"What can a ruined soul, like mine, effect towards the redemption of other souls?—or a polluted soul, towards their purification?"

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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Learning From Chris Brown: Moving Past Ourselves

Singer Chris Brown sat down with Robin Roberts of Good Morning America yesterday for an interview before he sang a single from his new album, "F.A.M.E."

Roberts asked Brown about his past with singer Rihanna and the restraining order that was placed against him due to violence against her. Brown was agitated with the questions, performed his song, then went to his dressing room and allegedly busted out the window.

Here's the video of the interview:



I don't have a dog in the hunt because I don't really care about the entertainment industry as a whole. It did cause me reflection on my own life, however.

Brown said that "F.A.M.E." stood for "Forgiving All My Enemies." I don't know what sparked the dressing room melee, but it seems it was the questioning by Roberts about his past. Maybe I'm wrong.

I am sympathetic towards him in his journey, however. I'm not sympathetic towards his sin. I was where he was at one point. I can identify with his frustration.

At one point, I thought I had moved past my adultery, humbled myself, and was in a place where I was moving on enough to talk to people at my former church. I thought that if the topic of my former sin was brought up, or if I was confronted with it, I would be fine and could let it roll off my back. Even if someone told me what a wretch I was and wanted to hound me about it (which Roberts wasn't doing, in my opinion), I would be okay. I thought I could just smile and own up.

But I was wrong. I was fooling myself. That process took much longer than I thought. It takes a humbling work of God to show us that we are prideful people who need to confess that we are lowly people who have much work to do.

Sometimes, deep within us, we still hold on to the idea that despite our awful sin, we were somehow right. Sure, circumstances may occur to lead us in a certain direction in life. And at times, people may treat us poorly after we sin, but sin is still sin.

Until we take ownership of that sin and confess it and say, "You know what? Sin is sin. I messed up," we can never really "forgive all our enemies." We will never be able to look them in the eye with the confidence that Christ has forgiven us, even if they persecute us.

Because when Christ has forgiven, who is left to condemn us?

3 comments:

  1. No one! That's for sure! Is it just me or does Brown seem a little evasive and arrogant when asked questions pertaining to his past? Not sure it's meant like that - but to the audience it seems like this. You're right. Sin is sin - but if it's a heart issue and we confess it - and we are forgiven - Jesus takes that burden from us and replaces it with a different heart - or at least that should be what happens. Those that have REALLY BLOWN IT and have been forgiven the most - usually are the most humble and approachable because of what they have been through. I think that's the difference - true repentance for something rather than what appears to be 'serving time' for a crime.

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  2. Exactly. He hasn't quite humbled himself and forgiven. If he had I don't think they'd be patching up the window.

    It takes time to change behavior. But if he does, he might make a really, really good album. Next time. I.R.D.F.T.T. (I really did forgive this time.) Of course, it won't make much sense when you say it out loud.

    Arthur

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  3. That made me laugh RIGHT OUT LOUD!! Too funny! Everyone should try saying that out loud - they would get a good laugh today :)

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