Felony Franks: Thoughts on Grace and 2nd Chances

I recently read about a Chicago businessman, Jim Andrews, who is getting some heat from at least one Chicago city council member.  This council member isn’t bothered that Andrews has opened a hot dog stand; nor is his issue that Andrews is employing ex-convicts as a way of helping them get back on their feet.  His beef is with the name and marketing strategy Andrews has chosen for his new restaurant.  Andrews has named his restaurant, “ Felony Franks” and has landed on some slogans, including, “Home of the Misdemeanor Weiner” and “Food so good it’s criminal.”

For folks like me, I think this is genius.  And funny.  But that city council member isn’t laughing.  He said, “This, no matter what anybody says, is not that cute of an idea.  It’s a great concept for ex-offenders, but it’s a poor theme for a restaurant.”  (My opinion?  That City Council member needs to lighten up a bit and broaden his sense of humor.)

Here’s my thought:  God is doing this same thing with us.  He is employing us, as “sinners” and ex-offenders (and even worse, current and active offenders), in His mission.  He is taking the risk of giving us a 2^nd chance and trusting us to help carry out His purpose for the world.  This 2^nd chance is called grace.  And we all need it.

No, we’re not a restaurant named, “Felony Franks.”  We’re God’s family, and He calls us the “Church.”  We’re not the “Home of the Misdemeanor Wiener,” but we are the Body of Christ, home of “sinners saved by grace.”  God isn’t selling the world hot dogs (“food so good it’s criminal”).  In fact, He’s not “selling” anything.  Instead, He is freely offering Jesus, the Bread of Life and the Living Water.

Thank God for grace.  And a 2^nd chance.

Despite.

I love First MB.  I love the people and I love what God is doing among us.  So many great things are happening.

Despite all the good things happening, though, we all know that no church is perfect.  It’s been said that pastors know more good and more bad about their church than anyone else.  Whether that’s true or not, this statement is:  in every church there are good things going on…and bad things going on. Such is life.

Here’s my little thought:  Christians ought to love the Church despite its state of brokenness and dysfunction because Christ created the Church and He loves her despite her flaws.

I was talking with a friend last month.  He used to attend a church, but, like so many, got frustrated with the politics, arguments, and dysfunction, and felt like his time would be better spent elsewhere…or at least not there.  (By the way, statistics show that roughly 40% of the folks who leave the church do so out of frustration with the pastor or church and the other 60% leave because their “life situation” changes – they got too busy, changed jobs, moved, got divorced, etc.)

Which brings me back to my little thought:  I am committed to loving the Church (and First MB) despite the sin and dysfunction.   Should we work together on dealing with the “issues?”  Of course.  But I absolutely know that Christ sees all the ugliness (and more) and still loves His Church.  So I will, too.

In the meantime, keep loving Jesus.  Read your Bible and pray.  Try not to sin.  Love everyone (no exceptions).

High Places

Today I began the journey into blogging.  Some of you may be saying, “it’s about time…welcome to the 21^st century,” and others may be thinking, “Blog?  What’s a blog?”

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I read a verse this morning that has me a little stumped.  It’s 1 Kings 3:3 – Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

High places were altars built on (high) hillsides by the Canaanites for sacrifices to pagan gods.  These high places were detestable to God and He had commanded Israel to destroy them (Numbers 33:52).  However, not only did they not destroy them but they were actually using these detestable altars for sacrifices to God.

What got me thinking was the word, “except.”  This verse says that Solomon loved and obeyed the Lord except he sacrificed on the high places.

Forgive me for feeling this way, but that just doesn’t sit well with me.  It seems to open the door to some tough questions:  Is God content with some failure/sin in our life as long as we obey Him (enough) in other areas of our lives?  Can we feel good about loving/obeying God even while we intentionally disobey Him?  Does this verse give us permission to compartmentalize our life and follow Him in some areas but not in others?

Maybe, though, we should be thankful that God’s grace allows for the “except;” and that His unlimited love and forgiveness recognizes that none of us, this side of heaven, will ever live without an “except.”  There will always be areas in our lives where we hold back and are unfaithful to God.  While this verse in no way condones sin, it does remind us that by God’s grace we can love Him and He will love us, despite our “except.”

Where’s that leave me?  With a fresh desire to purge the “excepts” from my life.  And to know that in the midst of that battle, I will love God and He will love me.   No exceptions there.