Gospel Optimism

I was thinking about my life recently after dealing with some issues. Along with that, I thought about the lives of the people around me. And some things came into focus. What a mess! We are people, all of us, who are plagued with issues. If it isn’t being guilty about something, then it’s feeling ashamed or being afraid. And then, there are all the other issues that confront us. I was thinking that it would make sense for someone taking an honest look at such things – something more than the typical superficial glance - to conclude that people just cannot be fixed. I mean, really. These aren’t problems that can be resolved with just a little this or that. Take a look at yourself, a serious look at yourself. Do you really think that you can fix what is wrong with your life? 

The Father has taken a look, a really good look, at your life. He sees all that you think and do and say. He knows how really messed up your life is. And yet, He is optimistic about change. He thinks that our lives can be changed. And the means that He will use to make this change? It’s the Gospel. It’s repenting of sin and believing the particular aspect of the Gospel that speaks to what you are dealing with. 

So, it makes sense for someone to be a pastor, a real pastor, one who deeply believes the Gospel himself. The prospect of real change in the lives of the saints that he has been entrusted with appears so slight. And yet, what does the Father say? ‘Preach the Gospel to them. Show them how it works in your own life. Help them to get it and then practice it themselves.’ This is the way to see many lives changed as they also, bit by bit, deeply believe the Gospel.  

The Gospel Deals with Fear

The Gospel is the solution to the problems of life. It deals with the guilt of our sins. That is what has been the focus of the Church in the West at least since the Reformation. Thus the prominence of justification by grace through faith in our presentation of the Gospel. But the problems of life go further than just guilt. There are also the problems of shame and of fear. A look at certain other cultures will show that this is true. This is reflected in the Scriptures. The problem of shame is dealt with by the offer of complete forgiveness and the adoption as a son. And the problem of fear is dealt with by the reminder that we are to fear nothing except God and as we do that there is nothing else we need fear.

I wonder if our culture is undergoing a shift so that the stress in the thinking of many is less on guilt and more on fear. Is this some of what is behind God sending this virus? It certainly has revealed how fearful we are as a culture.

If this is the case, then the Church in the West will need to adjust its presentation of the Gospel. It may well be that instead of stressing as much as we do how the Gospel deals with the guilt of sin we ought to stress more how the Gospel deals with the fear that sin brings. 

The Scandal of the Goapel

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5

I, once again, had a Jehovah's Witness, Marguerite, show up at my door for a little conversation. I think that I surprised her when I agreed on the importance of Bible reading, that Jesus came to establish his kingdom and that there would be a resurrection so that we might live on this earth. All good. But after a bit, I asked a question to raise the point that our 'good standing with Jehovah' (her words) was a matter of grace. I read Ephesians 2.8 (out of her Bible). She agreed, at first, saying, 'Sure, Jesus graciously helps us' or words to that effect. But I wanted to press home the point that it was a matter of grace without our doing this or that or better, despite our doings. And to make that clear, I talked about how a believer's good standing before Jehovah is still in place even if he sins it up: the scandal of the Gospel. At that point, she could not agree. We have to behave ourselves. End of conversation.

As I reflected on all of this the thought came to me that far too many Christians today would agree with Marguerite. (There are a ton who would agree with me, but for the wrong reasons. More on that at another time.)  There are lots of serious Christians who clearly and passionately declare that we are saved by grace alone in Christ alone - and then tremble in fear because they wonder if they've gone too far in that last sin, or are terrified that they might go too far in some future sin. They agree with Marguerite: we are graciously helped by Jesus - but there are still things required of us if our good standing with the Father is to continue. What is this but a crafty (read: 'satanic') variation on the old theme of being saved by our own works? 'Jesus completely saves me ... as long as I still do my part.' This is so wrong!

One thing that this foolishness misses is God's standard by which he evaluates. That standard is perfection. And God's Law describes that perfection quite well. So, 'doing my part' has to mean 'being perfect'. Nothing else counts. Nothing else is good enough. Nothing.

We sinners, who sin tons and do it quite well (lots of practice!), we sinners who couldn't do anything 'good enough' to establish our good standing with the Father, we can't do anything 'good enough' to continue that good standing. We sinners are saved only what Jesus has done. We contribute nothing because we can contribute nothing. So, where our sin increases the grace of the Gospel abounds even more, or so says Paul. In this way we are freed from the slavery of trying to achieve an impossible goal: being good enough. We are saved by grace alone in Jesus alone received by faith alone.

So, I would ask that you pray for Marguerite that she would be freed from her slavery, that she would come to see the beauty of the grace of the Gospel. Jesus saves all by himself. And then pray for all those Christians who also need to be freed.

Chick-fil-A

Someone in my church told me that it would be good for me to say something to my congregation about the recent Chick-fil-A situation. This is what I emailed to the folk.

I have been encouraged to comment to you on the recent Chick-Fil-A controversy.

But first, two verses:

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Matthew 5:38-41)

But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. (Acts 16:35-40)

There are times when we need to accept some offense against us and then expect some more of the same and accept that too - quietly. And then, there are times when we need to make a fuss in response to some evil that someone has done against us. It takes Spiritual wisdom to decide which of these responses is right in any particular situation. However, in any situation the guiding principle is always the same: 'What will advance the Gospel?' That's always the guiding principle since advancing the Gospel is the only way  we can change the world.