Christians are often characterized by a long lists of “don’ts” – we say no to a lot of things that the rest of the world embraces. Sometimes, we can get tired of following all those rules and just decide to do our own thing. Other times, we can feel really great about being such good rule-followers and look down on those who aren’t like us.
Neither of these attitudes is what Jesus wants of us.
For many years, I was one of the “I’m better than you are” Christians. I prided myself on the fact that I went to a Bible college, passed out tracts at every opportunity, went to church every Sunday, didn’t drink or smoke or swear…I looked at others who ‘fell short’, and, like the pharisee in Luke 18, prided myself on being ‘so much better’ than them.
Once I came out of that mentality, I was appalled my my previous behavior, and so I swung to the other extreme – Everything is all right. Who am I to judge others? Let’s just be loving and accepting. I began to skim over the “don’ts” in the Bible because those make people uncomfortable, and how can I, as a follower of Christ, do anything to make people uncomfortable? That seems wrong somehow.
In both cases, I misunderstood what Grace is. Over the past couple decades, God has been helping me better understand Grace. The bottom line is that Grace is a gift. Eph. 2:8-9 tells us that. And, as such, it is to be received. It can’t be earned, nor can we force it on anyone else. We choose to accept it, and we offer that choice to others.
And those “don’ts”? Those aren’t there to stifle us or to inhibit us. They are there because of Grace. God, as the best Father in the universe, wants what is best for us. So he tells us what to avoid, just like the parent of a toddler tells him not to touch a hot stove or run out into the street. He knows what will damage us, and He wants to protect us from those things. And so, instead of being angry at His commands, our response should be gratefulness. We should follow Him, not because we are trying to be rule-followers or “holier than thou”, but because He we love Him and we want to obey Him. Even when we don’t understand, and even when it seems “everybody else is doing it.” Even, friends, if obeying God offends those who don’t know Him.
The doctrine of Grace is tough. I don’t pretend to be an expert on it. I have failed in this area more than I have succeeded. But even in that, I say with Paul, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
Walk in Grace, sisters. Immerse yourself in the amazing fact that God has given us what we don’t deserve, simply because He loves us. He is good. And we are His!
