There is still time for forbearance, time for long-suffering, time for healing, time for reform. Have you slipped? Rise up. Have you sinned? Cease. Do not stand in the way of sinners, but leap aside. For when you turn back and weep, then you will be saved. For out of labour comes health, and out of sweat, salvation….
Do not lose heart; remember the days of old. There is salvation, there is reform. Take courage, do not despair. There is no law which condemns to death without compassion, but there is grace which remits the punishment and accepts the reform. Not yet closed are the gates; the bridegroom hears; sin does not prevail. Renew the contest; delay not; and have pity on yourself and on us all in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be the glory and the power, now and for ever, world without end.
St Basil, to a fallen monk, fourth century CE
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This is a heart-wrenching appeal isn’t it? It rings so true emotionally and resonates with me (us) in thinking about those we love who have turned their backs on Jesus
Yeah I really like that final paragraph – it’s good to be reminded that, in the end, Christianity is about salvation, reform, compassion, grace… from God. That really is a substantial encouragement to keep going when darkness sets in.
[...] An open letter to backsliding Christians written in the 4th century is still as relevant today as when it was first written. [...]