Confession. Penance. Good works. Offerings. Attendance at Mass. Praying to Mary and the saints. Earning indulgences. Praying for the souls in Purgatory. For more than 60 years, that was my “ticket” to eternity, or at least a shorter stay in Purgatory. But when I was elevated in the church’s fraternal organization, a good friend warned me that I was about to see behind the curtain. He was right.
Everything I thought earned my place before God was null and void. All the time, effort, and money I believed were necessary for salvation had already been taken care of on the cross. Yet these ideas had been drilled into me since childhood. For the first 20 years of my life, I never studied the Bible. Scripture came only through readings during Mass, and as a child, they were in Latin. God’s Word was something I heard, not something I knew. Change does not come easily later in life, but change was unavoidable.
My wife and I retired to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and began visiting community churches. I did my research before getting involved. While many churches were Bible-based, there were still requirements placed on faith and salvation.
Then I met a neighbor, Kevin (pictured right). He invited me to try Amazing Grace. I went, mostly to satisfy Kevin. I was looking for reasons not to come back. I had been warned about Lutherans. But after that first service, something stirred in my heart. Reading Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses helped me understand why.
I went back. After meeting with Pastor Ben Zahn, I realized I was not alone. Luther did not set out to change Christian history. He simply wanted to correct errors by returning to Scripture. I found myself questioning the same things.
At Amazing Grace, I found the foundation of true faith. No earning. No extra requirements. No striving for a better seat in a place that does not exist. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the debt had already been paid.
Pastor Zahn led me through Starting Point classes, explaining the fundamentals of faith and how they are grounded in God’s Word. Through daily Scripture reading, my life changed. I no longer question whether I have earned my place in God’s kingdom. It was already done.
I found a second family at Amazing Grace. I found a second chance. Jesus placed a neighbor and pastor in my life when I did not even know what I needed. And all it took was an invitation: “Hey, give us a try.”
From Pat Hogan (pictured left), member at Amazing Grace in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
