Precious Grace

 I know Facebook can be a real quagmire, but at the same time, there can be some very worthwhile posts as well. I saw one of them just today. A street preacher was interviewing young people at a very popular and somewhat notorious nightspot. Among them were a pair of young ladies. He probed them as to their spiritual state and who it was they believed and trusted in. Both affirmed that it was Jesus. More, both knew the message of the gospel, the cross, and the salvation Christ invited us to. Both also affirmed that they considered themselves His followers and were committed to Him. He then asked them why they were out and taking part in what was going on in the club they were about to enter. Their answer was along the lines of, "We're young, we want to have fun and enjoy ourselves." He didn't hit them with judgement, just truth, emphasizing the need for believers to come apart, to live holiness lifestyles, to be in the world, but not of it. Both young ladies became very quiet. They had no response. The video ended.

I recognize that there's a long history of legalism and self-righteous judgement in a segment of the church. It's wrong, and I won't adhere to it, but there is also a long history of the abuse of His grace, often referred to as "hyper grace." I don't adhere to that either. Both are deeply damaging.

Chris Tiegreen writes, "SIn is disastrous and grace is precious. Neither should ever be taken casually." Shouldn't be, but so often are. We can be so casual about both. Churches are filled with those who are. The result will always be disastrous.

A.W. Tozer, speaking of the infinitely great cost to the Father in the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ, said that how we live in response to that cost must be a "very great scandal in heaven." Our hearts have been dulled both to the seriousness and terrible consequences of sin as well as to the immeasurably great gift of His saving grace. Tiegreen also writes, "Grace was given to free us from sin, not to free us up for more of it." A truly grace filled lifestyle knows this and lives accordingly. Not a legal, rule keeping lifestyle, but a holy one.

Jesus was the friend of sinners. He went to where they were, but he didn't "go clubbing" with them. He didn't partake of their lifestyle. He invited them into His. The two young ladies weren't where they were to extend that invitation. They were responding to the invitation of that place to enter into what was happening there. To what degree are we doing the same?

In my particular segment of the church, we have an old, but powerful hymn titled "Called Unto Holiness." All who call themselves His are called unto that holiness. His holiness. Not rigid rule keeping with the focus on the external, but a desperate love of Him, his holiness, and the hatred of sin and its awful effects upon the human race He so loves and gave Himself up for. Indeed, sin is disastrous, and grace is precious. May we cease to take either casually ever again. He shed His precious blood that He might offer His precious grace.

Blessings,
Pastor O