By Carl Heien, pastor of the Fairview Church of the Brethren

A  large ministry in  Cleveland, Ohio, specializes in helping companies integrate good manufacturing practices into their operations. One area they cover is how to deal with employees who make mistakes.

They suggested this philosophy: 1) All people make mistakes. Expect them! No one is perfect. 2) People don’t intend to make mistakes. 3) People don’t like to make mistakes. 4) People want to “make up” for mistakes they made. 5) People want to learn from their mistakes. 6) Mistakes improve performances after working out corrections to their mistakes.

What wonderful advice for the local church that seeks to relate every day with those who make mistakes or, as the Scriptures call them, sins. How great that the Lord knows our sins, wants to cleanse us, forgives and will help us know victory over them.

As a sinner, our part is to acknow­ledge our sins, learn from them, know the power to be an over-comer and realize the Lord’s love and forgiveness.

Max, a Christian, went to one of his Christian friends to seek advice. His friend, Jim, was the owner of a car dealership. They were in the showroom as Max shared how he felt like a hypocrite every time he went to church because he failed to live up to what he believed. Jim pointed to the showroom and asked Max what he saw.

Max said, “I see several new cars.” “Now,” said his friend, “Let’s go back into this other area and tell me what you see.” Max replied, “Well, that is the service department.” Jim asked, “What if I told you I didn’t want to bring my car to the service department if the car wasn’t running right.”

Max responded, “That wouldn’t make much sense. That is the whole point of the service department.” Jim said, “You see, Max, instead of thinking of the church as a ‘showroom’ where image seems to be everything, start thinking of the church as God’s service department - helping people get back in running order with God.”

If and when you make mistakes, or are around someone else that does - remember such is common to man (I Corinthians 10:13). Norman Vincent Peale said, “Who doesn’t make mistakes?” The greatest error of all is to let any mistake destroy your faith or yourself. They only sensible thing to do is to learn from them, then forget them and go ahead.”

I would add, “Place yourself in the everlasting arms of the Lord for He knows your weaknesses and will help you walk like new.”