It just occurred to me... the last three babies born in our church were all given the middle name "Grace" (I do love that name). We have sang/sung/singed "Amazing Grace" at the end of every Sunday worship service so far this year (our goal is to sing it for the whole year). I plan to use Phillip Yancey's "What's So Amazing About Grace" for a midweek study this fall.
Hmm... do you suppose someone is trying to tell me something? Or am I in a "grace" rut? Can it be possible to have too much grace?
I dunno. Just thought it was interesting. (Much more interesting than a list of my favorite movies, Darrell - I can never remember them).
Peace. Revolution(ate).
8 comments:
Hi Dan,
Glad to see you're still blogging. I heard a definition of grace awhile back that takes a little different perspective than I'm most accustomed to hearing.
James Ryle defines grace as "the empowering presence of God, enabling us to do what He has called us to do, and be who He has called us to be". I kind of like that. Since you're in kind of a grace mode, what's your take?
Gil,
Wow! I love that definition of grace. That is so cool; and so... what the world needs, isn't it?
I think so many of us think grace is simply "accepting one another." But it is so much more than that. Ryle's definition really brings that out. Thanks for sharing it. And it's great to hear from you!
As I think back over discussions of grace, the most common definition I've heard has been that of "unmerited favor". And while I agree that we don't deserve God's grace, and can't do anything to "earn" grace, His forgiveness, or salvation; I don't think "unmerited favor" conveys a good working definition of grace.
Other times it seems (and this kind of goes along with your comment about "accepting one another") I hear people talking about grace and they use it almost synonomously (SP?) with forgiveness....and I think Scripture diferentiates between the two.
Anyway, I'm glad I responded this time rather than just lurking. Stay strong!
The billboard on the way into town says "Grace is getting what we don't deserve and Mercy is not getting what we do deserve." It's not as cool but how much can you actually get on a billboard anyway.
I've always liked, and used, that billboard definition, but don't you think that maybe adds to some of the confusion? Because don't you think most people think that means 'we get to go to heaven when we die, even though we don't deserve to'? Whereas a definition like Ryle's brings out that it can actually make a diffrence in our life NOW. Like... God's grace can enable me to overcome destructive behaviors, and bad attitudes, and other downright sinful, unsettling-for-the-soul type stuff?
BTW, where is that billboard? Is it in Fort Wayne, or Zaneseville?
I have no idea how people take it so you may be right. It doesn't say anything about heaven so it could just as easily be interpreted to mean, for example, even though you deserve to be stuck with destructive behaviors because of your sinfulness God gives you grace to get out of it. But I do think it is a little too pithy for me. It is on Highway 1 between 469 and the Bear Field Throughway.
I'm glad that your church doesn't give its babies the middle name "Works." :)
Ont. Emperor,
That's a good one. Hadn't thought of that. :)
Post a Comment