The Scandal of Christianity

While examples of such Christians exist, they are nevertheless the exception, not the rule. Furthermore, when we Christians act in such a manor we are acting out of character with our faith and are indeed poor representatives of Christianity. But true Christianity is scandalous to human sensitivities for a much more significant reason. I am referring to the scandal of grace.

Now grace is an agreeable enough word that has pleasant connotations. But grace is not mere niceness. It is unmerited unearned favor. When we give someone a gift it is an act of grace. They did not earn it nor did they pay for it. In fact, if they even suggested such a thing it would be an insult to the giver. So where is the rub?

The New Testament teaches that anyone who would have a relationship with God must obtain it by grace, that is, by God's unmerited freely given favor. Grace means that Christians do not contribute to their privileged position as children of God; we are not favored because we are better! Grace means that we are utterly dependent upon God; we are not independent! Grace means that we are needy; we are not self-sufficient. Grace is not a fair or just system because it means that God bestows His favor on people who do not deserve it!

Grace certainly attacks our dignity and pride but it is the "unfairness" of it that really rubs our sensibilities raw. It is scandalous that many comparatively good people who do not accept God's grace are left behind while many comparatively evil people who do accept His grace are guaranteed a place in heaven.

But grace is not about justice or fairness. Fairness is getting what we have earned, what we deserve. Grace is getting what we don't deserve.

The scandal of Christianity is that Christians are notbetter than anyone else and sometimes we are worse! When Christians explicitly or implicitly present themselves to the rest of society as betterthan others or "holier than thou" they are grossly misrepresenting the reason for their acceptability before God and the good news of Jesus Christ. Christians are merely partakers of God's grace. God has condescended to love a bunch of people who don't deserve it. But this is also what is most noble and charitable about Christianity; such grace is offered freely to all without distinction. Anyone who will may lay hold of the grace of God in Jesus Christ.