Persuasion

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Forgive me my brothers and sisters; life has been busy. I was finishing my second master degree this semester, not to mention an expanded role at work. I graduated last Saturday. Even with all the readings, preparing presentations and writing papers, I have been constantly mulling one of my favorite verse, Romans 8:38-39. The Apostle Paul said he was persuaded that neither death nor life . . . I have three questions:

Question #1:  How does one become persuaded? First, we need to define persuasion. According to the dictionary, to persuade is defined as to cause someone to adopt a certain belief, position or cause of action. I do not know about you, but facts, evidence, direct experience persuade me. Based on the facts recorded in the Bible, personal accounts, history, and personal experience, I cannot help but to be persuaded. The God I have come to experience and know through Jesus, the Christ, has time again proved to be the powerful, loving, forgiving, just, and faithful God told by so many Christian believers of old.

Question #2: Can a person lose their persuasion? This is an interesting question. This difficult philosophical question would be a dissertation. On one end, if you say that one cannot lose their persuasion, you would be nullifying the possibility that you may not have had all the facts, experiences, or accounts to formulate an ironclad position. On the other hand, if you say that one can lose their persuasion, then you have to ask yourself whether the state of persuasion is real or a state-of-mind. My personal response is that if a person loses their supposed persuasion, it may be the right if the new evidence contradicts the original foundation versus changing a persuasion due to convenience. In the gay community, especially for those of conservative religious convictions, we see people being persuaded from one side to the other often. However, I would say it has been primarily persuaded to the side of full-acceptance rather rejection.

Question #3: Are persuaded in your faith? Specifically, are you persuaded that God created you as you are, that God loves you as you are – with all your faults and failings? Are you persuaded that God does not make mistakes? Are you persuaded, like the Apostle Paul, that “neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.” As I have said before, nothing can separate you from the love of God unless you give them the power and allow them to, in other words only you can separate yourself from the love of God because God love is always extended waiting to be embraced.

My dear brothers and sisters, the foundation of persuasion for God’s love has been laid, waiting for you to stand strong upon it.  How about this food for thought, Chapter 8 of Romans begins with there is "no condemnation" for those who are in Christ Jesus and ends with there is "no separation." God does not condemn you, God loves you. Acknowledge and accept God’s love as it is with reckless abandonment. It is at time you will experience the deep love and acceptance of God.

Be Blessed! Be Persuaded!