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“A Sin Walk.”

A thought by Larry Osborne, (2009-04-04) from his book, Ten Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe (p. 37). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

It is really difficult for us to want to forgive a person who has really hurt us or who has been unjust in an action toward us.  As Larry says, “Forgiving is a big deal. It's not just for those who have done the little things that get us so worked up. It's for those who are responsible for the big stuff as well.” And we need help to want to do it.  

Larry suggest that a sin walk is a good way to help us get over the hump when we are hesitant to forgive.  But what does he mean by a sin walk?  He says, “No, I don't mean a walk on the wild side. I mean a literal walk in the neighborhood or down by the beach during which I do my best to remember all my sins I can recall. And I mean all. I try to go back to the first brownie pilfered from Mom's cookie jar.”

He continues, “It's always an eye-opening exercise. It usually exposes my ‘righteous anger’ as not being so righteous after all. It's humbling. It renews my awe and gratitude for the incredible grace and forgiveness I've received. It makes playing the role of an unforgiving servant seem ridiculous. It's also been known to send some chills down my spine and tears to my eyes.”

There was a story about Jesus and a group of righteous leaders who were about to stone a woman to death because they found to be an adulteress.  And Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground each one of their sins and he said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without a sin be the first to throw a stone at her”  And they each one dropped their stone and started walking away.

God in his grace has been so good to us.  How can we not be gracious and good to others?  So he says to you and me, “If you have not sinned, if you have not wronged someone else then go ahead and not forgive them.”  But not one of us can say that can we?

Larry says, “When we offer forgiveness to those who have no excuse— and for things most of the world would consider unforgivable— we become most like Jesus. Remember, he died for sins he never committed to forgive people who had no right to be forgiven.”


He did that for you and me didn’t he?
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