biblical.

Romans 7 says that when I do things that I don't want to do, or don't do the things that I know I ought, it is no longer I who do it, but sin living in me. He says it twice in case you missed it the first time. It is no longer I who do it, but sin living in me.

What does that mean for the believer? It means that my sin is a separate entity from ME. It means that my sin is something I repent of, not something that I own. It means that I don't have to be surprised at myself when I fail. And I don't have the right to be devastated when someone sins against me. News Flash: We are all fallen.

I know, Louise, that I get all high and mighty. I know I rant about other people's weirdness. But I think mostly I get angry when I see people living by the law; living as though there is anything that they can do to make God love them more or less.

My heart is full. I want to be glib and funny. I want to make you laugh. I am tempted to take things back to the surface, but I love you too much for that. This is a good place to be. Weak. For it is in His weakness that we are made strong.

It's all good.

Your Fellow Weakling,
Thelma