He stood on stage with bright lights shining down and over 800 faces staring at him. The microphone hissed feedback as he began, but he bravely continued, holding notes in his tremoring right hand. As the notes fluttered nervously, he spoke clearly and with conviction about the person he was and sometimes battles not to be.
He shared his testimony and his life-long struggle with addiction and pornography. Through the fear and lies and shame, he shared with the entire room the deepest parts of shame and guilt and pain.
I saw a tall, well-spoken, and confident man become vulnerable, transparent, and painfully honest. As he shared his journey with the room, he took us back to the swallowing effects of addictions and allegorized it as, Covering myself in a blanket of $h!t. Yes, he said the four-letter word I said when I was seven and my mother washed my mouth out with soap. When he said the word, I actually tasted the bar of Dial soap in my mouth. It tasted wrong, just as wrong as covering myself with my own fecal matter.
He walked off stage and wanted to stand up and cheer. I wanted to woo woo like a dog and give him an Arsenio Hall arm roll. I was so proud of his bravery, his honesty, his transparency. But all that ensued was a golf clap and shuffling comfortably into seats.
The service continued. The message was given. The songs were sung. The hope of changing lives waged on.
As I walked out to my car, I overheard a group of girls talking about the use of profane words at church. I stopped walking for a second because I didn’t want to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t. The most vocal of the bunch said language like that shouldn’t be used in church. Another one said it was inappropriate.
And I was dumbfounded. Out of the entire message of grace, love, healing, and redemption, the one thing they mentioned was the curse word. I plopped into my car and sat there for a moment thinking, They’re right. It’s probably not the best word to use, but out of the entire evening of powerful worship, great teaching, honest stories of life-change, all they remembered was the curse word?!
But I closed the door on my closet legalistic-self and thought, No, it was the right word to use. If there was an apropos word, a word to aptly describe what Dial soap tasted like and the shame that came with it, it was that word! And if we really want to get all biblical, then let’s compare this to the translation for the word “dung” in the Old Testament. Because really, what is excrement?
The thing I’m more concerned about is not his word choice, but more so how we as the Church respond to honest brokenness. When I worked at my father’s church, we would get people call or email and say his recounting of his drug-days were inappropriate behind the pulpit. But for crying out loud, he WAS a druggie! Why are we so concerned with hygenitizing the past when our future is the most important thing about our story?
To clarify, I believe the pulpit is holy and those representing and presenting the word of God need to be cautious and honoring. There should be wisdom when sharing information in front of the body of Christ. However, to demonize and bash those sharing the transforming work in their lives is nothing more than hypocrisy. And if people whisper, shake their head, and point fingers, all we do is solidify the fear we have in sharing who we are, what we struggle with, and how we can change.
Thoughts? Concerns? Stones to throw?
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Thank you for this post, B. I fear we too often get hung up on this stuff that we miss the entire point of what we’re hearing. We miss out on Jesus because we’re too busy casting stones. After all, wasn’t that the case with the Pharisees?
A desire for holiness and purity is one thing, but I think we’ve got to take an honest look and see if that’s really the motivation behind the critique. More often than not, I’d say the motives are not from a place of love, but judgment and condemnation.
After all, can we excuse ourselves for the more acceptable words that we may use, knowing the heart behind us saying them is probably just as bad as using the worst curse words we can think of?
You can paint a tomb white, but there’s still death inside.
Thanks for the conviction and the reminder and your desire for mercy and grace. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
i liked this post and decided to say something because i, as a christian, as someone who loves God, curse. now, i don’t drop the f word like it’s hot, but i don’t hold back when i feel the need to say something explicit. it’s just a word. i don’t use it towards people or call people names with it but c’mon, it’s the right context when slamming a finger in a door or dropping a glass and watching it shatter. let’s face it. shit happens. does that make me less of a good person or less of a christian because i choose to vocalize what i’m already thinking? you’re sin is no greater than mine and i’m forgiven every day that i breathe. oversensitivity creates judgement and clouds what’s really important. Jesus loves me. pottymouth and all 🙂
I’m with you. I really struggle with church these days because it’s so clean and tidy it doesn’t feel real anymore. How’s that for honesty? 🙁
This post was spot on! Unfortunately, this happens too much. Inspiring and a good “self check” kind of post. Making sure we always see the big picture. God bless!
wow. great post. re: the past drug use comment…i have struggled with this exact thing in the past. i think when you grow up in the church, it can be really easy to condition yourself to accept the concealed sin and protest the public ones. when in reality we are all the same. any sin separates us…and we all have it…which really puts everyone on an even playing field. i think it’s the responsibility of the christ follower to listen to and learn from each other and the past that god has graciously walked us through without getting hung up on the terminology or labels that humans add.
re: cursing. i’ve got friends that i think really pride themselves on being the christian that drinks and curses. and honestly, i don’t have an issue with that…as long as the main objective is being met…loving others as ourselves and loving god above everything else. we are called to make disciples of christ…so if we get results by cursing, than i’m all for it. if you aren’t getting results….than maybe your approach or your intentionality should be adjusted.
good stuff…thanks!
I’ve said before, “healed people heal people”
If you’ve been redeemed, the telling of that redemption will bring light to those who have not been redeemed.
I would say that word wasn’t exactly the best choice of words, but the point was made. He wanted the people he was speaking to to understand just what hew as covered it. It was real to him. Gritty, terrible, gut wrenching, time stealing, life stealing, love stealing shit. Not “I was covered in doo-doo” … Not “I was covered in ewweee”, but shit. He has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!! He can say shit LOL
First time here. Great blog. Going now to read more. ……
You know what I want to see in church? I want to see real stuff. For YEARS I hid what went on in my home because the church people are so perfect. My husband was ashamed of himself, but couldn’t share that with anybody because he felt like everyone else was so perfect. We don’t talk about the hard places very much. Sometimes we have to talk about how sucky things really were before we can understand the glory of God. When we gloss over that hard stuff and move too quickly to how God is good I think it can make those who are struggling feel like it is their fault because they don’t believe enough. Describing how he felt with the words he used is relatable. For the person stuck there right now they can look up and say, “Yeah, that’s EXACTLY how I feel and it’s ok because there is something out there better for me. There is something bigger and if this guy can talk about his journey then I can, too.” I think if we were more real then the church would grow. I’m not talking numbers, I’m talking saving souls.
Sigh. I better stop now.
I don’t think we should have potty mouths, either. But I don’t think we should get caught up on a few words.
*sigh*
This post is… beautiful.
I can’t tell you how much I connect with this in my heart of hearts, not only for myself but for others that I see get bashed. I’ve always grown up in the church, and I’ve BEEN the snickering teen.
I’ve also been a worship pastor that got VERY hateful e-mails and conversations after one time singing Mike Crawford’s “Words to Build a Life On” (http://youtu.be/3iuv796s2sI) because it uses the word “freaking” in it one time. Go ahead. Listen to it. Tell me that the word “freaking” doesn’t describe exactly what it needs to in that situation. If someone can honestly tell me it doesn’t fit the exact sentiment and passion, I’ll reconsider my thoughts on it (but probably won’t change my thoughts in the end).
The amount of hatred and condemnation that I was blasted with was… well… far from Christian. Thankfully since I’ve been in the Church my entire life, I have a thick skin when it comes to things like this, so I let it roll off in light of the spiritual ignorance the comments carried.
What if it would’ve been a new Christian, though? I have a friend of mine that had come from a life of hard crime. He did 10 years in prison because of it. While in prison, he turned his life over to Christ, and he emerged a new man. Sure remnants of the old man still existed, but it was a life changed. I saw him get judged and verbally “checked” on so many instances. It really pushed him right out the doors of the church.
Thanks so much for your thoughts. Stay near to the heart of God!
I totally agree sometimes we miss the whole intire message and focus on that one thing that bothered us. Although why not use the word crap. For those who don’t know Christ the one thing they would also remember would be that one word. Then they will go out and speak about how they went to a church that use inappropriate language. They too might also miss the great message. I agree the message was probably amazing, but then why not choose a better word? Speaking of drugs and your past about pornography is awesome because so many of us deal with that on a daily basis, but that word? Perhaps crap would have been a better choose. I do not want to play the devils advocate I am only giving my opinion. I would have not found it ovensive, but instead of the dial soap i would have thought “maybe he should have choose a better word” and continued to go along with the message.
Well, shit. Those girls wouldn’t like me very much.
SORRY. I had to. I hope Millie doesn’t read this.
I firmly believe that sometimes an oh darn’t!, good grief, or a jimney crickets can’t do as much as an f bomb or s bomb 😉 juuuuust saying! lol
but in all honesty, should we cuss on the regular? no. but should we remember that we’re human and that my salvation doesn’t depend on whether i drop an f,s,b or whatever bomb..yes.
you da bomb Bianca. keep keepin’ it real.
love you,
anneliese
I just have to thank you for writing on things most of the church won’t write on. And when I read your blogs, I have more hope that I’m not insane, lol and that I’m not off the wall.This probably sounds weird. But they are just my thoughts. I used to be on staff at a christian church, I saw things that really detoured me, I left wanting to find something real, genuine, and it’s really hard to not let what I experienced effect my view of that certain denomination it “chain” of churches… But I pray I can just look to Jesus, and not let the people on church to keep me on a bitter place. I enjoy your views and thoughts. Hope this makes sense!!
I’ve heard pastors use the word ‘crap’ from the pulpit and I find this offensive, too. I believe we are transformed into new creatures after we accept Christ. Our speech should be edifying and glorifying to God. We are called to be set apart. I think he could have gotten his message across without using this language because where does it stop? Eventually, this becomes acceptable speech then it moves up to the next word and before you know it Christians will be taking the Lord’s name in vain to make a point and justify it by saying it is part of their testimony! I think using unedifying speech is totally different then your father recounting the life that Christ redeemed him from! I appreciate your father’s testimony. There are so many scriptures that talk about our speech. It is sad when the church doesn’t look any different than the world.
I LOVE this Bianca, at times we’ve all concentrated on the wrong part of the service & through that COMPLETELY missed what God was actually bringing. There is a prayer group starting up called Naked Truth, by a friend of ours whose father was caught up in pornography & it destroyed so much…he wants to break people’s silence about ‘the elephant in the pew’ & I agree wholeheartedly. If we can’t be honest about the redemptive work of Christ in church, where can we?!!
One thing I love about my church is that our pastor encourages honesty (& this prayer movement) & wants to see the most broken people that we would never usually hang with filling the seats…exciting stuff! God must be allowed to get the glory for each of these works of healing, & keeping quiet because we feel ashamed we are not giving Him the glory He deserves! x
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!
I heard peeps talking sh*t about his use of the word “sh*t” in his testimony & it really, I mean, REALLY, irritated me. I’ve heard his testimony before & the last time he dropped more than the “s-bomb”, but I was comfortable with it. Having that perspective, I know he was respecting people’s reactions to the previous sharing of his testimony & was using restraint with his language.
It definitely angered me a bit that out of the whole amazing night of testimony, worship, & powerful messages that people decided to dwell on the 1 curse word that was said in an extremely vulnerable & honest moment.
I don’t shy away from cursing when it’s honest & while I understand people are uncomfortable with it, it bothers me when they choose to lose focus because of a simple word.
The other irritating thing is that his whole testimony was on GRACE!!! And these people either haven’t experienced it or don’t really understand it because they sure as heck weren’t extending it to him.
I’m hoping someone they vented to helped bring a new perspective to light or that they find their way to this post, because we all need the reminder 🙂
You said it! Grace! If we were perfect, good even, there’d be little use for our faith. But I love being Christian because of His Reedeming Grace.
As far as these young girls go…I think that as young people start out in their journey, it’s easier to be legalistic. As we mature, we have a deeper understanding of our complexity as human beings. Then we start to fully grasp that God loves ALL of His flock and that the angels rejoice twofold for people like this speaker who seeks redemption after sin.
I get what you’re saying B, but I don’t think that word was appropriate from the pulpit. I read two good points above… 1) what if there was someone new visiting the church, SH** will be the essence of what they’re walking away with and 2) crap would have also done the job.
You’re dad always gives us raw stories but he speaks appropriately to his audience. He doesn’t use cuss words but we still get the power of what he’s saying. If the guy that was giving his testimony is a baby- as your dad would put it- then I get it, if he’s an old timer then that was just inappropriate. IMO
love your blog posts by the way.
I am not sure on this one.. Although I don’t think that the only take away from the night was this mans language, I am concerned with the audience.
Working with the youth in the church their language is no different from those that are not “in” the church. sadly 🙁 Although I am sure he was being real and honest, we need to be set apart, not super holy but we should be wise with our words.
Now with that said, I wouldn’t be concerned with it slipping out but saying that it is “OK” to do it from the pulpit would open up the flood gates.
Good post though btw…
I could not agree more. My father is a preacher at a church for the homeless. He used to be an alcoholic..into all sorts of stuff..and now look where God has brought him. HE WAS DELIVERED AND SET FREE! The homeless who attend church, they need someone to be REAL…they don’t need another sermon….they need a TESTIMONY….they want to know if what we all preach is worth trying……THEY WANT TO HEAR OF A RADICAL STORY! we are called to share our testimony’s….for the sake of those still searching for something.
Yes, maybe that word should not have been used…but that is what our christian testimony is all about, being transparent and sharing our healing and the Lord’s deliverance in our life with others…in order to share hope and a promise.
I am so thankful for that man. Even though there were a group of girls who didn’t take his story in a good way, there was that one person present who needed to hear his story, He will be blessed for his courage, especially in a setting that was as difficult as that must have been. Christians are supposed to celebrate each other and our testimony’s…but often the Church forgets its purpose..that it is a place for restoration, a place for the LOST to come and be made whole. We need more individuals like himself to be open and willing for God to work through their lives to strengthen someone else.
p.s…. *that word* is a word used before we are transformed into a new creation…all cuss words are lol..so technically we are all saved from *that word* 🙂
Remember we always need to go back to the scriptures when these type of issues arise in order to find the truth.
Philippians 4:8-Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are PURE, whatever things are LOVELY, whatever things are of GOOD report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.
Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, FORGETING those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are AHEAD, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
We need to stop looking back to our past and look ahead so that we can run the race.
Luke 9:62-But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Jesus’s own words
Ephesians 5;4-neither filthiness, nor FOOLISH talking, nor COARSE JESTING, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Too many times when people give their testimonies about their sinful past they make a joke out of it when in fact the scriptures forbid that. Going up on stage in front of the pulpit and imitiating the times when you were drunk or high is not right.
Pslalm 25:7-Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.
If we don’t want the Lord to remember our sins then why do we want to remember them? We really don’t need to nkow the details of people’s sinful past, I would rather nkow what Christ is doing for them and in them now. Not only that, I really don’t wnat to hear someone preach about themselves but rather about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
John 3:30-“He must increase, but I must decrease.
Colossians 4:6-Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Jude 1:13-raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
Revelation 12:11-“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
It is our testimony of Jesus dying on the cross for us that we overcome not by the words of our own or someone elses testimony
Don’t forget, though, how often Paul spoke of his former life, and God used his testimony to draw others to himself. Acts 26 is Paul recounting his testimony.
God is glorified in our proclaiming how He has transformed our lives. Testimonies are shared not to show what we have done for ourselves, but what Christ has done on our behalf for the glory of God.
Brittany,
Yes Paul was talking aout his conversion experience which I have no problem with. I have no problem with others talking about their Born Again experience but it is when they get into all the sordid details of their past sin. We as the bride of Christ do not need to go through all the play by play details of what we did in our sinful lives. Also as transfomred beings we need to abstain from filthy language. Does that mean the gentlemen in Binca’s post is not saved? Of course not but nonetheless we need to model the Church as being completley different from the World. I fear that the Church is rapidly becoming a cheap imitation of the World rather than the spotless Bride of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5;16-Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
Ephesians 5;12-For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
We need not speak of those shameful things done in the past. I get that someone can say I was an adulterer, fornicator, homosexual, murderer and now I am in Christ, understood. However when someone gets into the details is when they go off the cliff.
I think it depends on the speaker’s reason for using the word. If you use curse words or things like that for just shock value, and you know that they are going to offend your audience to the point that the one word becomes a distraction from your message, then you shouldn’t use it. It’s one of those circumstances where it is hard to know what is right or not. I love when people are real, and I have never had a problem with preachers and teachers being honest about their pasts, but usually, the ones that I have been around refrain from using that type of language because that was the language they used before they where changed by the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Their cleaned up language is a symbol of their cleaned up hearts.
I have to be honest, I have used curse words in the past, and sometimes I still let one slip every now and then, but I try really hard not to do so (because, even as a teacher and Christian speaker, I am still an imperfect person). And in my conservative church, it would be completely inappropriate to use those types of words because the shock value of the words would be more powerful than the message and would distract from my purpose as a speaker. For example, one night when I was teaching my teens at church about Balaam’s talking donkey, I read the story from the KJV Bible, which uses the word “ass” instead of “donkey”. My class didn’t learn a thing from me that night except that the word “ass” was in the Bible. If I had been in a different setting, that word wouldn’t have been such a big deal.
So, all that said, I think it depends on your heart, your purpose for speaking, and your audience.
I LOVE YOU!
I remember when I was little and my daddy was a pastor, a young guy came to the front and gave his life to Christ. He had his arms raised and was saying, “I f-ing love you God! I f-ing love you!” This was how he expressed himself, truly, and from his very heart. It’s who he was, 100%, holding nothing back. Just because he used a foul word that, I admit, makes me cringe, you can’t deny his heart. And that’s what Jesus sees. The heart. He didn’t “tsk tsk” and write an X on that guy’s report card for bad language. Where’s the grace in that?
I have to admit, I’m not surprised that we Christians are called hypocrites. When churches these days are filled with only the best dressed, the best-behaved, the upper class, where are the sinners supposed to go? It’s like dying people not wanting to go to hospital, because they’re afraid of being turned away for being TOO sick.
An above commenter mentioned that we are to model the church as the spotless bride of Christ, which I understand but don’t fully agree with. Modelling something to me speaks of a mask, putting on a happy face to hide the truth, that we are sinners and it’s by grace that we are saved and spotless IN HIS EYES, not by anything that we do or look like. We are NOT spotless. Ever. Not one of us. But we can come before the Lord boldly because HE sees us washed in the blood of the Lamb. Yes we are set apart and we don’t live bound by the sins of our old ways, but we don’t need to hide that we are sinners. Still. If we are perfect, then we don’t need God. He is strong in our weakness.
Just some thoughts…
Totally agree, we shouldn’t “strain a gnat and swallow a camel”. Words have meaning and sometimes certain words convey exactly what we want to say. I am sure this redeemed soul was not advocating a life of cussing. The message was his story of redemption.
More than ever, the church needs to “be” honest about a life lived through and by the spirit of God. It is a daily surrender to Him and at times our “humanity” will show due to the scars our carnal lives have left and there is no way around making it appear any other way.
Well I just got hit… hard. I’ve been there before. I’ve been the girl walking with people talking about how so and so said a cuss word and it’s church and completely forgetting the whole message shared or what God did in people’s hearts. The fact of the matter is not even a cuss word can stop the work of God and going over it with someone is just closing our hearts to what God is trying to do within us. Thank you for writing this, Bianca! I definitely needed it. Love you!!
Sounds like this man was being incredibly brave and courageous: When’s the last time you heard a man stand up in church and admit his struggle so openly with pornography? I think before his language is judged, you’d have to hear the context of this story. When wading in such an ugly sin, that word truly seems to me to fit what it would feel like. He didn’t seem to be slinging a word around to be cool or trendy or relevant, but he seemed to honestly describe what his sin felt like to him- and it seems to fit. I don’t believe we have to fear his use of language; I think we can give people credit for being intelligent enough to discern on their own what’s appropriate or not. This guy was being real and honest, and MAJOR KUDOS to him for having the bravery to do so- I wish more men would. I’m throwing my arm up with yours Bianca- sounds like that took alot of guts.
Great post.
I think it’s also important that we understand culture dynamic. In other cultures/countries, and someone gave that same testimony, no one would think twice about it. I think Jesus would be on his feet cheering him on. American culture isn’t Christian culture. And last time I checked, Jesus wasn’t American.
Grant it, it comes down to witness at some point. But, if we claim to follow Jesus every day of the week and not just on Sunday, should we really allow a “bad word” to get to us?
Shouldn’t we be celebrating the great things that God has done and is continually doing among us?
Just my thought on it.
James 1:26-If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
One of my favorite quotes:
“I have three things I’d like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.” – Tony Campolo
That probably tells you where I stand on this issue.
The importance of Christians being mature enough to understand context and perspective simply cannot be understated. Sometimes it takes “saying it like it is” to get people’s attention and give the proper perspective.
Unfortunately, many are not able to put things in context and end up making a mountain out of a molehill and MISSING THE ENTIRE POINT. He didn’t use a curse word just “for the fun of it” – he used it as a descriptive to help people truly grasp (perspective) the weight of the issue. It was the right choice of word FOR HIS CONTEXT.
I just picture Jesus responding to the church crowd much like he did the Pharisees … “You all are MISSING THE POINT … the point is MY REDEEMING POWER, MY LOVE AND GRACE, TRANSFORMATION that happens as a result of a life surrendered to me. You are MISSING THE POINT.”
And the worst part is that what Christ has already redeemed — this man’s life and story — is used by Satan to cause discord and distraction from that redemption because of the focus on ONE word. When we focus on legalistic things like this, rather than hearing the message of HOPE, Satan wins.
Man does that bum me out. If God had enough grace to offer this man in redeeming his life, shouldn’t WE be able to offer enough grace to focus on the amazing GOODNESS of God in his life, rather than on his (appropriate, in my opinion) use of a descriptive word? I’d like to think so.
Remmber tho, we as the Church (the people not a building) need to be the salt of the Earth. We are set apart from the unbelieving world.
Problem is we can’t rely on the opinions of Man/Woman and we need to go by the scriptures. I haven’t seen one scripture mentioned that supports us using bad language.
Wow. This blog post, as well as 95% of the comments after it make me sick to my stomach. Is this the state of the “church”? I am not only sickened, I am afraid. Does anyone read their Bibles anymore, or do we all just come up with our own opinions and feelings and go by those? Like Starcade said, I haven’t seen one scripture mentioned that supposedly promotes or condones Christians using foul language. However, there are plenty which do just the opposite. Is God’s Word your authority or are Bianca’s words? Just because you all agree doesn’t make it ok… in the end, you will answer to God, not to Bianca or to each other. His Word is clear about our language and how it should be. Yes, we are to love those in the world, but that doesn’t mean we are to be just like them. Be set apart!!!!!
Thank you for this post (and many more). You’ve shown me a church that I hoped for, but er saw. You’ve offered answers to questions that I’ve had that I was too afraid to vocalize for fear of criticism by my fellow church members.
PREACH!!!!
Great post that nails legalism. The church should be a hospital for sinners, not a tower for self-righteous saints.
Loved this!
those of us that grow up in the church often think that others have a background like our own. i have a friend that prided herself on remaining a virgin until marriage. once at a bridal shower she expressed her views to the group at large in a very judgmental matter. two girls became christians in college and had a *blemished* past and another girl was a victim of date rape. they suddenly became very quite. we can be so judgmental and legalistic at times which is why those outside the church do not want to come in. what ever happened to the grace and redemptive power of the cross and grave? very well said!
This is the description of why people cannot get closer to the meaning of following God. A curch is about coming together and being able to feel accepted for who you are wether you have been covered in a blanket of shit or not. He was searching for acceptance and those girls just judged him. Shame on them because all he did was lay his life warts and all out for Christ and its not their job to say if it isn’t good its God’s job!