One of my favorite preachers was William Sloane Coffin, for years the Senior Minister at Riverside Church here in the city. He was controversial, a political activist, not always warm and fuzzy, an incredibly bright biblical scholar, and a dynamite voice in the pulpit. Coffin had a knack of cutting to the chase, whatever the topic.
Years ago there was a best-selling book entitled I’m Okay, You’re Okay. It was a pop-psych self-help volume about learning to accept ourselves and others in a fully affirming way. Shortly after the book hit the shelves, Coffin said in a public setting that its title was incorrect. "The truth is," he said, "I'm not okay, you're not okay -- and that's okay!" You just had to love Bill Coffin!
Self-acceptance is quite different from self-praise or self-denial. It's not a matter of saying, "I am God's gift to society!," nor is it a matter of saying, "I am flawless or sinless." It is rather a matter of saying (as did the old hymn associated with tents, crusades, and sawdust trails):
"Just as I am Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve."
Or, as the old bumper sticker puts it: "Jesus loves me... anyhow!"
The theological word for that is "Grace." Grace is God's love for us that is not based upon our worthiness but upon God's nature. Our church-wide theme this year is "One Spirit, Many Gifts." As the year wears on, you will be hearing numerous staff persons and lay leaders encouraging you to identify your personal gifts and put them to use for God, God's church, and God's world. That is an authentically biblical Calling (known as "discipleship"). But, discipleship is always a response to Grace... an awareness of what God has done for us coupled with the thankful desire to do something in return.
So, let me remind you again of The Good News of our Faith: