"Unashamed"

This past week, during Communion, we played this song.

I have not much

To offer You

Not near what You deserve

But still I come

Because Your cross 

Has placed in me my worth

Oh, Christ my King

Of sympathy

Whose wounds secure my peace

Your grace extends

To call me friend

Your mercy sets me free

And I know I'm weak

I know I'm unworthy

To call upon Your name

But because of grace

Because of Your mercy

I stand here unashamed

I can't explain 

This kind of love

I'm humbled and amazed

That You'd come down

From heavens heights 

And greet me face to face 

Here I am at Your feet

In my brokeness complete

It's been stuck in my head all week.  J and I had an interesting conversation tonight about the meaning of the line "I know I'm weak/I know I'm unworthy/To call upon Your name." A friend of mine at church mentioned that she didn't like the song because of the idea that we're unworthy to come to God.  She believes that she is worthy to be in his presence. This raises some interesting points, about faith and about culture.

First of all, culture.  We live in a world where it's acceptable to demand, demand, demand.  not only that, but to EXPECT that the things we demand will be given to us.  I'm just as guilty as the next guy for falling into this trap.  We feel we "deserve" a better car, a bigger house, a larger TV, and Platinum credit cards.  We deserve to be treated with respect even though most of us live in our own little worlds, not paying attention to even our own spouses or children.  I guess it comes as no surprise that we feel we deserve God's love and grace in our lives. (Here is where we could totally get into an "original sin" debate, but I'm not going there.)

Which brings us to the caveat of our faith.  Our worldview often spills over into our approach to God.  We want Him now, in the way we feel He should be here, and in the time we specify.  We don't find a job in the time frame we want, we question His faithfulness (hello, totally guilty of that...).  Our friend dies too young and we wonder why He took him/her so soon, forgetting that He has a plan.  We don't always like His plan because it doesn't fit into our pretty little box of how we think our life should be. We deserve God's attention RIGHT NOW whether that's His plan or not.  "I'm in pain right now, God, and I deserve Your hand in this mess I am totally to blame for in."  "God, I gave you my life 17 years ago, and now it's time for You to do what I expect You to do -- be there and fix my mess."

But that's not how it works.  Not in the slightest.  We don't deserve Him.  We don't deserve His love.  Paul writes in Romans that we are all sinners, that we all fall short of the glory of God (3:23). Every. Single. One of us.  Fact of the matter is, we're all screwed. We're all destined for an eternity apart from God because we don't deserve to stand in His presence.  Except.

Jesus.

One man.  One cross.  Taking away all of our sins.  Glorious salvation.  That is what makes us worthy.  It's not because of who we are.  It's because of who HE is, and what HE did for us.  Even though we totally don't deserve any of His love, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, grace, mercy, etc, He made us worthy. It is through his sacrifice that we are able to come to God and worship, honor, and adore Him.  It is because of Jesus that we are able to live with Him for all eternity.

Even though we don't deserve it.

Even though we're totally unworthy.

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, NIV)