7. Do you turn away from your failings and wish them gone?

Small Group Life Blog

July 17, 2009

Hi [FIRSTNAME],

Question #7 in our weekly Life Transformation Group is:

Do you turn away from your failings and wish them gone?

We use the Character Conversation Questions as the agenda for our Life Transformation Group. Therefore, I’ve given a lot of thought to the wording used. One goal was to avoid some of the pet, Christianese language that we so often use—words like “sin” and “repentance.” They’re good, Biblical words, but I wonder what they communicate to people, and especially to the unchurched whom we’re trying to reach.

So, this is what we came up with to replace “Do you repent of your sins?” Paul spoke of “falling short of God’s glory.” I think most of people can relate “falling short,” or to “failing.” And I think we consider such failings to be a big deal.

The best illustration I can think of for repentance is falling into a septic tank. After you are pulled out, you feel completely disgusted. You want to be washed, to be clean; you want that stuff gone. That does not necessarily mean you can get it off you. But you do want it gone.

The major problem with this analogy is that there’s a part of us (what Paul calls the old nature) that still wants to be in the septic tank. There’s a certain freedom in the tank to do what you want and live how you want. Plus, there’s the promise of the Evil One that in fact the septic tank will give you your heart’s desire. And on top of that, God’s cleaning method is about as welcome as a bath is to a cat (don’t let the title offend you if you watch this YouTube video).

But the point of the question is pretty simple. Do you want these failings gone – “out, done, scat, get away from me, I’m tired of it”?

If so, then receive God’s freedom through your brother or sister that is only found in Jesus and His death and resurrection.

It’s a relief to unload these burdens we carry around with us. And it’s a relief to know that Jesus has taken them, and we are free to live with Christ-like character.

In Christ,
Pastor Steve

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