Thursday, March 22, 2018

 

I can still remember a time, not so long ago, when Christianity was held in high esteem and when society regarded Christians as a group of people worthy of respect. Long gone are those days; the new secularism has launched the mockery of Christianity into the mainstream setting a new low for civil criticism of people’s deeply held beliefs. Mock or joke about any other religion and you might find yourself accused of hate speech; mock any ethical, racial, or social group and you will end up condemned by society. But if you mock Christianity you will be applauded and praised as a comical genius. How can it be that a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values which for more than 200 years we held up as an example to the world we have fallen into such disgrace.

 

I can think of a few reasons for the present state of society and its relationship to Christianity. But no reason is more convincing to me than the lack of grace in the way many Christians interact with society. There is an abundance of truth but a lack of grace. The problem is that God’s plan for Christianity was not just the expansion of truth, but rather the expansion of grace and truth. The Apostle John, after analyzing the three years he spent in ministry with Jesus, described him as coming from the Father full of grace and truth. Truth without grace is not the truth, and grace without truth is not grace. Jesus was not a balance of grace and truth, no, he was the fullness of grace and truth.

 

As Christians, the fact is that we have all been recipients of God’s unconditional gift of grace. A gift that cost God everything; a gift of such high value that we could never earn or pay for it. At some point this fact should become a reality in our lives, and it should lead us to recognize that we are recipients of his grace not because of who we are or what we have done. No, we are recipients of God’s grace because of what he has done. But in spite of the fact that grace is an unconditional gift, nonetheless God poured out his grace with a purpose.

 

“Freely you have received; freely give”. – Jesus (Matthew 10:8 NIV)

 

Just imagine for a moment what would happen if we as Christians practiced this amongst ourselves and then in our communities. We do not have to change the world; we do not even have to change this generation. What we should be doing is transforming lives through grace. By grace we were saved to give by grace what we have received by grace.

 

Questions

1. Why do you think that Christianity is one of only a few groups in this generation held in such low esteem?
2. What are some of the reasons for the sometimes-combative relationship between Christianity and society.
3. As a recipient of God’s grace how should you respond?
4. What do you think Jesus meant when he said, “Freely you have received; freely give.”
5. How can we change the perception of Christians in this generation?

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank you for Jesus, the fullness of grace and truth that came into the world that we might be saved. Your grace is unconditional as is your love. I do not deserve your amazing love, nonetheless you did not hesitate to forgive me and by your grace I am made whole and I am your righteousness in Christ Jesus. Help me to share that same love and grace with everyone I meet. I want to make a difference in my church, my family, my community, and in the world; I want to freely give and share the grace that you freely gave to me when you forgave me my sins and saved me. Thank you Father and thank you Jesus. Amen