Romans 4:6-8 (The Message and TNIV) Reading Plan
Paul isn't teaching something new. From his perspective, this is how it's always been. Works have never made us right with God, but rather our believing that "only God sets things right": FAITH. In verse 6, he uses David to support this. David was the king of all kings for the Israelites. When he says David, everyone's ears peak. David did many great things in his reign as king and was known as "a man after God's own heart." But...if we think our leaders have made mistakes, take a look at his life. David made mistakes, most notably a affair covered up with a murder, that many may have seen on TMZ...okay, maybe not. Nonetheless, David was keenly aware of his inability to set-things-right-with-God on his own, but that only God doing it for him could it happen.
The people I know with "greater sins" in their past seem to be the most in touch with the FAITH Paul speaks of and the grace that wraps it up. Outside of the church, the people who have made the largest mistakes are often the most compassionate and less judgmental people. Inside the church, we too often see that the most vocal people against a particular sin, secretly struggle with that sin. It's not a rule, and thankfully so, but it happens too often. Of all people, we ought to be people who understand the depth of failure and reach out and into the lives of others who have failed also. Much grace is given by people who have received much grace. Judgment and holier-than-thou attitudes arise when we lose touch with our sin or our capability of sin.
The way we respond to shocking news from others says a lot about our view of the grace we've been given. How would you respond if a good friend opened up and told you they were gay? How about if someone told you they were tired of being married and were going to leave their family? How about if someone told you they don't know if they really believe God exists? How about being addicted to drugs? Maybe gambling?
I've had to hear two people tell me they were done with their marriages and wanted out. One was a friend, the other my brother. I was heart broken by both, but more so when my brother said it. He's my big brother, after all. The one who always got things right. He married the girl he met in 7th grade at church camp! How could he give up? I struggled at first with the personal loss of a hero, and secondly with the sin he was committing. We talked at length throughout the next year, and I remember wanting to yell at him and hug him in the same moment, and choosing to just be quiet as a third option. I know I did all three at one time or another during the process, but I think I hugged him more than anything. I told him he was wrong a few times, but I mostly wanted him to know that I loved him no matter what. I often wonder if I should have been less kind. Not that my words would have made a difference in the final outcome, but I certainly didn't jeopardize our relationship for the cause of truth. On the other hand, when our friend announced he was leaving his wife, a mutual friend went all the way to the other extreme and cut all ties to him. He made it known it was because of the sin. I don't agree with that action at all. So my question is- is it okay to have a gray area? Or does that make us "lukewarm" to Christ and make him want to spit us out?
ReplyDeleteMy 5 cents worth (because I talk more than 2 cents worth-sorry):
ReplyDeleteI pull another scripture reference to add to the mix because it is so important-Ephesians 2:8--For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Grace is God's gift. His grace, as Paul goes on to intimate in so many of his letters to those who are called by His Name, is complete, unmerited and total forgiveness. Complete. Total. All encompassing. Without a loophole.
My wife and I were very close to a couple. They were dear friends. We spent a lot of time togther. They got divorced. It was ugly and had a negative impact on many people (as sin so often does), including Bev and I. During the process, we stayed engaged with them and tried to hold them both accountable to the biblical standard of righteousness they claimed to hold to in regards to marriage and divorce.
In the end I asked directly how he could pursue this course of action that he knew to be wrong. His answer was also very direct "I can't do this anymore so I am just going to have to trust in God's grace". That comment effectively ended our conversation in regards to his divorce. I was taken aback because Paul warns us about presuming on God's grace. He even discusses it further on in Romans. Truthfully I was also angry with him and I thought he was so wrong to think that way.
Yet here I am reading this passage (and not for the first time) and reading Andrea's post and being called to think more deeply about this.
First I want to say that I don't think we can claim to be a disciple of Christ and lead a life consciously characterized by sin and presume on the grace of God. A disciple seeks to emulate the one he follows, and Christ's life demonstrates a life characterized by being obedient to God.
Yet my friend was right. We ALL presume on the grace of God to one degree or another. It's our very faith in His grace that allows us to move on from our sin, no matter how big or how small. It's His grace, His love that makes us whole and holy as it says in Ehpesians 1.
Hebrews 9 (KJV) says that "it is appointed unto man once to die, and then judgment". Maybe while we are living we ought to be about the business of God's Kingdom, which seems to be healing and redemption and life, and leave the judgment and categorizing of sin to God.
Okay, so it was more like 25 cents worth. Sue me! :-)
Great question Andrea. Here is how I see it. I think there are two, somewhat separate issues here. One is God's grace and forgiveness, and the other is "church discipline" for lack of a better term. In this text, Paul is speaking about the former, not the latter. We can be gracious when others make mistakes because God has been gracious to us.
ReplyDeleteIn other New Testament texts, we are given guidelines for restoring another Christ follower who has fallen into sin (Matthew 18:15-17 and Galatians 6:1). I think the most important parts of these to remember are that (1)the purpose is restoration, not condemnation; (2)any severing of the relationship is a community, rather than individual decision; and (3)gentleness and spiritual maturity are required by the decision-makers. These guidelines are often abused by both churches and individuals.
It is hard to do a good job of expressing love to someone while disapproving of their actions (especially an unrepentant Christian), but it is what Jesus does and we are called to walk that sometimes vague path.
I think Andrea's response was the right one - tell the person you don't agree, but love them anyway. And I don't think that makes us lukewarm Christians - I think type of response more closely mirros what Jesus response to use would be. God doesn't cut all ties with us when we sin. He doesn't say "You're on your own now, Sinner."
ReplyDeleteI do think that those who've been forgiven of a "big" sin are much more able give grace. Something of a been there done that mentality. If I've never committed a "big" sin, it is hard to relate to the person who has, hard to understand how they could have sinned in that manner in the first place, and hard to show them the grace that they need when they are confessing. But if it is a sin you currently struggle with, it is hard to show grace because generally if you aren't willing to confess it, you also aren't willing to give it up and you don't want to be faced with that reality.
Brad,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about this: my friends who led self-destructive lives before being saved by Jesus approach life differently. I have always been in awe of them. They are free from pretense, because people already know their junk. They are more compassionate because they have walked more than a mile in the shoes of the addict, the unfaithful spouse, etc. But because they have lived that life, they're also wise to the con. It's amazing to me to see how the love in their eyes is still visibly there while they call bull on the deceptions that are typical to a destructive lifestyle. That is real love, the kind Jesus has. It sweeps nothing under the rug, but loves in spite of, in the real world.