by Trent from Sept 05
Here is an true allegory of God's unconditional love as it occurred to me in the seventh grade. You should be able to discover truths about license to sin. Lets discuss it.
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My parents don't remember it, but God etched this episode on my heart. Also there is something magical about your first year in Junior High that makes things all the more memorable, like the first time you ride your bike, or the first taste of coffee. In seventh grade I will never forget the first co-ed dance.
The buzz was intense. I didn't even know how to dance, but I was very excited. We just assumed that everyone would go. How could I have known that not everyone saw it that way?
Monday before the dance, I thought that it would be polite if I at least told my mother about the dance on Friday. The school was only a block away, "So, I won't need a ride, mom." I said, as if I was doing her a big favor. But, the look on her face told a different story.
Obviously holding back, she said, "When your father gets home we will talk about it." *gulp*
What did I say? Why didn't she just say it would be fine?
Well when my parents retreated into their room, my thoughts couldn't escape that I was somehow in trouble. When I was summoned, the hall seemed longer and darker then I had ever remembered.
My father did the talking. Actually, it was a lecture. They never danced when they were my age. (Oh, did I mention that they were Southern Baptist?) Dancing can lead to other things, they indelicately explained. "Frankly, we think it is wrong and something that you shouldn't ... blah blah blah." I had tuned them out completely!
I am not normally rebellious, but the more that I felt fenced me in, the more I wanted out! I thought "I'll pretend to be sick, go to bed early and slip out to the dance! Even if I get caught, maybe rebelling for once will actually give me cool-points at school." It was a win: win! I was so into planning that I almost did not hear what my father said next.
"We leave the decision up to you." *huh?* "Trent, if you go to the dance, we will love you no more and no less than if you stay home." That was my dad saying that! He went on, "You know how we feel about it, but whatever you do does not affect our acceptance of you."
I could hardly believe my ears. Neither could my friends at school ... "Your parents are against dancing?" They did not understand. Why would I change for the long shot that they would accept me, when I was already accepted as I was?
Well Friday rolled around and my mom asked me if I was going to get ready for the dance. "No, I just don't want to." I did not know how to express it fully. The decision was easy. I wanted to stay where I was unconditionally accepted. The last thing that I wanted to do is seek the temporary acceptance of my peers at the cost of conformity and compromise.
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I never needed a license to sin; I sin well enough without one. What I needed, and what we all need is a fresh revelation of God's love and acceptance. Exposed to that, we may never want to sin again.
You only need speak to Me and accept My forgiveness, and forgive yourself also and be joyful. ~ Jesus [Letters from God and His Christ - Volume 6 - Understand Love, Know Forgiveness, Partake of the Whole Fruit of the Spirit and Make It Part of You]