Why Does Appreciation of God’s Grace Always Have to be About Sin?
Someone shared a Facebook conversation with me today that resulted in a major lightbulb moment.
Per the usual, some “Christian” was spouting about how knowing who we are as Christians is directly connected to appreciating God’s grace and mercy. First of all, the Bible never posits appreciation for God’s mercy as a primary goal for the Christian life. Folks have taken something that is assumed and made a whole theology of it. Obviously, we should appreciate God no matter who we are. The Bible focuses on THANKFULNESS for ALL the things that God is. A singular focus on our identity as a Segway to appreciating God is NOT biblical.
The person who shared the conversation with me responded to the comment by stating what that biblical identity is: born again righteous believers who glorify God with their lives. That quickly brought a clarifying rebuttal. The commenter, without even addressing the fact that the Bible does describe us that way, proceeded to explain that he was speaking of a deeper and deeper realization of the Christian’s sinfulness. That gives us a deeper appreciation of God’s holiness and mercy. Hence, all works that come out of that appreciation are properly motivated and not dutiful.
Therefore, focusing on our sinfulness purifies all that we do by excluding duty. Supposedly, when we see how wretched we are as opposed to God’s holiness, we are motivated to good works by the appreciation that is invoked. However, this is not only completely absent in Scripture, it assumes that a totally depraved Christian is able to possess equitable appreciation!
But it also begs the money question: why can’t the appreciation come from a changed life as compared to our old life? Why can’t the appreciation come through CHANGE? “Because it will lead to boasting.” No, the Scriptures say to make sure it leads to THANFULNESS towards God instead. A deeper and deeper focus on sin promises to supply many, many, more stumbling blocks than a propensity towards boasting. Besides, wouldn’t the improved person be less and less prone to boasting and more inclined to humbleness? Why does the cause of humbleness have to be a deeper and deeper realization of our inability to be humble? Since when does the Bible state that sinners are able to be humble?
Why aren’t people being saved? Because the world is not endeared to stupidity. That’s why New Calvinists have to plunder what has already been built. That’s why they have to be covert. Only Christians who think that faith is a license to turn off our thinking would ever fall for such reasoning.
Susan and I appreciate God’s mercy more and more because of how He has changed our lives, not because we take joy in an inability to change.
paul
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[…] Why Does Appreciation of God’s Grace Always Have to be About Sin?. […]
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Reblogged this on Clearcreek Chapel Watch.
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Interesting progression in the homosexuality issue. According to Romans chapter 1, the refusal to acknowledge God and be thankful, was the first step in the path of unrighteousness that might also lead to homosexuality for certain people. So that, the reversal of the process is, to acknowledge God and be thankful.
Of course, that would put out of business the calvinistic psychology programs, and they don’t want that.
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It is completely amazing to me how “christians” insist on dwelling on sin over and over when we are supposed to behave as ones who have been set free from that bondage. They are the practical example of 2 Peter 2:19-22.
“19. While they promise them LIBERTY, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20. For if after THEY HAVE ESCAPED the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are AGAIN ENTANGLED THEREIN, AND OVERCOME, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that WAS WASHED to her WALLOWING IN THE MIRE.”
Wow! Powerful words!!!
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The answer to “Why does appreciation of God’s grace always have to be about sin?” is:
Because people are CONSTANTLY confusing PENITENCE with REPENTANCE. Penitence is simply sorrow for sin and it never saved anyone, it only leads to more sorrow and more sorrow and death. See Judas Iscariot.
Repentance is a complete change of mind about sin and it’s consequences and about God. Repentance leads to LIFE because of the CHANGE it produces (see Acts 11:18). The LIFE is about the CHANGE. In Christ our self-esteem is assured.
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In the catholic church penitence leads to penance by actually performing prescribed deeds, in the past even self-mutilation, or 10 year vows of silence, etc.
In New Calvinism penitance leads to the same penance by performing the same works-based self-mutilation. It’s just a lot more subtle and sounds much more biblical.
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“Besides, wouldn’t the improved person be less and less prone to boasting and more inclined to humbleness?”
Have you ever actually seen anyone–a Christian I mean–boasting about their works? I honestly haven’t. I’ve seen way more boasting about faith. People boast about faith all the time: “I’m smarter than you because I believe this doctrine and you don’t, you stupid retard.” I hear that all the time, especially from Calvinists. But I can’t recall the last time I was told by a dreaded “Pelagian” that they were going to heaven simply because they gave a bum a dollar on the street or avoided cheating on their wives when some hottie propositioned them. I can’t remember the last time I ever heard such a thing because I never heard such a thing.
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Comment deleted. New Calvinists need conversion, not conversation.
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Comment deleted. New Calvinists need conversion, not conversation.
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