Reclaiming a Word That’s Been Used Against Us
by Rev. Brad Jagger, Pastor of Windermere Union Church

Let me ask you something…

What comes to your mind when you hear the word sin?

If you flinch a little, I get it. For many of us — especially those who have been pushed to the margins of the Church — the word “sin” has been less of a spiritual term and more of a verbal weapon. Some of us have been called “sinners” not in love, but in condemnation. It’s a label that’s been thrown like a stone. And often, it’s LGBTQ+ folks who have been on the receiving end.

But what if we’ve gotten the word wrong?
What if sin was never meant to shame or exclude?
What if sin is a word we can reclaim — even embrace?

That’s what I’ve been wrestling with. And honestly, it’s time we talked about it.

I’m not here to revive fire-and-brimstone religion. That’s not who we are at Windermere Union Church. But I do wonder… what if the word sin has been misinterpreted and misunderstood? What if it’s been hijacked by fear and legalism and used in ways that don’t reflect the heart of God?

More importantly, what if there is far more love, more grace, more healing in the idea of sin than we’ve ever been told?

This Sunday, I’m inviting you into a deeper, more freeing conversation. We’re going to take this loaded word and hold it up to the light. We’re going to see what happens when we strip away the shame and look for the grace underneath.

Join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM at Windermere Union Church. You belong here — just as you are.