Manna Christian Fellowship

God intends His Word to change us. See how He works in you to do that. Read Leviticus 26:40-42 and 1 Samuel 15 and think about this:

God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.
Augustine (354-430)

In Dead Man Walking (director: Tim Robbins 1995 ), which is based upon a true story, Sister Helen Prejean struggles with the horror of what the condemned man, Matthew Poncelet, has done.  For his heinous act he shows no remorse.   Sister Prejean indefatigably perseveres, confronting him with the reality of his actions, believing that only by admitting his part in the murders will he gain redemption.

Chaplains office

CHAPLAIN      The boy's to be executed in six days and is in dire need of redemption. Are you up to this?

PREJEAN          I don't know, Father, I hope so. I've been praying for guidance.

CHAPLAIN       You can save this boy by getting him to receive the sacraments before he dies. This is your job - nothing more, nothing less...

Condemned cell

PREJEAN        You been reading your Bible?

PONCELET     I tried to last night. Made me wanna sleep...I try to stay conscious...I appreciate you tryin' to save me. But me an' God, we got all things squared away. I know Jesus died on the cross for us an' I believe he's gonna be there to take care of me when I appear before God on Judgment Day.

PREJEAN       Matt, redemption isn't some king of free admission ticket because Jesus paid the price. You gotta participate in your own redemption. You got some work to do. I think maybe you should look at John chapter eight, where Jesus said, ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.'

PONCELET    I'll check it out. I like that bit. The truth shall make you free. I like that. If I pass the lie detector test, I'm gonna be free.

PREJEAN       Matt, if you do die, as your friend I want to help you die with dignity and I don't see how you can, unless you start to own up to the part you played in Walter and Hope's death.

* * * * *

PREJEAN       You did a terrible thing, Matt, a terrible thing. But you have dignity now. No one can take that from you. You are a son of God, Matthew Poncelet.

The Christian message is that grace is free, but it is not cheap. Some of us recall a time when they walked the isle and say, "Ah, that was when I was saved," but live a quiet life in acquiescence to the injustices of the world. Is salvation a commitment card that you store away like a treasury bond, a commodity to acquire for long-term peace of mind? May it never be! Salvation is more precious and costly than this as Sister Prejean points out to Matthew. While I do not ascribed to the sacramental theology portrayed in this script (I don't believe merit toward salvation is earned in the sacraments), I do believe Sister Prejean and the Chaplain are right in saying that repentance is key to salvation, whether they are coming to faith for the first time or the are continuing to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

Throughout Scripture the covenant people of God experience both the bitter herb of repentance and the sweet nectar of hope - the Israelites in Judges, David in the Psalms, Peter at the fire, the woman at the well, the centurion at the cross, Paul on the Damascus road and so on.  Indeed the Spirit's presence in our life is bitter and sweet. By taking his abode in our hearts through faith in Christ, we are broken by sin and healed by the cross.  We are continually reminded both of our fallen condition in sin and our election through Christ, our sin and our hope, our bitterness and sweetness. The image of the Christian life is not a roller coaster but rather a yo-yo in the hand of a man going up an escalator. We may have our downward days, but over time you are becoming more holy.  Take heart, Christian!  Through conviction of sin we see ourselves in need of redemption again and again, but this brokenness is not an end in itself. It reminds us of Christ's incalculable sacrifice for the elect on the cross and we take hope in the gospel's promise to put to right all things. Let's continue to fight the good fight of faith empowered by a grace that is free, but isn't cheap.

When was the last time you felt broken over sin?  Do you practice repentance on a regular basis? As I have said a proper view of repentance does not lead to melancholy but rather to joy and trust because it accentuates the incalculable price Christ paid for us.  

It is worth emphasizing that redemptive moments can be powerfully portrayed in film and theatre.  Dead Man Walking, The Shawshank Redemption, Schindler's List, The Dark Knight beautifully do this.  Can someone see redemption illustrated in the way you live your life today?

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