My pastor raised a question similar to this on Sunday and it was good (but not very nice) of him to do so. There are so many stories in the bible that are hard to make sense of (Judah and Tamar, Hosea and Gomer and any story using the phrase “Devoted to destruction” come to mind.) and commands that are uncomfortable or nigh impossible to follow. It is so easy to willfully overlook them, much easier than learning how to reconcile them to my life and God’s reality.
Love your enemies.
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Forgive 70 x 7 times (that means ALL of the times).
Bless those who curse you.
Honor you father and mother.
Children, obey your parents.
Give to any who asks of you.
Lay down your life and follow me.
Husbands, love your wife as Christ loves the Church.
Do not covet.
Serve God, not money.
Do not commit adultery (which includes willingly lusting).
And so on.
We have so many rationalizations and excuses for overlooking and ignoring such commands and many others. And once we’ve started doing so it feels impossible to face them and admit our wrongs. But we must, and it’s good and freeing when we do. God’s grace and forgiveness far surpass our willful ignoring of his commands (that’s in the bible too). So be brave, trust God’s grace for both understanding and forgiveness, and ask yourself “what parts of the Bible do I ignore?”
