So Much Grace, It's Not Fair

GRACE:

The last time we were together we talked about a social engineering project in China, that some have compared to  Orwell's 1984 or Huxley's Brave New World.  In case you forgot your high school literature, neither of those dystopian novels presented a very pleasant scene. Here is the question that concerns us: What if there were a system that would reward each of us with exactly what deserved? Really, it's not a matter of if; the fact is there is such a system and it presents a far more alarming scene than any fictional account.  We tend to think in terms of more-or-less.  God is perfect; His standards are likewise perfect.  These words from our Lord's earthly brother are one example of what the Bible has to say on the subject:  "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:10).  The question is not, "Am I better--or less bad--than others around me?" but, "Do I measure up to God's standard?" The answer is, "NO!" “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”  (Romans 3:23)   We don't need justice.  We need grace.  Grace of such a quality that when we examine it we'll be tempted to say, "That's not fair!"  Take the case of the Apostle Paul.  He was a legalistic leader of a warped brand of Judaism.  He felt driven to, and totally righteous about, persecuting followers of Christ.  He was involved in the stoning of Stephen, and proceeded to wreak havoc in the church.  See here, and here.  Yet this former one man wrecking crew, came to be a recipient of God's grace.  He, himself, was amazed at the scope of this grace.  Paul called himself the "foremost of sinners."  Yet he saw God's grace as sufficient to deal with any quantity of sin.       "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,           so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21 Yes, God is righteous, but, without any compromise to either, He is also gracious.  That is why the Apostle Paul puts both concepts in one brief statement.   "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. . . ." (Romans 6:23) We are right to respect God's justice.  That should not be the end, however.  A knowledge of God's absolutely holy standard ought to drive us to God's grace.  What John Newton called God's "amazing grace." That great grace is captured in a verse that is likely the best known passage of scripture in all the Bible. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16, KJV) I encourage you to find out more here.   A good place to start is to scroll down to the "The Good News About Jesus."   It's STTA.

Social Credit, Karma, & the Gospel

MAKING SURE PEOPLE GET WHAT THEY DESERVE,  ONLY GOD'S JUSTICE CAN DO THAT. GIVING PEOPLE WHAT THEY DON'T DESERVE, ONLY GOD'S GRACE CAN DO THAT:

In the car, last night, I listened to a fascinating discussion on NPR about a new program in China that is engineered to foster more desirable behaviour among the population.  It is being described as "Social credit."   It's kind of like the system that creates FICA scores in the USA, only on steroids. The social engineering project is supposed to keep track of a wide range of behaviours that are deemed to indicate whether or not one is trustworthy.  Not only will the database keep track of financial transactions, but also things like how often one calls their parents, or how many disposable diapers they purchase.  All of this data is being crunched by the network, and then based on algorythms the system issues a score.  This score will have wide-ranging impact on a person's life. Official penalties for a low score range from inability to get a job, to being required to pay a deposit in order to book a hotel room.  In addition to stick-type consequences, there are also carrots.  Those with higher scores are given preverential treatment in many business transactions.  There are also unoffficial consequences.  Chinese citizens are encouraged to make their high scores known.  Having the right number could be more important than the right look in getting a date with the hot prospect. As I listened to the conversation I was reminded of another conversation I had earlier in the week.  It was about Karma, the Eastern concept that says each person gets what they deserve.  The book of Proverbs is full of Karma-like maxims.  Those who work hard and save are likely to have more good things.  Those who show themselves to be friendly are probably going to have more friends on whom they can depend in a time of need.  Responsible parents are apt to have well behaved children.  A broad view of Scripture, however, as well as observation of life in this world indicates that Karma is a capricious lady.  Since computers are built and programmed by humans with their agendas and limitations, and those who scam the system are often as resourceful as those who build it, we won't create a system that will significantly improve on what Asaph saw three millenia ago.   "I saw [the proud] prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people . . .   Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain" (Psalm 73:3–14, NLT). As Asaph went on to say (read all of Psalm 73.  Note especially the corner the Psalm-writer turns in verse 17) he is confident that justice will eventually be done. The real problem, though, is not that, outside of the God of the Bible, there is no system, either mystical or silicon-based, that can perfectly deliver what we deserve.  The supreme problem is that God will make sure that ultimately everyone of us will get exactly what we have coming.  It is a theme that runs through Scipture, but is captured in its brutal reality in two sentences from the Book of Romans: "All have sinned. . . ."  Romans 3:23 "The wages of sin is death."  Romans 6:23 To gain a greater understanding of those words, read the first three chapters of Romans and Revelation 20:11-14.  If Karma shows up at all it will be to nod approval of God's justice. I'm way overtime on this STTA, but the good news we celebrate at Christmas is not only is God righteous, He is also gracious.  I'll be back Monday with more, but you can go on, on your own, by exploring this page.  A good place to start is to scroll down to the "The Good News About Jesus."  Until then . . .   It's STTA.

Weeds

Something To Think About Weeds & God's glory, 5/29

I took a wake-up break from studying, the other day.  While strolling around outside for a few minutes I noticed some of the wild flowers growing out beyond the point where the guys mow. Beautiful! Which reminded me of my wife, so picked some and took them to her. If the ground where I picked the flowers were being maintained as a lawn or a garden these plants would be considered weeds.  They sure are pretty weeds, though, and when I took them to my wife she thought them attractive enough to keep on the table on our deck, where we could enjoy them as we ate. Just weeds.  Yet our creator invested them with such beauty. While the flowering-weeds were on my mind, I was also thinking about Psalm 8--in particular verses 4-5.    “What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!” (Psalm 8:4–5, NASB95)   I guess the case could be made that I'm more weed than prize rose, yet God in His infinite lovingkindness invests in me. It's STTA.

A day full of sin, death, grace, and angels:

When I awoke this morning, the hard drive in my headbegan to whir.  About the first thing I remember thinking was, "It can't be onlyTuesday."

It's been a full week already.

I know all the Theological reasons for starting the week with the Lord's Day, but in my little preacher world,Sunday is the end of the week.  Monday - Saturday is, in large part, spent getting ready for Sunday.  Sundaynight, Kathy and I exhale and crash.  So, when I woke this morning I was only thinking of one day.  

Yesterday was a microcosm of life on this sin-cursed planet.  Kathy and I were with a family, at a crisis point in the their lives.  Sin has done its work and these dear friends of ours were left to sort through the pieces and put things back together.  Don't get the idea its hopeless, far from it.  We can see God's grace shining through.  I'm expecting great things!

Part of that grace--much of it, in fact--is packaged in
human flesh.  A couple of other friends are reaching out to this family with love-in-shoe-leather.  It's the kind of thing angels do.  When you are at the end of your rope, they show up to 

 help.  

In the midst of that, I got word that my mom had died.  It was no surprise.  In fact the surprise was that she was still with us yesterday morning.  There was no "I better sit down." kind of shock, like there was when my dad died with a sudden heart attack, just a dull lump that settled somewhere in my lower abdomen, and wouldn't go away.  Again grace appeared.  God is good.

Miles were traveled, emails sent, phone calls made,conferences had, and plans put in place.  Surely it must be Thursday or Friday.

Life is not a smooth line.  It's like looking at the wave pattern of a speech, full of peaks and valleys.  Across those jagged lines that make up the whispers and the ear piercing screams of life, I find one constant.  I don't know how others live without.  Call it a homing beacon, a steady light, a constant tone, maybe, as a song says, it is the "rhythm of his 

Be Still and Know - Steven Curtis Chapman - Worship Video w/lyrics

unfailing heart of love."

 

Yesterday was full.  I'm glad I can say it was not only full of stuff that happened, I can also look back and see an abundance of God's grace.

 

It's STTA.

 

 

(The little angel at the top?  My mom made I don't know how many of them.  They are around the world.  This morning it is a pretty good reminder of God's grace.)

Two Brothers Coming Together:

Jefferson Bethke, achieved something that lots of young adults--and not a few of we older adults--hope to achieve.   He  produced and starred in a video that went viral.  When I watched it last night over 16 million others had already done so.  Even better Bethke's message is worth the four + minutes it takes to watch it (not counting the slow buffering because of the demand).  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1IAhDGYlpqY

The young man skillfully contrasts religion--the version he lambasts sounds a lot like American Evangelicalism

--and Biblical Christianity.  Much of what he has to say is right on.  I encourage you to watch his video.  

Another Internet citizen, who in some ways looks a lot like someone Bethke is criticizing, Kevin DeYoung, wrote a thoughtful, though admittedly less artful, and interesting, response/analysis of Bethke's poem.  When you have time, it is worth reading.  (here) 

  What impresses and encourages me is the response.  You can find the link at the beginning of DeYoung's piece, but here it is in part:

I just wanted to say I really appreciate your article man. It hit me hard. I'll even be honest and say I agree 100%. God has been working with me in the last 6 months on loving Jesus AND loving his church.  (Bethke)

 Thanks for your email. It confirms my impression of you-humble, sincere, a real love for God and the gospel. . . . What can I do to help you? . . . I don't want people to take this in the wrong direction. . . .  Let me know if there is something I can do. (DeYoung)

This is a paradigm that I see way too infrequently.  Brothers who love the Lord reaching out in honesty and love to one another.

  

Lord make me like Barnabas.  Someone who helps a brother.  Amen.

 It's STTA.