breaking the hush

My niece competed in her first year of Fine Arts this year (Fine Arts Festival for young people in grades 6-12. They compete in categories like vocal performance, skits, human videos, short sermon, etc; on a district level with the possibility of advancing to nationals; all for a chance to win college scholarships at an Assemblies of God University.) After returning from nationals this year, she told her mom that she wanted to compete in the ‘solo human video’ category next year, but only wanted one person to teach her…her Uncle Shawn. My heart is full Since hearing this, all I have been doing is listening to the radio, brain storming. There’s this one song…’Redeemed’ by Big Daddy Weave…that pricks my heart and keeps floating to the top of the list. So every time I hear it, I try to dissect the words and every time, I see myself.

Not just me, but others. I know what society says about me; Most felons really, but especially those that had some kind of sexual addictions and especially dealing with a crime against a minor. We are branded with a scarlet letter—the lot of us-- A letter that isn’t sewn on our shirt, but burned into our chest, never fading—transforming from a scab to a rubbery, tight scar; Hopeless cases—impossible to reform or rehabilitate. I’ve taken enough psychology classes, read enough books, and watched enough SVU to know what ‘they’ say. Then I ask, “Is it possible to follow Christ and think this way?” I know some of you don’t think you think like this, but you do. Once that letter is branded, would you trust him or her with your child or teenager? Here’s the deal, trust is already not an easy thing for humankind to deal out. Now add the reasons why those ‘letters’ are branded on top of that and it is almost impossible. So I understand, I get it! I would be a hypocrite if I told you that I wouldn’t think twice before I trusted a ‘branded’ with my family. But, isn’t He able to reform and rehabilitate? He can make the blind see, lame walk, mend hearts, restore relationships, heal the sick, raise the dead, but purifying the perverted is too hard? There is something about that saying that pierces the core of my soul!

I am redeemed
You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
and wipe away every stain
Im not who I used to be
I am redeemed

I’m not who I used to be, I am redeemed! When I look at my life today, this is what I see! Redemption…what man sees as impossible is nothing for God. As Christians, why should we see repentant men and woman any different, branded with scarlet ‘A’s’, teal ‘K’s’, fuchsia ‘E’s’, violet ‘P’s’, or any other letter? If we really believe in the redeeming power of Jesus Christ, why couldn’t we, with His Spirit living in us, see these men and women with ‘FORGIVEN,’ ‘TRUSTED,’ ‘CHOSEN,’ ‘CHANGED,’ ‘REDEEMED’ in letters white as snow. I am not ignorant to the statistics of the reoffending rate of felons or the behavioral science of ‘pedophiles.’ BUT GOD is bigger and greater than statistics—He breaks barriers and goes beyond boundaries. Do I expect skepticism? Yes! It is wrong to be cautious of the ‘branded?’ No! Of course not! But please don’t label us as hopeless, destined to reoffend and cast us aside as lepers! Do your best to see these Hester Prynnes through the eyes of a loving, forgiving, redeeming God! You may have no idea what His plan is for one of the least of these or how much that scar in their life can heal an open wound in another. I hope to be an advocate someday for those branded and redeemed and a hope for change. Of course, I must rebuild that wall of trust one brick at a time, exposing my own letter for anyone to see—regretting my sin, my disobedience—and praying that it is seen as such—a sin…like any other, even yours, completely forgivable, COMPLETELY redeemable.