When Values Collide

Therefore, if a man in our church moves in with his girlfriend, we have a responsibility to remind him of the immorality of this action. If a woman cheats on her husband, we are called to speak to her. Hopefully, a loving word will bring repentance.
Sadly, once the person repents, we often have even more difficulty forgiving. We can't seem to forget that someone committed adultery or stole from the church treasury. Despite what we say, our minds still hold their sin against them. A new Christian admits struggling with homosexuality, and we never trust him again. Our divorced friend wears a certain stigma due to her failure.
The essence of Christianity is mercy. God forgives, forgets, and makes all things new. Even sins committed after a conversion are forgivable, and no sin rates worse than any other. If God can forgive my selfishness, he can forgive my friend's divorce. In the midst of sin, we must confront, but after repentance, we must forgive and renew.
Consider how you can enter a ministry of forgiveness. Look around your church. Are there people left out due to a past divorce, homosexuality, adultery, or just because they don't measure up? Think about ways you can include these people in your life and help them feel accepted.