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The Mississippi Pardon and the Gospel
Recently, former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour signed pardons for more than 200 inmates. Attempts were made to block and overturn the pardons but they were upheld by the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Here is a clip from CNN.com where Jeffrey Toobin discusses the court’s decision:
“Remaining 5 inmates in Mississippi pardons controversy freed”
I could dive into all the facts and tell you that these pardons were probably not warranted but I will refrain. What I want to point out are the comparisons and contrasts between these pardons and the pardon that God grants to his people.
The Similar
Toobin’s first comments in the video were:
Blown away. Shocked. Amazed.
This reaction is understandable considering pardons are not normal and typically murderers are not pardoned. This reaction can also be seen in Scripture. David says this in Psalm 31: 1:
How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven,whose sin is pardoned! -NET
The reaction to a sinner or law-breaker being pardoned is similar. Granted the sinner is deserving of death while most civil law-breakers are simply locked away. Regardless of the offense, being pardoned should elicit the same reaction that Toobin had. We should be in awe of what God has done for us and “amazed” at his great love.
Toobin also said this:
These people are free, and it’s not just…like they are let out of prison…It’s like they were never convicted at all.
This is an amazing aspect to a pardon. Not only do the sentences end for these prisoners but they are actually free again. Their standing in the eyes of the law are clean and upright. It is as if they have never committed the crime that got them convicted. This is strikingly similar to the Christian doctrine of justification. Here is an excerpt from my post “Justification (Hilaterion)”:
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. -Romans 3:25, ESV
This is a wonderful verse that sums up what justification is. What I want to highlight though is the word “hilasterion” (propitiation). Lets define propitiation. Bible.org defines it when John F. Walvoord writes:
“Propitiation is the biblical doctrine embodying the concept that the death of Christ fully satisfied the demands of a righteous God in respect to judgment upon the sinner.”
When we grasp propitiation’s definition Rom. 3:25 holds an even greater meaning. Jesus put forward a sacrifice that satisfied the insurmountable gap that separated us from God. That insurmountable gap was created by sin. Our standing with God is that of disdain and disgust because he views people as they are…sinful. Jesus’ sacrifice changed all that. By definition if Christ’s death actually secured a righteous standing before God that means that it is pointed or directed to a specific people. If it isn’t then Jesus’ propitiatory sacrifice never accomplishes its aim because many people refuse to turn to God in faith. This is known as limited atonement. Jesus’ sacrifice was for a specific group of people who are propitiated by his sacrifice through faith. Notice though how Paul underscores Jesus’ sacrifice when he says, “This was to show God’s righteousness.”
The greatness of Jesus’ sacrifice is that it paid for our sins. Not only that it was a complete sacrifice. Our sins were put on Christ and his righteousness was then placed on us. In God’s eyes it is like we have never sinned at all. We are free.
The Different
In the article linked to above Gov. Barbour gives an explanation of his pardons:
Barbour has defended his pardons and said the former inmates had been rehabilitated.
Did you notice how Barbour defended his pardon? He said that these inmates had proven that they were rehabilitated before the pardon was granted. This is where the pardon of the Governor differs from the amazing pardon of God. Romans 5:8 says:
But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -NET
Jesus didn’t wait for people to prove their rehabilitation before he gave himself up for his people. He died for sinners that were in love with their sin. He paid the ultimate price for those who didn’t give two cents about their standing before a holy and righteous God. Jesus doesn’t pardon those who earn it…he changes those who never deserved it.
God’s pardon is amazing, God’s grace is freeing, and God’s love is heart-changing.
Thanks for reading.
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Christians and the U.S. Military
The topic of war and the military can ignite many emotions. I have friends and family that are/have been in the military. Even with the emotions involved I think there needs to be a serious conversation about the U.S. military and Christian morals. When I was in college I was introduced to a documentary that made me wrestle with my stance on war. The documentary is titled “Soldiers of Conscience”. A shortened version can be found on youtube. Here is the video:
I do not appreciate the imagery this documentary uses with the dead people because that simply stirs up emotions but this video does raise some interesting questions.
#1 As a Christian is it okay to train soldiers to bypass their moral decision-making through “reflexive fire training” to more effectively kill an enemy?
#2 Is there a contradiction between the U.S. military chants, “What is the spirit of the bayonet? Kill, kill, kill without mercy,” and, “What makes the green grass grow? Blood, blood, blood makes the green grass grow,” with Jesus words, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matt. 5:44)?
These are questions worth wrestling over. I encourage responses below from all sides of the fence as long as they are respectful and encourage dialogue.
Thanks for reading.
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Is Premarital Sex Okay?
Yesterday, a fellow friend and blogger posted an article titled “IS PREMARITAL SEX OKAY FOR MILLENIALS?“. I believe that the article was to spur on thought about this subject. Mike does not state any conclusions in this post. With that, I believe that Mike has really missed the boat by only sharing the “negative effects” of not having premarital sex. I think the negatives of having premarital sex are more startling than the effects of abstaining from sex. Here are some of the “negative effects” Mike mentions that stem from abstaining from premarital sex:
Sexual repression often comes with great consequences. It can lead to (1)poor self-esteem, (2)depression, and even things like (3)aggressive behavior or (4)suicidal thoughts.
I am not sure where Mike got his information but I think I am on good ground to question it. From my life and other’s lives I know that sexual immorality has devastating effects on a person and their relationships. Every person knows what is right and what is wrong. Some may claim they have different moral standards but the law of God is written on their hearts. Romans 2:14-15 says:
For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them -NET
As a Christian, my worldview is established by God’s communication with us. His greatest revelation to humanity was Jesus Christ. We know Christ through the proclamation and study of God’s word (the Bible). Jesus says these words in Matthew 5:27-28:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” -ESV
Everyone would agree that adultery is the act of sexual intercourse between at least one married person outside of their covenantal marriage. How then do we make sense out of Jesus’ teaching as an unmarried person? Is Jesus saying, “You can look lustfully at anyone who is not married,”? Of course not. He is saying that adultery is deeper than simply the physical action; it is a matter of the heart. He is also saying that sexual intercourse or lustful desires outside of a covenantal marriage is sin. If we stopped there people could disput this but Jesus has even more to say when he says:
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” -Mark 7:20-23 ESV
Here Jesus clearly differentiates between adultery and sexual immorality. According to the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament sexual immorality is defined as:
1) illicit sexual intercourse
1a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
1c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman
Jesus condemns fornication. He says that it is an evil thing that comes from within a person. Not only that, fornication defiles a person. If we, as Christians, believe that fornication is wrong then why would we entertain the idea of condoning such behavior and thinking? Remember the passage I quoted in Romans 2 about God’s law written on the Gentiles (those that had not encounterd God’s law like the Jews) hearts? Now go back to Mike’s list of negative effects of abstaining from sex and ask yourself this question…If people’s consciences attest to the law of God and Jesus makes it clear that fornication is sinful would all of Mike’s “negatives” be true of those that have participated in premarital sex?
Lets look at “poor self-esteem”, “depression”, and “suicidal thoughts”. I have spoken with many people, young and old, that have had sex outside of a covenantal marriage. Most of them will admit that they felt guilty after the act. Many claim that they regret it. Could that lead to low self-esteem, depression, or even more, suicidal thoughts? Here is a stat that gives insight into this, especially as it pertains to women:
A study at a Midwestern school showed that 80% of the women who had intercourse hoped to marry their partner. Only 12% of the men had the same expectation. -Robert J. Collins in the Chicago Tribune, quoted in HIS, February, 1976.
Women may have different expectations with sex now, but 80% is a staggering number. These women thought they were in a relationship that would last a lifetime. While 12% of men thought that they were in a relationship that would lead to marriage. Wouldn’t a women who had sexual intercourse with a man whom she thought she would marry but ended up heartbroken suffer from the “negatives” Mike points out? I think yes.
God has answered this question in his Word. And the answer does not change just because our culture does. Sex outside of and before marriage is sin. It is a stench in the nostrils of a holy God. We, as Christians, need to better teach people how to deal with their sexuality but we also need to point out that going against God’s word is far more disastrous than the possible consequences of abstinence. Allow me to end with the words of Dr. Carson Daly (not the former MTV guy):
“I don’t think I ever met a student who was sorry he or she postponed sexual activity, but I certainly met many who deeply regretted their sexual involvements.”
