Scripture: I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessing (1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NLT).
For several years, I held a weekly gospel ministry at a juvenile detention center. The young women had been sent there for illegal behavior, from shoplifting to prostitution. If they were not corrected, they were certainly headed for the dreaded women’s prison. I soon had a group of ten or more who came to relieve boredom. They loved singing popular Christian songs. Each was given a Contemporary English Version (CEV) of the New Testament. Many said it was the first Bible they ever understood.
Even though I tried to simplify the lessons, some of my churchy terms invariably slipped in. When I wanted them to understand the price Jesus paid for our salvation, I used the term “propitiation,” and asked them to picture placing their hands on an innocent sheep and transferring to it all their sins.
It was a good word visual, I thought, until one of the girls raised her hand, confusion written all over her face. “Mrs. Hillman,” she asked, “what is a sheep?” These were city girls from the sidewalks of Houston. Of course, they had never seen a sheep!
Perhaps my problem was that I did not understand my own words. “Propitiation” is a mind-blowing concept. To think that God would place on Jesus all our sins and let Him die as our substitute is beyond our human comprehension. Did the Israelites understand the meaning of this ritual? Evidently not, for the Prophet Hosea rebuked them with these words from God: “I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6 NLT).
There’s a repentance that comes from the depths of our hearts when we understand that our wrong actions and attitudes are ruining the precious gift of life that God has given us. Some call it “a moment of clarity.” For me, it was as if God held His mirror before me to show me my sins. All I could do was weep in sorrow as I cried, “Oh, God! Oh, God!” This was the repentance my students needed to change their lives. This is the second chance Jesus bought for us.
Perhaps an even simpler way of explaining propitiation is to tell the story of the little boy whose punishment was taken by the Prince. The righteous judge said, “Because of Who took your punishment, all the bad things you’ve done are deleted.” And he took a big eraser and wiped the little boy’s record completely clean!
When we minister to others, we have to begin at their level. And we must never be condescending when they do not understand.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, when we share Your teachings with others, please help us put aside all “church language” and speak simply so that we might win them to You. In Your precious name, we pray. Amen.
