Into Grace
Leader of a retreat some thirty years ago, Catholic priest, asked the group—who attended same weekend every year—why Jesus came, why was he born. Hands went up to answer right out of the Baltimore Catechism—to die for our sins. Priest was so frustrated he said that after all their years of attending, if they weren’t willing to grow, learn anything new, next year just stay home. Wow.
I had also been drilled that Jesus came to save us from our sins, shocked by his intensity.
Christian writer and speaker, Brennan Manning, revealed in his memoir just before he died that he’d been an alcoholic since age 18, tried to be the good child stumbling into church every Sunday, ordained a priest, became a famous writer and speaker who fell in love, left the priesthood to marry, relapsed after 15 years sober. From motel to motel on speaking tours, drinking to blackout, all while inspiring so many, like me, with his writing on the radical, furious love of God…on grace. Philip Yancey wrote that we’re tempted to ask what might have been if Brennan had not given in to drink. Wrong question. Real question: what might have been if Brennan had never discovered grace?
How did Brennan discover grace? By continuing to show back up after every relapse, every failing, to find that God was still there waiting, completely unfazed, love undimmed. Our failings usher us into the presence of grace, never our successes. Only when we’ve embraced our failings, ourselves as imperfect, yet still bring ourselves back to Presence do we experience God’s love as unchanging, degreeless, graceful. Only when we have felt completely unworthy and yet completely accepted at the same time, can we see our shame for what it is—a fear of disconnection that keeps us disconnected.
Jesus didn’t come to save us from our sins.
God understands those, loves right through them. But our shame keeps us from seeing the good news of that kind of love. It’s the long way home, but Jesus came to save us from shame. Only love can do that. He came to show us the perfection of God’s love. To experience that is to lose the shame, the fear that causes all we call sinful.
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Joe Stafford
Dave,
I hope you and the family are well. What a beautiful message. I have you to thank for introducing me to Brennan Manning’s writings. It was the Ragamuffin Gospels that brought me to Jesus, and for that I am eternally grateful. Keep up the great work, I’m still showing up and still reading!
Dave Brisbin
Aw, so good to know that you’re still with us, Joe! Love that you’re reading and showing up. Yes, Ragamuffin was one of my first intros to a new world of experience. Thanks for being out there and checking in. Sure hope we can sit across a table again sometime soon…
Chris Falson
Great post Dave, Thanks for being you and pointing out this path. Lots of love.
Dave Brisbin
Hey Chris, so good to hear from you! Miss you and thanks for reading and commenting. Love you back, my friend!