All Comments for: Grace—That's So Sick | Christianity Today

Free Newsletters:

RSS Feeds |

Audio |

Twitter

Home > 2007 > July (Web-only)

Christianity Today, July (Web-only), 2007 |

SoulWork

Grace—That's So Sick

The church seems to be an embarrassment to everyone except its Lord.

Mark Galli | posted 7/26/2007 08:27AM

One afternoon during my undergraduate years, I was sitting by the college library reading when two students walked by talking about the crucifixion of Christ. Naturally, my ears perked up. They were deeply ...

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

Rate and Comment on this article

Displaying 1 - 25 of 42 comments.

Page: 1 2

Show All

John	Posted: August 08, 2007 12:30 PM


I was taken aback by the author's comment that, "Jesus not only died for but also chooses to associate with sheltered, judgmental, proselytizing hypocrites." Seems to me from my reading of the Gospels that those were exactly the people Jesus condemned and chose NOT to associate with.

KyK	Posted: August 07, 2007 6:32 PM


Amen! And what's amazing to me is that God's plan was that "through the church, this mystery is made known to the even to the heavenly realms." When Christians are Christ-like they display the image of God to the lost. And when Christians are not, God demonstrates His wonderful grace to even such as those.

Sheila

Posted: August 01, 2007 8:41 AM


I agree that we are all sinners, hyper-critical and need to learn our lessons. The most important thing is obedience to G-d in all things. When he tells us to do something, we must do it.

R. Abril

Posted: July 30, 2007 2:10 PM

It is worth to read the book "Christianity; A Global History by David Chidester. This book will make people to think clearly in order to make better judgement about Christianity. I found that polls are very ackward and when dealing with religions pretty unreliable. Generation X and Y are also influenced by distorted visions coming by schools teachers, professors in the academia and the mass media who portray a very deficient image of Christianity. Christianity as a whole suffered the viscisitudes of history but the last hundred years is doing pretty. If I were to contrast Christianity to the secular world in which man is the center and God-Man (Jesus) take the ban wagon; secular construction of the world is not in real good shape, historically speaking. There are a lot of violence and wars that cannot be adscribed to Christianity but to seculari politic. Christianity can be a becon of hope for a damaged world in need of restoration both spiritually and ecologically.

Brenda

Posted: July 30, 2007 12:39 AM

To avoid calling oneself a Christian in an attempt to disassociate from the church's "image" (past/present overtly corrupt behaviors [crusades, witch trials/molestations, embesselment, law suits]) is useless. Are unbelievers dumb? I think not. Do they misunderstand Christians? Of course. They can see our good behavior as judgemental, simply because we are not joining them (see 1 Peter 4:1-4). By rejecting the sin that they are engaged in, they think we perceive ourselves to be holier than thou. Then when they catch us slipping up, it makes them feel good to point out that we are not perfect; we are no better than them; worse yet, we are hypocrites for trying to act good. I'm not implying that we should engage in sin to win converts, but that we should rank ourselves lower than them and serve them with the love of Christ, so they can see that we don't think we are better than them. I was convicted to death for my sins, but my judge stepped down and took my place. How amazing is that!?!?

Lee C

Posted: July 28, 2007 11:53 AM


Beat up on self!! Beat up on another!! God's perfect grace. . . I try hard to smother!! WHY???

Ken L.

Posted: July 27, 2007 8:26 PM

Being A Gen X'er mysself, I hold much of the Church's leadership (Pastor's, Bishop's, Deacon's and so forth - regardless of denomination) responsible for the state the Church (meaning The Body of Christ) finds itself in. I find myself quite often in the position finding fault with the Church, but not before finding fault within myself (i.e.: how can you take the spec out of my eye when there is a plank in yours) However, even knowing my own faults, I find the Church has fallen away from the teachings of Jesus. If I am understanding the premise of this article, I don't think it is enough to accept the condition the Church is in. I am proud to call myself a Brother In Christ, and to let people know I am a follower of Jesus Christ. However, the term "Christian" and the religion of Christiinity (which I say is different than the FAITH of Christianity) has become so politicized and has become more of a business conforming to this world that I tend to refrain from using that term.

Ian	Posted: July 27, 2007 4:20 PM


"that is so sick" --=> That is current slang for "That's awesome."

Artm	Posted: July 27, 2007 10:47 AM

I am proud to be called a " Christian ". I am proud because I know what it took to me one. The word Christian means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, A Christ-ian. It took the wonderful love of almighty God to make me a Christian-ian, And I thank Him with all of my heart. The world has always hated Christ and tjose who follow Him, Jesus said, " know this also,they hated me,and they will also hate you." Thank God by His Grace I am a Christian. Art

jack wilson

Posted: July 27, 2007 10:44 AM

Doesn't it say in the Bible that the cross is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles? So no surprise about the comments of many about Christianity! However, I cringe at what I see when I occasionally watch TBN and observe the naivete of many believers. Didn't Jesus say "many will come to me on that day and say , Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, and perform many miracles and cast out demons?" to which Jersus replied "I never knew you, away from me you evil doers." In the final analysis I can't judge others, but aren't we saved by grace, but saved to do good works? Salvation isn't a ticket to license. The mystical body that is the church universal will survive the judgement of the skeptical and machinations of others who use Christianity for their own benefit and profit and in the process mislead others.

Daniel

Posted: July 27, 2007 9:31 AM

Jesus told us that the wheat and the tares would grow together in the same field. As I ponder the state of the Church throughout history, and espcially in our own time, I find that Jesus' words bring comfort to me. I am often dissapointed in myself, and in my fellow believers. But I find myself loving the Church, and its Lord, even more. Jesus also told us to be very careful when trying to "weed out" the field, lest we also destroy that which is good. It is He, who will be the final judge. This judgment must be taken seriously for it reminds us that the Church is essentially an eschatological community - a virgin bride who will be dressed in spotless white. My soul prayerfully groans for that day.

GDP	Posted: July 27, 2007 9:28 AM

Apart from the abuse of substituting the cross for Christ, and there despite Paul's specific reference in limited context, it would be interesting to hear the students opine if they were told "Christ was punished for the sins of the world". He did, and did not, go of his own free will. It is very human and reasonable to resist punishment for the wrongs of others. Christ exhibited this perfect humanity in His plea to His Father, yet, nonetheless, "Thy will be done, not mine". There was no charging outside the stockade into the arms of the hostiles; no such foolishness can be attributed to our Savior. Those kids should have been corrected in their misperception. But, ah, if you share it yourself??

Tunde Taiwo

Posted: July 27, 2007 5:06 AM

How I wish this was written when you were 20 something years and as a 20 something year-old. I have struggled with help the African-American youths I work with as a Youth minister to see Christ and the things of the church not as something to be ashamed of but as a part of their glorious person. But I am not very sure, I have made success in this. Generations X and Y should be encouraged to see the true pictures of life as real and not as hollywood portrays it. When they are able to differentiate between reality and the mirage of hollywood, then they may be able to understand that their true lives involves things that may look sick and that involves their faith. This paper is one that I would want parents to read and understand so they can help their children know that life is real and not a bed of roses.

"Ole"

Posted: July 26, 2007 8:47 PM


Sorry...lotsw of beating around the bush and it didn't make a whole lot of sense to an ordinary Joe like myself who seldom ever respond to articles but felt a need here in that it didn't make a whole lot of intelligible sense!!!!!!

George T.

Posted: July 26, 2007 8:32 PM


What a timely article---specially for young people confused about their "role in society" about such deep matters.

Graham UK

Posted: July 26, 2007 5:43 PM


I am reminded of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. When you start to believe you are without sin beware my dear friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. I am starkly aware of the parts of me with which I struggle as God holds me each moment. God bless us each day and hold us in our arrogance to let go of it in resurrection power.

wait	Posted: July 26, 2007 4:17 PM

R. Larry Shelton is right. We have to take our image as a church seriously. We must revise our self-image and our image in Christ, in order to attract disciples for Jesus; and the true image comes from the relationship we have with Christ and with each other in Christ; we are enriched by our covenant with Him and His Lordship over our lives so that we are princes among people with hearts big enough to give to those who sin and who are broken. We do not excuse them but we give them our righteousnes in grace and with mercy. Therefore the image we should have includes being quiet spoken, hard working and generous and peaceful and forgiving. In the days of the early church Christians were known by the way they fed their own as well as the unbelievers. Jesus fed the multitudes not so that they would come to him for bread, but so that they would come to him to receive Himself. We who are sinners have received Jesus and His grace before we deserved it. Now its time to give to the multitudes.

Steve Bradley

Posted: July 26, 2007 4:11 PM

Christianity has ALWAYS had an image problem, except for the few times and places in which it was the dominant social force. Paul referred to the "offense of the Cross" (meaning, I'm sure, something a bit different than we think of today), and the Jews of Paul's day said that "this sect is everywhere spoken against..." I was in college in the '60's, and I found it so even then, and I have spent much of my recent life in the business world. Same thing. Christianity will always be an offense to many people, just because of its doctrines. So what? We are still stuck with the fact that we must go forth...bearing His reproach. We should, of course, seek to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men with good works, but even that will not suffice. Since there is a personal Devil, and he doesn't want people to believe, he will always seek to convince men not to listen. Therefore we must be even more determined to offer our message to the world in convincing ways.

Jerry R

Posted: July 26, 2007 4:09 PM


"My being a Christian means I am a member of a brotherhood of sinners." According to my Bible, it means I am a member of a brotherhood of saints (1 Cor. 6:2,9-11; 14:33; Heb. 2:11; 1 John 3:1-10).

Paul Goddard

Posted: July 26, 2007 3:46 PM


Novel idea. I knew some other 20-somethings who felt the same way. Called themselves Jesus People. C. S. Lewis wrote about the sin of idealism. The church is not what it should be, ergo God has failed to keep his people in check. Ouch. Who can throw a rock at that one? Yet grace covers even that one. Wow.

Ian Spence

Posted: July 26, 2007 3:18 PM

No, I disagree with the suggestion that the church is grotesque... "a scandal to anyone with moral sensibilities." Only someone from a decadent western Christianity could suggest such a thing! Whatever happened to the church that turned the world upside down? Whatever happened to the idea of Christianity as the counter culture? Yes, the church needs to make room for the disfunctional, and yes, we still mess up and fail, but if we are not being changed over time from one degree of glory to another, what then does that say of the Spirit's work within us. Ian

R. Larry Shelton

Posted: July 26, 2007 2:58 PM

Galli's comments and many of these responses concern me deeply. Kinnaman's point, as well as others such as Dan Kimball's "They Like Christ, But Not The Church" are not easy "cop-outs." Their concern that the behaviors of Christians and the church are often serious obstacles to non-believers is right on. Patrick's comments on Romans passages are on target. It is Christians who are the gospel that the world reads. Today's ESPN discussion of the scandals in professional sports (dog-fighting, doping, etc.) aren't calling for "grace" to excuse bad behavior. Neither should Christians. A huge percentage of the remaining Native Americans overtly reject the "Christian" label because of they way Christians treated them. The exclusive reliance on Christ's atonement as paying our penalty has led evangelicals to minimize the transformational expectations, as I note in my "Cross and Covenant:Interpreting the Atonement for 21st Century Mission" (Paternoster, 2006). Grace is a gift, not an excuse.

t...	Posted: July 26, 2007 2:44 PM

If we are misreable in the church, and self-righteous, and, sadly proud, then its because we are not "truly righteous," because we have not aligned ourselves, firmly, with Jesus. Jesus is like a splint to a broken limb, pulling us straight into a healing position.The resulting correction should lead to our joy and assurance that we are in fact "right" when we make moral assessments. We have to know that when we awake out of a darkness of self-righeousness and misery, we are shined upon by the happy and joyful grace of God. This means that when we are alive in Christ we don't become judgemental but do in fact make correct assessments of what is godly. We have, alongside Jesus, a real righteousness, through his accompanying Spirit. Through God we've become upright and sound in his constant presence: We have healing with His help in the school of prayer, with his dispensing grace into our lives. This should not make us false but should make us open to making new disciples out of sinners.

Kevin

Posted: July 26, 2007 2:32 PM

We can surely never expect the Church to be sinless and non-offensive, for we are all (even the best of us) fallen and those around us are quick to point out our fallenness. Yet we must do all we can to ensure that the only offense we give to those who are not yet believers is the scandal of the cross-- the offense of grace. Interestingly, it's also the means Jesus uses to draw them to himself. As a Church and as followers of Jesus, we must do all we can to honor the name "Christian" and redeem it's use. "Christian" should be synonymous with "grace."

Raymond Takashi Swenson

Posted: July 26, 2007 1:48 PM

Anyone who lacks simple compassion for an innocent man who was crucified probably lacks experience of any suffering in his or her own life. If you can't feel sympathy for Jesus of Nazareth, how can you have the capacity to feel sympathy for those who are merely jobless or hungry or really "sick"? When Christ promised that "those who mourn" will be "blessed", I believe he was identifying those who had sufficient compassion and charity that they would mourn with and for others in general, and over the suffering of Christ in particular. It is necessary to imagine ourselves at the foot of the cross with Mary and John and feel the agony of Jesus and his disciples before we can truly comprehend both his love for us and the greatness of the comfort we should feel at the news of his resurrection and the promise that we will personally receive that gift, the assurance that all of the suffering of physical life will be swallowed up and diluted in the glory of our own eternal life.

Page: 1 2

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment