Then, he was pressed with “Just answer; Yes or No.”

He replied “Yes... with a touch of grey.”

I like that response because it’s been my experience that’s exactly how life is. Life is not always black & white. It would be simpler if it were but it’s not. Many times in life, there is grey area.

Sometimes, in the church, we respond to the issues and challenges that people have with a “black and white” throw the book at them approach. We read them the rule book and say “God bless you and I will be praying for you."  While we certainly need to pray, at times, God wants us to put feet to our prayers.  

Recently, a young lady whom Holli & I know discovered she was pregnant. Is she married? Ahh... No.

Does she plan to get married? Not at this time.

So, we have a young lady who made a sexual mistake and now has the responsibility of giving birth to a child. Her life has changed, to say the least. Now, how should we respond to her? Should I preach her a sermon on how bad a mistake she’s mad? I don’t think so. She knows she made a mistake. Or, do we love her and try to help her? I think you know the answer. We need to approach people with grace. Last time I checked, that’s how Jesus ministered to people.

He told the accusers of the woman caught in adultery “Let any of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).

He met the woman at the well (John 4) and even though she had been married many times, Jesus conversed with her and led her to realize her deeper problem. Jesus could have shunned her. After all, she had a questionable reputation. But instead, Jesus ministered.

It would be simpler if life were black and white. But it’s not. Several years ago someone was talking with me about a dilemma and they needed guidance. There was not a chapter and verse in the Bible that said “Do this or do that” regarding this dilemma. It would have been easier if there were. This dilemma fell in a grey area. I told this person, “When I have to make a difficult decision I am going to try to my best to come down on the side of grace.”

I believe in grace even in the grey areas of life