I still see the old man’s face in my memory. Thirty some years ago, I was in central Illinois speaking to committed church people, very committed church people. I mentioned that I appreciate reading non-Lutheran material because different faith perspectives often help me better understand why we believe as we do. The old man shook his head in strong disagreement. “Only read what your church puts out.”
Today is Yom Kippur for our Jewish friends. “It shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves… For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins” (Leviticus 16:29-30). Every year the High Priest offered sacrifices for his own sins and for the Holy Place “because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins” (Leviticus 16:16). The New Testament stresses that Jesus Christ is our High Priest who made sacrifice for our sins once and for all time in His death on the cross (Hebrews 9:26; 1 Peter 3:18).
Has this truth led some to take their own sins lightly? “After all, I’m forgiven, I’ll do as I please, and Sunday I’ll hear again that I’m ok.” One truth, forgiveness once and for all, pushes aside another truth, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10). The unfortunate result is that many in the church do not practice daily repentance, including amendment of life.
Yom Kippur’s yearly sacrifices remind us sin is never to be taken lightly, especially by us who are forgiven once and for all. “Ye who think of sin but lightly Nor suppose the evil great Here may view its nature rightly, Here its guilt may estimate. Mark the sacrifice appointed, See who bears the awful load; ‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s anointed, Son of Man and Son of God” (Lutheran Service Book, 451:3). That old man, in days before the Internet, was already practicing the tribalism, the affinity groups, the Internet has increased. “I don’t need to listen to anyone else; I’m right.” Yom Kippur reminds me that the more I learn what others believe, the more I can grow in my own faith.
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