Just off-hand, I can’t imagine that grace would be a tricky subject, but I think it has become a matter of some debate. Now, you know I’m not here to present facts and statistics – particularly because I don’t think there are any available (but I could be wrong). This is just about observations and my thoughts on the subject.

We are saved by grace, by the gift of God through Jesus. Intellectually, I think all Christians will agree with that. However, I think Grace has become a “yes, but…” statement to many believers. As if the blood of Jesus isn’t quite good enough to get the job done. I’m pretty sure no one would consciously agree with that statement, though. …seemed kind of appalling or blasphemous to write!

I think about the woman caught in adultery, her accusers left and Jesus asked her if no one condemned her – she answered, “no one, Lord.” Jesus responded by telling her that he didn’t condemn her, either, to go and sin no more. Was that a cruel statement or a grace statement? How can one with a human, sinful nature go and “sin no more?” Is that a “better go hide in a closet for the rest of my life” statement or an empowering statement? Did Jesus not only release her from condemnation, but also release her from the bondage of sin?

So I’m not exactly going the direction I wanted to with what I’m typing here, but maybe I’ll get to it in a round about way. What triggered my thoughts about grace has a lot to do with an “in your face” topic (in my opinion) that confronts Christians (everyone, actually) almost daily in our society and the media. Homosexuality. Is grace an “anything goes” ticket to ride anywhere our sinful flesh takes us? Is there no such a thing as sin now that we have grace? I heard an explanation of the verses in Romans 1 making an attempt (again, my opinion) to explain how Paul didn’t mean what he was saying there, that the gay lifestyle was really ok for people who were born that way.

To be honest, I consider myself to be a conservative, right-wing leaning Christian – I just don’t want to be a rock hurtling, sinner condemning Christian. I think, as Christians, we need to be careful about who we condemn while holding on to greed, covetousness, unforgiveness, denial…. However, I do not think we have the privilege of defining or redefining sin on our terms or based on our needs or feelings. This is a very tricky area, but I sincerely believe we need to come to a place of resolution in our hearts. Jesus ate with sinners because sinners were the ones who welcomed him. Jesus didn’t embrace sin to deliver sinners – he conquered sin and death on the cross. Jesus wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed to be seen with sinners, he didn’t defend himself – his love gave hope to a woman caught in adultery, his acceptance caused a greedy tax collector to refund with interest what he had stolen. God’s grace, manifested in Jesus, changed lives.