Grace for a Grinch?
Theme of the Week: Forgive That Jerk?
Sunday, October 2, 2005
 1 of 1
Who Said It…Spencer Perkins
For 14 years, Spencer, the son of racial reconciliation pioneer John Perkins, co-led an interracial community in Jackson, Mississippi, with New Englander Chris Rice. They also ministered nationally through Reconcilers Fellowship until Spencer's death at 43 in 1998. Their shared experience is related in More Than Equals (InterVarsity, 1993, 2000). Since "most black people are angry," Spencer said, the only way to redirect this force positively is to "play the grace card." What He Said…Grace for a Grinch?
"Daddy, come quick," shouted my daughter. "Someone stole presents from under the Christmas tree." While we slept, someone had entered, picked out a dozen gifts, removed the blanket that covers my favorite chair, and used it to haul them away.
When Johnathan realized that the stolen gifts included his top-of-the-line sneakers, he stormed out of the house in tears. I sat stunned and fuming on my coverless chair.
Later that day I put the question to my son. "How should we as Christians respond to the person who tried to steal our Christmas?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, Dad," he said. "Even though he doesn't deserve it, we're supposed to give him grace."
I knew the words out of his mouth were opposite to what Johnathan was feeling in his heart—because I felt the same way. But we had to start somewhere. If we could take one step toward forgiveness, just maybe our hearts could line up with our words, creating a counterculture of grace.
Adapted from More Than Equals (InterVarsity, 1993, 2000) by permission.
Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
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When I've been wronged, Lord, I'm naturally bent on retaliation. But You've said to leave that to You. Help me to submit my case to You.
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