Thursday, July 06, 2006
Is Grace Attractive?
Yesterday, I ended a post this way:
Frankly, I am not confident of an answer to the question. Because, as I state in yesterday's post, grace must preceded by condemnation, many, if fact arguably most, never approach grace because they are unwilling to accept the condemnation.
This is particularly problematic when it comes to presenting the gospel, or simply correcting a brother/sister in Christ. How do we convince someone to accept the grace that is inherently offered in condemnation? How do we communicate the offer of grace in condemnation?
Think about it, if we offer the grace too readily, actual conviction of condemnation never occurs and the grace is cheap, if not entirely ingenuine. This is why the 12-step programs all insist on a "bottoming out" - you cannot cure that which does not appear to be ill, and the cure cannot be thought to be of one's own power and capability.
I wonder, in an age where self-image is considered the most important part of human development, must not our presentation of condemnation change? When we can no longer rely on people to understand inherently that they are less than we should be, how can we convince them?
I sense that the answer is indivialistic. For some a brickbat may be required. For other, peeling away the revelation like the layers of an onion may be the order of the day. Given such individualistic needs is the age of mass evangelism past? One must wonder. Certainly one rule is that condemnation cannot come from ideas, doctrines, or emotions. It's about behavior, and only that.
These questions make me seriously wonder about the megachurch as well. Can it effectively create maturity with such a group intensive approach? Can small groups which so often fall into group therapy rather than genuine exploration of God's Word and will fill in the missing pieces?
Or is the water warm, the pool large and there is room for everyone?
Related Tags: grace, condemnation, evangelism, correction, presentation
The retort often comes about flies and sugar v garbage - but the object is not attraction - the object is grace - Grace that only has meaning in the context of condemnation. Condemnation as the predecessor to grace is graceful, and often necessary.This raises an interesting question, the title of this post - Is grace attractive?
Frankly, I am not confident of an answer to the question. Because, as I state in yesterday's post, grace must preceded by condemnation, many, if fact arguably most, never approach grace because they are unwilling to accept the condemnation.
This is particularly problematic when it comes to presenting the gospel, or simply correcting a brother/sister in Christ. How do we convince someone to accept the grace that is inherently offered in condemnation? How do we communicate the offer of grace in condemnation?
Think about it, if we offer the grace too readily, actual conviction of condemnation never occurs and the grace is cheap, if not entirely ingenuine. This is why the 12-step programs all insist on a "bottoming out" - you cannot cure that which does not appear to be ill, and the cure cannot be thought to be of one's own power and capability.
I wonder, in an age where self-image is considered the most important part of human development, must not our presentation of condemnation change? When we can no longer rely on people to understand inherently that they are less than we should be, how can we convince them?
I sense that the answer is indivialistic. For some a brickbat may be required. For other, peeling away the revelation like the layers of an onion may be the order of the day. Given such individualistic needs is the age of mass evangelism past? One must wonder. Certainly one rule is that condemnation cannot come from ideas, doctrines, or emotions. It's about behavior, and only that.
These questions make me seriously wonder about the megachurch as well. Can it effectively create maturity with such a group intensive approach? Can small groups which so often fall into group therapy rather than genuine exploration of God's Word and will fill in the missing pieces?
Or is the water warm, the pool large and there is room for everyone?
Related Tags: grace, condemnation, evangelism, correction, presentation
