More Thoughts on Grace & Works

So - I was responding to a post by my friend Margaret Feinberg. And she recommended that I copy and paste it to my own blog. Well, I don't know how to do that. My paste button doesn't work when I get to the "Create" page. So, I'll just have to sum up.

Yesterday I was randomly reading through my Bible (I'm not trying to sound spiritual - I don't do it as often as I should - and it really was random that all this happened.) And I opened it up to Romans 11 and started reading. As I was reading, some things started jumping out at me that caused me to have to back up a couple chapters to get the whole picture.

So after reading Romans 9-11 (which I highly recommend to you - just click the link to read it online), I visited Margaret's website (which I also highly recommend), and she talked about some insights regarding an ongoing conversation about a movie, but more about what God taught her in the midst of watching it. (See posts: Motorcycle Diaries (2004), Feeling Guilty, and Zooming with Motorcycle Diaries.) Anyways. . . you've gotta read all three posts in order, and the comments that go along with them to understand the progression - but the third post, Zooming..., blew me away! Especially because I read it right after reading Romans 9-11, and they totally fit together!

The gist of it is this:
Christians have become too similar to the Pharisees/Israelites discussed in the Romans passage because we too often sum up the Gospel as having something/anything to do with "keeping the Law" (as we currently define it, post-Jesus), instead of as the message/"Good News" of grace! Therefore, our efforts to fulfill the Great Commission are going sour because our message is getting off-track. And I'm not saying that our efforts aren't producing results - they just aren't producing the right results. We're creating more "law-abiding citizens", but not "prisoners set free". We're creating people who cover their sin in shame and guilt, instead of confessing and rejoicing that God's grace abounds (and delighting that their weaknesses display God's strength).

If you don't believe me -
First, ask yourself what we expect from a "non-believer" when we are witnessing? Do we want them to have new life, and a relationship with the intimate God, period? Or do we want the homosexual to turn straight, the smoker to quit, the promiscuous teenager to become abstinent, etc (while of course gaining a personal relationship with Jesus)? When you witness, or if you were to witness, is your thought that Jesus will change that person's behavior, or that he will change that person's eternal destination, or what? What is your expectation of Jesus? Not just for others, but even for you?
Second, ask your pastor or church counselor how many people they counsel concerning repetitive sin in the lives of those in your congregation. (Then multiply that by at least 5, to get a figure that includes those that are too ashamed to seek counsel.) Ask yourself how comfortable you would be standing up on a Sunday morning and confessing to your "brothers and sisters" how you've failed/fallen/sinned this week. Look around and wonder if the parents' were as joyful about Jesus 20 minutes ago when their families were supposed to be fed, dressed, and out the door in 5 minutes! Is what you see on Sunday a true reflection of living life Monday-Saturday? More importantly, are we honest about how hard Monday-Saturday was when we're in the midst of the Sunday morning "refuge"? Or are we as dishonest as we can possibly be?

Here are more semi-rhetorical questions:
~What would your reponse be if there were people smoking at the front entrance of your church before entering for worship? What would your response be if you watched them during the service and their worship-style seemed exuberant and authenticly passionate in light of what you witnessed beforehand?

~What was your reponse to Amy Grant's "fall"? How do you feel about Amy's return to the Christian music industry? Do you listen to her music these days? If not, why not?

~If your pastor were to confess this Sunday, an addiction to pornography or an affair, what would you expect of him following the confession? Would you think he should step down?

Here are my "the-heart-of-it" questions: How willing are you to extend grace? How much do you demand some level of works in the midst of grace? Is the grace you extend truly a free gift or are there hidden fees?

Just some food for thought. Heavy rich food in my opinion, because it's giving me a lot to chew on also. (I don't have answers to all my questions.) But I am becoming ever intrigued by what a big deal grace is! How huge is the expanse of it as it infects (or more often convicts) my day-to-day living! Please feel free to respond if you are so-moved/led.