One of the biggest challenges for Christians living in a sinful and increasingly hostile culture is how do we display both grace and truth. Some may ask, what do you mean "display both grace and truth", or why is it important to "display both grace and truth"? Well, displaying both grace and truth means that we live with the tension of being a people of grace and a people of truth. The tendency for most Christians throughout history has been to tilt toward one extreme or the other.
Fundamentalist Christians tend to emphasize truth over grace, defending biblical truth but in a harsh and unloving manner. Liberal Christians emphasize grace above truth, displaying love for all people but never confronting them with the truth about their sin. If Christ's church is going to live out this tension of being full of grace and full of truth, a good place to look is Jesus Himself. John 1:14 tells us, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jesus when He came was full of both grace and truth. He did not tilt toward grace over truth, or truth over grace, He displayed both, fully.
An example of Jesus showing grace and truth is found in John 4 where He interacts with a woman at a well. Jesus did several things that took this woman by surprise. First, He, a Jew, spoke to her, a Samaritan. Jesus broke down racial/ethnic barriers that kept her from the love of the Father. Second, He, a man, spoke to her, a woman. Jesus broke down cultural/societal barriers that kept her from the love of the Father. Third, He, a moral "insider", spoke to her, a moral "outsider". Jesus broke down religious/moral barriers that kept her from the love of the Father. Jesus demonstrated incredible grace toward this woman, however, He did not do so at the expense of the truth.
Jesus loved her too much to turn a blind eye to the fact that she was living in sin. She had been married five times and was currently living with a man who was not her husband. Jesus did not tiptoe around the issue of her sin, but in grace and truth confronted her and in the process transformed her life. Here is the secret, when grace and truth are fully displayed in tandem, they produce amazing transformation in the lives of those that come into contact with them. How can we change our broken, sinful, hurting and dysfunctional world? By being a people full of grace and truth.
So how can you be a person full of grace AND full of truth?
1. Don't call for a boycott of every company that expresses views that are contrary to Christian values. The world knows what we are against, it's time that they know what we are for. In the book Unchristian, one of the common conceptions of Christians in the world is that we are too political and judgmental. We always seem to be mad at someone or some group. I'm not saying that we have to give up our right to speak out, but maybe we should find a more productive way to do that. It should be obvious to even casual observers that our boycotts haven't really been effective in changing anyone's mind. Instead of calling people out for their sin, let's reach out to them in love and THEN have conversations about truth.
2. Don't tiptoe around sin in the lives of those we know. The opposite extreme is that we often ignore the 800 lb. gorilla in the room. Many of us are in close relationships with people that we care deeply about, and yet we've never talked to them about destructive, sinful behaviors in their lives. We think that we are ignoring their sin because "love is blind" or "love covers a multitude of sins". In reality, we are more concerned with keeping their approval and favor than we are in being truthful with them, because the truth is often uncomfortable. I'm not saying we need to slam people for their sin, but neither can we simply ignore it. If we truly love someone, we will honestly discuss with them the consequences of their sin and not turn a blind eye.
An example of Jesus showing grace and truth is found in John 4 where He interacts with a woman at a well. Jesus did several things that took this woman by surprise. First, He, a Jew, spoke to her, a Samaritan. Jesus broke down racial/ethnic barriers that kept her from the love of the Father. Second, He, a man, spoke to her, a woman. Jesus broke down cultural/societal barriers that kept her from the love of the Father. Third, He, a moral "insider", spoke to her, a moral "outsider". Jesus broke down religious/moral barriers that kept her from the love of the Father. Jesus demonstrated incredible grace toward this woman, however, He did not do so at the expense of the truth.
Jesus loved her too much to turn a blind eye to the fact that she was living in sin. She had been married five times and was currently living with a man who was not her husband. Jesus did not tiptoe around the issue of her sin, but in grace and truth confronted her and in the process transformed her life. Here is the secret, when grace and truth are fully displayed in tandem, they produce amazing transformation in the lives of those that come into contact with them. How can we change our broken, sinful, hurting and dysfunctional world? By being a people full of grace and truth.
So how can you be a person full of grace AND full of truth?
1. Don't call for a boycott of every company that expresses views that are contrary to Christian values. The world knows what we are against, it's time that they know what we are for. In the book Unchristian, one of the common conceptions of Christians in the world is that we are too political and judgmental. We always seem to be mad at someone or some group. I'm not saying that we have to give up our right to speak out, but maybe we should find a more productive way to do that. It should be obvious to even casual observers that our boycotts haven't really been effective in changing anyone's mind. Instead of calling people out for their sin, let's reach out to them in love and THEN have conversations about truth.
2. Don't tiptoe around sin in the lives of those we know. The opposite extreme is that we often ignore the 800 lb. gorilla in the room. Many of us are in close relationships with people that we care deeply about, and yet we've never talked to them about destructive, sinful behaviors in their lives. We think that we are ignoring their sin because "love is blind" or "love covers a multitude of sins". In reality, we are more concerned with keeping their approval and favor than we are in being truthful with them, because the truth is often uncomfortable. I'm not saying we need to slam people for their sin, but neither can we simply ignore it. If we truly love someone, we will honestly discuss with them the consequences of their sin and not turn a blind eye.
3. Develop relationships with people who are far from God. You really want to a person full of grace and truth? Then you must allow God to put you in places where you will have to exercise both, simultaneously. Nowhere will force you to exhibit both in your life better than in developing friendships with people who are far from God. One problem that we have as Christians is that we live in our little Christian enclaves, listening to our Christian music, watching our Christian movies, hanging out with fellow Christians and we have no contact with those outside the faith. How can we impact a lost world if we don't know anyone who's lost? When we start to befriend people who don't know Jesus it will change our perspective. It's one thing to be against "those people" who espouse views we don't agree with, it's something entirely different when it's our friend "Tommy" who espouses views we don't like. It's easy to slam the impersonal "those people", it's not so easy to slam your friend. Grace and truth can only operate in a relationship built on love and concern.
4. Be okay with the reality that church becomes a much messier place when we choose to be full of grace and truth. People who have lives that are not all together will be drawn to a church that displays both grace and truth. Life transformation is a messy business and I suspect one reason we don't see very much of it happening in our churches is that most churches aren't willing to put up with the mess. Raising babies is a messy business. They spit up on themselves, and you (especially if you're wearing a clean shirt). They mess their diapers (especially if you're getting ready to leave the house). They throw their peas (especially if you just mopped). We know going into it that they're a lot of work, but we also know the pay off is worth it. Likewise, we need to have a similar perspective when it comes to seeing the lives of those far from God transformed through the power of grace and truth.
The price of being a people full of grace and truth is high for us. The price of NOT being a people full of grace and truth is higher for the world!
I am so with you on this brother! I have been saddened by the boycott talk of late. I am tired of people in the church expecting sinners to act like the redeemed. Great words. I concur with you completely.
ReplyDeleteBoycotts are for wimps! Real men and women engage those they disagree with, not ignore them.
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