Friday, September 12, 2008

Grace is a highway not a tightrope

Ya' gotta love the internet!

I ran into an old friend from college on line last night-- someone I haven't seen in probably 15 years or so. We were catching up a bit, discussing where we are now in life... all the usual stuff when you catch up after so many years.

In the process, he made a rather profound statement: "I see grace more as a highway, not a tightrope."

While that may seem cute and pithy, that really is a profound statement.

So many times I've heard people, genuinely sincere in seeking after God, add so many rules and regulations to the simplicity of the gospel message-- turning God's grace into a tightrope to be walked. "Behave just so or risk offending God."

Yes, it is true that 'straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leads to salvation'. Yes, we are to seek to live a life that pleases God. But we also have to recognize that every "way"... every road... can have ditches on both sides of it. And to stay on the road, you have to stay out of the ditches on either side.

On one side, there is the ditch of "sloppy agape"-- the ditch that says, "just do anything you want and don't worry about it". Some take the work of Christ so lightly that they just scream "I've got grace" and not take into account the price paid for that grace and show no respect for what Christ endured for us. They take no account of the impact of Christ's sacrifice to change our lives, since they are only looking for "fire insurance"-- that is they want a quick ticket to avoid hell, but are missing the real issue which is a life transformed by Christ.

On the other side are those who go to the other extreme... so emphasizing the need for "holiness" (often interpretted to mean following a specific code of actions) and someone make their salvation dependent more on their own ability to follow certain legalistic guidelines than on resting in the completed work of Christ. The opposite "ditch".

And both ditches are off the road.

So, we need to stay on the highway... avoiding the "ditch" of licentiousness. And equally avoiding the "tightrope" of legalism.

But rather, enjoying the life and freedom that is found ONLY in true relationship with Christ.

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