I'm just re-reading a little book that has been a cherished favorite of mine ever since I first read it several years ago. It's The Grace & Truth Paradox: Responding with Christlike Balance by Randy Alcorn. [Actually, my friend Lisa got a copy for becoming my #1 blog follower!] Let me share a little bit from Chapter 1:
The apparent conflict that exists between grace and truth isn't because they're incompatible, but because we lack perspective to resolve their paradox. The two are interdependent. We should never approach truth except in a spirit of grace, or grace except in a spirit of truth. Jesus wasn't 50% grace, 50% truth, but 100% grace, 100% truth.
Truth-oriented Christians love studying Scripture and theology. But sometimes they're quick to judge and slow to forgive. They're strong on truth, weak on grace.
Grace-oriented Christians love forgiveness and freedom. But sometimes they neglect Bible study and see moral standards as "legalism." They're strong on grace, weak on truth.
Countless mistakes in marriage, parenting, ministry and other relationship are failures to balance grace and truth. Sometimes we neglect both. Often we choose one over the other....
A paradox is an apparent contradiction. Grace and truth aren't really contradictory. Jesus didn't switch on truth and then turn it off so He could switch on grace. Both are permanently switched on in Jesus. Both should be switched on in us.
What would Jesus do? There is always one answer: He would act in grace and truth.
Truth without grace breeds a self-righteous legalism that poisons the church and pushes the world away from Christ.
Grace without truth breeds moral indifference and keeps people from seeing their need for Christ.
Attempts to "soften" the gospel by minimizing truth keep people from Jesus. Attempts to "toughen" the gospel by minimizing grace keep people from Jesus. It's not enough for us to offer grace or truth. We must offer both.
Why is it that we as Christians always seemto find it so easy to go to the extremes and find it so difficult to live a life of Christlike balance? I'm sorry to say that I've been one that has come down hard on the side of truth at the expense of showing grace--but this book showed me a different way. Truth is important! But so is grace. And to be truly Christlike our lives must be balanced by grace and truth. This little book was life-changing for me. I hope the bit above gives you a little to think about and if it's whetted your appetite for more, check out Randy Alcorn's website for Eternal Perspective Ministries at www.epm.org You can order it there or possibly find it in your local Christian bookstore.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to God. Psalm 40:2-3
Great post, thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI am loving the book too! Thank you sooo much for sending it to me!
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