warm hearted and cold hearted

I have a confession to make. I'm a "sin sorter" or as some might say, cafeteria christian. I guess this confession comes from my experience, which by the way informs my faith and beliefs far more than I should admit. I mean, quite frankly, who really can be totally objective when it comes to one's own truth? After this past Sunday's sermon (Mark 10:2-16) dealing with adultery and the recent drama surrounding David Letterman this propensity to sorting sins has come to the fore. I have to tell you, when it comes to sins, I much prefer and am far more gracious with warm hearted sins. My most ferocious ire is usually dredged up over cold hearted sins--those sins that result from a hardened heart. I heard one Methodist preacher say that Jesus seemed to find plenty of room for grace with hot blooded sins like lust, adultery, prostitution, fornication, too much partying, expensive perfumes, and jealous partners and friends. In other words derelictions of the heart made on the way to community and relationship Jesus seemed to seek understanding. What Jesus generally showed anger toward was self-righteousness, judgemental attitudes, privilege and power over others, and disregard for the sacred worth of creation. When those hard-hearted circumstances presented themselves Jesus too, was tried on his ability to forgive. I think that is why I could understand Bill Clinton and despise Ken Starr; Defend Martha Stewart and mistrust the "good ol' boys club"; seek leniency for those in foreclosure and condemn greedy Wall Street financiers; roll my eyes at David Letterman and spit on accused extortionist Robert Joel Halderman. Intellectually, I know sin is sin, that thing which separates us from God, from self, from one another and keeps us deceived in compartmentalized realities. God knows, I need to be forgiven and I need to forgive myself. I also must keep learning how to forgive others, too! But, geeesh it is hard not to become hardhearted and draw my circle a little smaller with all my favorite sins.

TMM