Click Here to Listen to the Sunday, July 17, 2011 Sermon "unBroken Part I - Unbroken to Broken" by Pastor Rodger S. Loar
Scripture Reference: Romans 5:19
Much of the world believes that people are basically good. But are we? God's word teaches us that we are made in God's image, but that we are sinful and rebelious... Broken. It also teaches us that God has redeemed those who have believed in Jesus Christ, making us whole again... Unbroken.
What are we then? Broken or unbroken?
When we come to realize that humanity is both broken and at the same time can be unbroken, then it changes how we treat each other. If we recognize that the people we meet are children of God, made in his image, then it makes us treat them a little more special. If we also realize that they are broken sinners that need God, it also makes us a little more understanding and hopefully grace-giving. Finally, if we add in the idea that we are all redeemable through Christ, then it allows us to share hope with them where they are.
This isn't always easy, when you deal with someone who is a jerk, when you wonder about someone who has hurt a child, or who has murdered, when you deal with someone who time and again has hurt you.
But, when we balance the brokenness and unbrokenness of humanity, and we ultimately see that we too are the same, then we can be more welcoming, more grace-filled, more unconditionally loving and we can bring hope to a world that so desperately needs it.
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P.S. I write this with a caveat: I struggle with this too. This very day, one day after giving the second sermon in this series, I encountered someone who was a rude jerk to me. Though patient at first, I ended up blowing up and yelling at her. I share this only to let you know that the struggle goes on and that even the rudest people you meet still need hope. Let's keep working on this together.
Pastor Rodger
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