I have been bothered a lot lately about the lack of grace in my own life and in people I come in contact with. Lack of grace leads to being dogmatic about issues that many times are preferences. It also also leads people to being judgmental towards others instead of showing them love. Lack of grace produces pride and self-righteousness and results in being a cancer to people and churches.
So read the below and see how many you either identify with or maybe that you once would. These are some of the ones I have found myself in over the years. Some of these are church related and others are more individual.
Where is grace…
if you cringe or have any condescending thoughts about certain “types” of songs being sung in church.
if you have condescending thoughts towards people who don’t go to a certain number of church services each week (or at all).
if you think people can’t come to church in jeans…or in a suit or a dress.
if you look down on people that go to movies or rent movies.
Where is grace…
if you think condemning thoughts towards people who smoke or drink.
if you eagerly speak out against homosexuality but never on gluttony or pride.
if you cringe or have condescending thoughts at the NIV being read from the pulpit.
if you think that every church should have drums…or an organ.
if would not want to associate yourself with anyone from a different denomination.
Where is grace…
when you think SINNER! when you see someone mowing the grass on Sunday.
when your first reaction to people is to think negatively about what they are doing or how they look.
when you think poorly of people who work on Sundays.
when you think more highly of yourself because you don’t do things that others might do.
when you think you are never wrong and everyone else is.
when you are more concerned about the words that come out of someone’s mouth instead of the hurt coming out of their heart.
I really don’t think God is impressed with how good I think I can be. I mean, let’s be real. There are not good people and bad people in this world but rather all of us sinners and then Jesus. Is God impressed that I only go 5 miles over the speed limit compared to you who does 8? Ridiculous. Instead, let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Outdo each other? Really? Seriously?
I honestly fear many are conformed to a pattern of religion but are never transformed. Let’s be filled with amazing grace and not self-righteousness.
4 But [1] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)
Footnotes
[1] 2:4 Or And
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