My heart breaks when people want to beat others up with the gospel. The two ideas are mutually exclusive. It cannot be gospel (good news) if it is burdensome and punitive. One of my favorite stories of grace in scripture is when the woman who was caught in adultery was brought to Jesus. Those who brought her were hoping for a holy smack-down. Jesus was so not a part of what they wanted to do that he thought drawing in the dirt would be more productive. One of my professors wrote, “Sin was not treated lightly by Jesus, but sinners were offered opportunity to start life anew.” I pray that you are not misled by “gospel thugs” who would beat you up with Jesus. I pray you would not be drawn in by those who would be “gospel brokers,” thinking they distribute the new life on His behalf. He almost ignored those types of people in scripture, except when He put them in their place (as only He could do). Peter, you didn’t have to walk on water before you were loved by Jesus. Gentiles, you didn’t have to be circumcised to be included in the Way. Oh, and Cameron, you don’t have to quit playing practical jokes (harmless ones) to be right with the Lord!
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