During worship at Harbor, we are plowing our way through the book of Acts in the series called “Footloosed: Gathering, Giving, Growing, Going.” The idea is that we are being set free SO THAT we may gather, give, grow, and go.

I never get to include all I want in sermons, primarily because of time, but also because I don’t look very closely at my I-Pad. In other cases, ideas are captured in Evernote, but not plugged in. One such thought came to me while attending Care Net Gala on Friday night that never made it to the “script.”

As I looked at Saul’s conversion in Acts 10, I was actually more astounded with his “conversion” or reconciliation to God’s family, than I was simply at his conversion to Jesus. I mean, can you imagine a community welcoming someone who had separated families and approved of behind-the-woodshed executions? How hard would hit have for Ananias to call him “Brother Saul?” I might have said, “Jesus loves you but everyone else thinks you’re an a##%$^&,” as I’ve seen on a bumper sticker.

Isn’t that nuts? I can’t imagine how much grace it would take to do that! Of course, we have had some picture of that even in America with the A.M.E. church in Charleston extending the offer of forgiveness to Dylan Roof.

But one thought I didn’t explore during the sermon was to consider the question: “How hard it would reconciliation be for Paul?” How awkward would it have been for the guy who caused so much grief to the church, to all the sudden find himself in it, laboring alongside it, intricately involved in it? Teaching about love and forgiveness? How apologetic must he be? At what point in life could he stop and just say, “I’m Paul?” without thinking, “Don’t believe all that you’ve heard about me…I’ve changed….?”

Sometimes a community can be gracious and welcoming, but if the individual/s don’t believe the gospel at a very deep level (my stains are washed away, but so is my stink/shame) then it will be very difficult. Should you ever find yourself on the outside looking in, remember how hard it must have been for Paul. But then remember how much the gospel can change both you AND them.

Shame has kept many a wary traveler on the outside when warm fellowship is offered inside. Remember, your shame is covered up as well as your sins (Romans 8:1). Knowing it is one thing, but believing it deeper each day is necessary for it to make any difference in your life.

I don’t do passive/aggressive blogs or preaching, meaning I have no person in mind writing this. These are just some reflections that I had intended to include in the sermon, but didn’t make the final cut! If nothing else, hopefully it will spur us on to compassion and grace.