No Wonder The World Is Confused!

Perhaps you heard me scream Sunday night.  A recent article in USA Today entitled "Evangelicals May Face Choice: Electable Candidate Or 'Moral' One" completely misrepresented the nature of grace.  Unfortunately, the misrepresentation was by an "evangelical" spokesman for a political advocacy group.  USA Today simply quoted him correctly.  Here's the offending statement:

Because their faith claims that sinners can be forgiven, evangelicals also believe in giving people second chances, said David Fowler, president of the Family Action Council of Tennessee.

If a political candidate has admitted his faults and changed his ways, then evangelicals are willing to forgive him, Fowler said.

"We need to give credence to the fact that people are not perfect," Fowler said. "Grace should be extended when there is a change in behavior."

"Grace should be extended when there is a change in behavior."  Really?!?!?  That's not grace.  That's a reward for a change of behavior.  Paul would call it a "wage;" something earned by good behavior.  "Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation."  (Romans 4:4)

It's sad but no surprise when the world fails to understand the core Christian message of grace.  It's unconscionable though, when a spokesperson for evangelicals has no more understanding of grace than the world!  No wonder the world sees evangelicals as just one more demographic group among many.  These evangelicals have no more understanding of grace than anyone else.

I have no problem expecting a particular level of demonstrated ability, restraint or behavior from people who want to serve in a leadership position.  But recognizing that a change of behavior has endured over time is not grace.  Discernment, maybe.  Fruitfulness, perhaps.  But not grace.

This is grace: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  If anyone wants to extend grace like that, they will first have to find some unrepentant sinners and love them without expectation of repayment.