Although I have a real interest in politics and contemporary issues, I don’t often make public comment on them simply because I don’t consider that my role as a pastor. However, there comes the occasional intersection of political reality and biblical morality that must be addressed. And, from time to time, something from the world of politics and contemporary culture just jumps out as an illustration that almost demands to be seized. I came across something like that today.
Ted Kennedy died last week, just days before his memoir is to be released. The death of Mary Jo Kopechne at Chappaquidick looms large over Kennedy’s legacy, so the fact that he addresses this in the memoir is sure to draw attention. The NYT article headline caught mine, “Kennedy Memoir Talks of Chappaquidick, J.F.K. and Other Presidents.” As is normal, there was lots of sizzle and little steak. Perhaps the book says more of significance than the article would suggest, but that’s doubtful—surely the details would be more newsworthy than the general admissions which are reported.
From a gospel perspective, what is recorded is truly sad. Here is the part that caught my attention:
Writing in his book “True Compass,” which is scheduled to be published on Sept. 14, Mr. Kennedy, who died a week ago, described his actions in the 1969 accident as “inexcusable” and said that at the time he was afraid, overwhelmed “and made terrible decisions.”
Mr. Kennedy said he had to live with the guilt of his actions for four decades but that Ms. Kopechne’s family had to endure worse. “Atonement is a process that never ends,” he writes.
Atonement is a process that never ends. Those words pressed on me a mixture of sadness and joy. Sadness because of the hopelessness of such thinking and at the deceptive destruction they inflict on the soul. Wrapped in those words is the foolish idea that we somehow can atone for our sins. Think about it—Kennedy still thought, apparently, he was in the process of atoning for this sin four decades after it happened. How can anybody ever hope to atone for a life of sins if atonement is like this? How sad that people live in such bondage and blindness.
But reading it also caused my heart to fill with joy precisely because Kennedy was completely wrong. Atonement for my sins isn’t a process that never ends; it happened at Calvary once and for all! This is a central part of Hebrews’ message—“but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb 9:26) and “so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many….” Here is real hope. Christ did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Because He was God’s infinite Son, He could bear the full penalty for all our sins, satisfying God’s wrath against sin and making a full atonement for sin. A sinner cannot atone for his own sins, but a sinless One can! That’s why I love to sing this line from “Hallelujah! What a Savior:”
Guilty, vile, and helpless we, Spotless Lamb of God was He; Full atonement! Can it be? Hallelujah, what a Savior!