Grace is a key tenet of Christianity—that we are no longer judged according to the law but we are now free to live in pursuit of God’s purposes without constantly worrying about whether each of our individual actions and thoughts will send us to hell. Even though many Christians say they believe it, I don’t think a lot of Christians really live by it.
I think one reason why I was so offended by a sermon at Redeemer a few weeks ago was that I thought the teaching encouraged people to live in a way that makes you question everything you do. I think that way of life is completely contradictory to the fundamental reason behind why Christ came to earth.
Sure, there is nothing wrong with churches giving practical means of living out the Gospel. Instead of just teaching abstract concepts, we need to be given examples of how to live in a manner that is pleasing to God. However, it should be clear that these are purely examples, not prescribed means of actually pleasing God. You will not necessarily please God by forgoing your $5 latte today and giving it to a homeless person instead. Yes, it’s an example, when done with the right attitude, of how you can live out your faith. But the action in itself will not set you right with God.
Why not? Going back to my first point, I don’t believe that’s how Christianity works. It is not about sin/behavior management. You don’t get penalized for sinning, then get rewarded for doing good deeds. Christianity is about grace. I believe there are very wealthy people out there with many material possessions who live in the Spirit and live by grace who are closer to God than poorer people who think the Christian life is about sin management.
It’s interesting how so many non-church going people I know have this perception of Christianity as being a religion of sin management. If Christianity was all about doing the “right” thing, making sure other people are doing the “right” thing, etc., I don’t think I’d be a Christian either. Christianity is about freedom.
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