My spiritual gift of “mercy” may not serve me well always, and that may be what is driving my emotions here, but I am appalled at the well nigh undeviating scorn of former president Bill Clinton's testimony of repentance.
Politics aside—I typically vote Republican—the issue here for me is the quality of God's grace.
I have served many years as a pastor helping broken people believe that our Lord loves them and forgives them when they in sincerity confess their sins and repent.
My basis for holding out forgiveness to “whosoever” and “no matter what” is the value and the efficacy of Christ's death on the cross. Scripture has it “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all unrighteousness.” If we confess he forgives and cleanses.
So if Mr. Clinton confessed and turned from the sin—he is forgiven and he is cleansed.
The issue is not politics, not theology, but Christology. We are in danger of thinking too lowly of Christ's payment for sin when we hold at arm's length those who have humbly appealed to Jesus for forgiveness—even liberal Democrats, as well as conservative Republicans.
Vander Warner Jr, Richmond