The Amazing Grace Heroes

By now I am sure that all in the English speaking world know the story of “Amazing Grace” – the hymn written by the former slave trader, John Newton. The story behind the famous old church song is simply amazing. One man experienced a radical change personally and spiritually. His life and ideals that had guided him all along were turned upside down. In fact the entire world would eventually be affected by his decisions and the decisions of others.

Men and women that had been taken into slavery, sold and forced to live their whole lives as slaves, bear children that would live and die as slaves – were all set free. Slavery as it had existed was abolished. Actually it took a few years for it to become a reality for all. The slave trade stopped – but people still kept slaves and kept their slave keeping attitudes – for many years. They began to sing the song but didn’t actually act on what they sang.

Attitudes die slowly and many times are hard to change. I see that everyday around me. People are good but some of their attitudes are not so good. They try to be good – but old attitudes sneak back and pop up once in a while. Or sometimes old attitudes just are so real that they are part of us.

But there is hope and freedom. There is possibility of change. I have witnessed this happening again in our local setting. In one area that we have watched major changes is the one that is related to the ex-offender – men coming from prison. People’s attitudes toward ex-offenders have changed without them even knowing it.

Last week as I spoke to a young lady she shared how her life and feelings have changed so much. She spoke about the way she was and the way that she has become. One of the areas that she highlighted was the area of helping the broken lives of men that are getting out of prison. Her statement was, “I know there is a difference in me now… I would have never had anything to do with men coming from prison…now I am comfortable being around them.”

I have found that you cannot make people love someone. You cannot even make people tolerate someone. And you cannot change people’s mindsets. If there mind is set solidly after all these years – they have a strong attitude – it can not be changed by anything you do. But God can assist in the change.

God never makes people do anything. He simple loves them as they are and then loves them so much that he will not leave them the way they are. What I have witnessed is that in his great love he has poured “amazing grace people” in around the people that have little understanding of Grace. Then it isn’t long before these people apply the real grace – and then attitudes begin to change.

Last Sunday in our church we had a Baptismal Service – where men and women walked in to our Baptismal Tank and were Baptised. As a pastor I laid them down in the water and then brought them out. It is a Christian Ordinance that our church follows – adult baptism by submersion in water. Without a doubt it is the one service in church that has always been marked by great joy and transformation.

Our Baptism Service last week stands out as a remarkable testimony for all of us. The group of folk baptised were powerful. They all came as repentant individuals – sorry for their sins and wanting to declare their Christianity. The uniqueness of this service was the mixture of people.

First - The three men baptised were from a back ground of “bad” – but were now in growing toward – “GOOD”. Their lives have been changed and their attitudes radically transformed. All three had once been in prison but were now free.

Second – The three women baptised were from less frightening backgrounds – having done little bad in their lives (in comparison to the men)– but had experienced a change in their attitudes.

Third – The congregation that witnessed the Baptisms was filled with a love that was unique. They reached out to and loved… forgave and now offer new love to whoever comes. But I must say that our congregation has not always been this way. We have been a pretty ‘normal congregation’ up to 8 years ago – the same as other groups – afraid of “bad” people and not too interested in giving anyone a second chance. But that was in the past. Today at Northview you will find an amazing grace applied liberally to whoever walks through the doors.

Change is not easy – not for one minute. We have lost because we love everyone. Some have felt that loving people that are ‘bad’ is simply wrong. Their attitudes have been very difficult to understand. They could not change and would not change. I feel deeply for them. But then as I read the accounts of the Civil War one of the issues that were faced was that of slavery and attitudes of ‘good people’. As I read the Freedom March Days of many years later – the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s in the southern USA… it was not easy to change. They faced head on the attitudes of ‘good people’ and died because of what they believed.

You might be asking if I think that the issues of reintegration of ex-offenders and the release of slaves are the same? Yes I do… The individuals that we deal with – whether a slave or an ex-offender are very different. But the attitudes of some of the ‘good people’ are exactly the same. They want nothing to do with “these kind of people”. “These kinds of people” can sit at the back of the bus, drink from different fountains and live in different places – just not near me or my family!

The shocking thing I want to state to you here is – “You do not know Amazing Grace until it has changed your life and attitude.” Without a real application of GRACE – you are just singing a great melody – but know nothing of God’s Grace.

The really shocking thing is that some day when the ‘good people’ get to heaven – they will be really shocked at the kind of people living right next door. Many of their new neighbours will be ‘really bad people’ that have found the Grace of God!

The next logical question is if you think that God will allow people into his heaven that have no idea of what His Grace is about. Do you think that he will allow Graceless People in? I will be honest with you – I doubt it.

But I will be honest here – I find it about as hard to understand and accept Graceless People as some of them have in accepting “Bad People That Have Found Grace”. But – then – that is God’s application of his Grace to my life – he helps me to even love ‘Good People’.

Something to mull on today… hmmm.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

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