Encounter at the Fair

Tonight I went to the Anderson County Fair in Clinton, Tennessee. While inside one building, a fellow from some ministry handed me a little tract of New Testament passages that were, according to its cover, "verses of comfort, assurance, salvation." I'm polite, I took it. He suggested I could leave it instead of a tip when I went out to eat.

He proceeded to tell me that only by being born again would we enter Heaven. I told him that I agree with him, but that it was likely that we disagreed on what it meant to be "born again." I explained that I am a Roman Catholic, and our "rebirth" comes with Baptism . . . but that we spend our lives working towards salvation by trying to strive for holiness. I was not going to get into Confession, as I was sure that would open another can of worms.

"But that's where folks like you make a mistake," he said, "You don't need to do that if you're born again!"

Come again?  "But what happens, I asked, "if you are 'born again' and then go on to lie, to commit theft, to cheat on your spouse?"

"Well, then's there is the confession that comes with Jesus' sacrifice."

"Oh?  Who do you confess to?"

He smiled triumphantly.  "Jesus knows your sins and He erases them.  His death destroyed sin forever!"

"Then what do we have to do?"

"Nothing - Jesus takes care of the sin since you accepted him as your Savior."

I paused and then said, "Ah, but you will remember, in Scripture we hear of the woman who was to be stoned for her sin.  Jesus said, 'Let you who are without sin cast the first stone."  When all had left, He asked the woman, 'Is there no one here to condemn you?'  She said, 'No, Master.'  Jesus then said, 'Nor do I condemn you.  Go . . .and sin no more.'  He was specifically admonishing her to change her ways."

My friend was ready with an answer.  "Yes, but in Titus we read . . ." and then proceeded to recite a passage from that epistle.

"So," I said, "you would rather follow the teachings, then, of St. Paul rather than Jesus?  I think I would follow the Lord."

"It's the same book," he protested.

"But not the same man," I replied.