“5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Eph 5:1-21 ESV)

Torment, not seeing eye-to-eye, frustration and regret: probably the most forgiving experience we can have begins with the Crucifixion. Our existential Status is properly beheld when something Impenetrable, Impossible, Unmalleable, is acknowledged foremost as the starting point. And peace sweeps over us. Because to Live, to Thrive, to Rise up: these things are values-neutral: our Value, chiefly, is the Cross. Please, we say, please O pastor, adjudicate and teach, make lesson out of, any and all Moral Quandary, Moral Estate, Moral Firmness. We do raise up Healthsome for the sake of the parental figure. For the sake of the parental Law-Giver. For healing and dealing in things blessedly Second-In-Command to the Cross.

The real politics of it all, are that Morality—this is a chief notion, a dastardly counterpoint—will always be there, in some fashion. Overnight a community can take up the exercise equipment and the workout routine. Overnight the impetus to Reform, sweeps over. Yet still there will be pastors and teachers, who will begin where others grandstand and condemn: the Pastor-in-Chief will incorporate a Lesson most Cruciform, that of Unconditional Forgiveness and Mercy.

Because betrayals run rampant, because ambitions run apace, because moral indecision and  compromise do whisper and betray: we are given over to the existential perennial Question: are you Thankful? Are you awakened to the fact: today is Christ’s victory, and our celebration in that train, that parade. Because we began by putting aside the headache and accepting: people will never change! People will not be reasoned with! People… they have their own reasons for doing things the way they do; if we seem to mock each other or toss a careless jibe, well that is a possible opportunity for a little give-and-take. Just a little, the opposite of Perennial Torment and Blame Game, of Poetic Justice run amok.

All of us needed it at one time, and all of us suffer when one sickly soul is harboring and waiting on Judgment day around their locus of personal prides, ambitions, covetousness, and sin. So we go to the Cross, not self-righteous, but imaginative: we, too, once so walked. We, too, are rather Invisible to the pundit or the preacher, because so many sins have gone by the wayside that all insinuated in our direction… no, sir, no, ma’am, in that regard Christ has made a cleaner Me! Yet still the sins of self-harm and loathing, of failure to rise up Grateful and Healed: these things they too come and go. We are after all Waiting on Tomorrow: a day when perhaps Moral Reform will catch on, when the soldier reminds herself or himself, no time for playdates and fooling around in the ranks. And for the sake of the weaker brethren and sistren, we also uphold our own countenance and end of the bargain.