Grace Over Perfection: What Jesus Taught Me About Sin and Identity”
I was recently thinking about Ann, a friend and mentor of mine. She passed away a few years ago, and she was loved by so many. Sometimes it's tempting to think of all the good things about people who are loved sometimes think how perfect they are. Ann and I disagreed on some things. But I respected her and loved her dearly. She loved people where they were. She also loved helping people. She was compassionate and authentic.
Recently I was able to go inside the Notre Dame cathedral during a service. It was amazing and beautiful and I could feel that many there loved the Savior. But God also felt very distant to me while I was there. God and Christ seemed so many levels above that they were nothing like us. I thought of Christ, whom I have been getting to know in the New Testament. He was among the people. Though people were drawn to Him, many did come to Him; Jesus also went among the people and came to them. He went to the lepers. He ate with the harlots. He showed us, by example, to be with others — even though it can be painful. He didn't stay away from people who sinned. But he also did not want people to remain in their sins. He told one woman who was caught in adultery several times, "Go and sin no more." I was thinking about this. Did Jesus expect her to never sin again? I doubt it. I believe most of us fall short until the day we die. But, I think that sometimes we bring our sins as part of our identity. We say, “that’s just how I am.” Then it is difficult to move forward. I wonder if Christ was more saying to her, "move on. This is no longer who you are. This is no longer your identity."
Sometimes, when we feel we need to be perfect, when we have those perfectionist tendencies, we can no longer even be with ourselves. If Christ can be with sin and imperfection, then we can be with ourselves too. I have also been taught over the years that there are places that the Spirit cannot come. But yet, Christ came to all the places. Jeffrey R. Holland said, “However many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made … , I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.”
We will sin again. But Christ also said in Luke 7:47 "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." Being able to change through repenting and using Christ’s Atonement builds our identity instead of keeping us stuck.