|
|
||
'FORGIVENESS HEALS' by Ian M Fraser |
||
|
There was a young lass in Rosyth who was a
bit wild but very likeable, and she was known as 'one for
the boys'. She came to Church quite often and her family was
part of the congregation. One day she sought me out. She did
not say what the problem was but I think it had to do with
giving in to sexual advantages which she might well have
invited in the first place. She was an attractive, lively
girl.
We met and she told me that something had happened in her life which meant that she wanted to ask God for forgiveness of things which she now felt ashamed about. She wanted a clean start. Would I, without probing any further, allow her to confess her sinfulness and pronounce over her God's absolution so that she could make the fresh beginning which she longed for? At an agreed time we met in the vestry. I told her that, for an act of this kind, there needed to be a second element. Would she agree that I make a general confession in her presence of the sin which infected my life and that she pronounce God's forgiveness over me? Then I would hear her confession and pronounce God's forgiveness over her. She was startled. She had put me on a different plane. I had to get her to see that there is no category of people so good that all they need to do is to assure others of the forgiveness of God to release them from their sins. We ordained people are as human as they come. As we talked it through, she came to see my point. We went into the front of the Church. We heard one another confessions. We declared God's forgiveness and absolution over one another. We rejoiced together. Both of us received a clean start. *** |
|
|
