As I waited in line at a southern US coffeehouse, the T-shirt on the customer ahead of me caught my eye. Above two crossed guitars read the message: “Highway 49 and Highway 61, Clarksdale, Mississippi—Crossroads of the Blues.” Beneath that was the caption: “Lord, please forgive Robert Johnson.”
One of the musical superstars who sprang out of the American South in the 20th century, Robert Johnson wrote the blues standards “Cross Road Blues” and “Sweet Home Chicago.” A superlative and innovative guitarist, he unfortunately had a penchant for women who were not his wife. Johnson died at 27—legend says from poisoning at the hands of a jealous husband.
So, will God forgive Robert Johnson?
At some level, we all might appreciate blanket forgiveness. We hear Jesus’ incredible words on behalf of the Roman soldiers as they crucified Him: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). But nowhere in Scripture do we read of anyone finding forgiveness after he or she has died.
Jesus doesn’t offer forgiveness because of any merits of our own. He offers forgiveness because He loves us as His fallen creation. That’s why He chose to pay the price for our rebellion against His heavenly Father. One of the thieves crucified with Jesus grasped that vital truth just in time (vv.40-43). He believed in the One who can make all things new (Revelation 21:5).
I suspect the T-shirt wearer at that Mississippi coffeehouse was more interested in Robert Johnson’s talents than in considering the ramifications of his destructive lifestyle. The real crossroads takes place at the cross where Jesus was crucified for our sins. Will we accept forgiveness from the truly heroic Man who offers it to us?
More:
Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard (Romans 3:23).
Next:
Count the number of times Daniel uses the pronoun "we" in Daniel 9:4-19. How many times does he ask God to forgive the Israelites for their sins? How can this passage serve as a model for your prayer life?
nlpkwt on September 20, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I do believe we cannot judge anybody. The souls in purgatory do go to heaven as their sins are pardoned.
dja on September 21, 2009 at 7:53 am
Very good reading, but, nipkwt, I use to believe that I could pray souls into heaven too. But God’s Word says nothing about purgatory. If this was so, why did Jesus die on the cross? We can’t earn our way into heaven -not by good works nor by someone’s prayers. It’s by grace that we our saved. One must turn to Jesus in repentance and faith. That is how we will be with Him in heaven. If Robert Johnson, while he was alive, never turned to Christ, as the thief on the cross did, he is not in heaven, and all the prayers in the world will never get him there. There is heaven and there is hell. After we die, it is too late for those who have not come to Christ. Please check Scripture and you will see that there is no mention of purgatory. I thank the Lord for delivering me from this false teaching.
pawprint on September 23, 2009 at 5:17 am
I respectfully disagree that there is no such thing as purgatory. There are many good articles available online but I think this is a good a summary as any.
http://www.mark-shea.com/purgatory.html
At the end of the day perhaps, we all view the world through imperfect lenses and it would be overly hasty if not judgmental to pronounce a teaching as false because the next pulpit has decreed it so. A little more tolerance or respect would not hurt.
RGunter on September 23, 2009 at 7:32 am
That’s good about the online articles, but what about the bible?
Most things that come from the catholic doctrine, are a lie.(other than the belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
Praying to Mary, praying to the “saints” bowing down to statues…I’m pretty sure God doesn’t approve..according to His word.
Daniel thrown in the lions den because he refused pray to no one but God, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego, thrown into the furnace because they would not bow to a statue.
The whole idea of penance makes Christ’s work on the cross void. Ask for forgiveness from God(not a priest) and He will forgive you, but you must strive to not repeat the same sin over and over. (you can’t do what you want all week and then go into a confessional and get some guy say your forgiven,as long as you do some hail mary’s)
From the dawn of Catholicism, the men involved used fear and condemnation to control the people, and today is the wealthiest business in the world.
Check out the movie Martin Luther to see an accurate view of why he left the catholic church and fathered the Protestant movement.
Sorry for going on so much, but the purgatory issue sparked some passion on cults..
dja on September 25, 2009 at 8:12 am
Thank you, RGunter. Like you, the purgatory issue sparks some passion on cults.
I was raised in the RC church and as a teen I struggled with confession to a man. My girlfriends would go every week and confess what they were doing all week and then go right back and do it again. The whole thing seemed absurd, and I wanted answers. The answers didn’t come until I married my husband who was raised in a Christian home and church. Although,at the time, he wasn’t walking with the Lord, my Mother-in-law prayed for me and gave me much reading material, including Our Daily Bread.
I repeat, I am so thankful that the Lord delivered me from this false teaching.