There is a classic Action/Consequence sermon which I grew up
hearing and often hear today. The pastor
usually begins with a self-deprecating story, making a point to let us know he
is not perfect. Whatever character flaw
is involved in the tale will be the theme of the sermon. After we have all laughed and identified with
how impatient, unloving or ungrateful he is, he proceeds to tell us that God really
wants and expects us to be patient or loving or grateful, etc., and then gives
us practical tips on how we can become better.
Finally, we are encouraged to have faith that one day we will possess these
lacking traits. We are advised not to
become discouraged and exhorted to keep hoping and trusting as we strive to
obey.
When I was young and heard this sermon, I recognized my lack
of the chosen virtue and took to heart the challenge to try and be better. When my efforts met with a measure of success,
I patted myself on the back. When I failed,
I admonished myself to have faith and I tried harder.
As I grew a little older and heard this sermon, I
acknowledged my continued lack of whatever the virtue of the week was, vowed to
try again and began to suspect that I might be a particularly hard nut to crack.
I worried that God was disappointed in my
lack of progress.
Later, I grew a bit more cynical about the sermon. I would imagine asking, ‘How’s that working
out for you, Pastor? You’re getting up in age and you’re telling
us you aren’t better yet, but you’re full of advice on what to do about
it. Don’t you see that as a
problem?’ But, still, I felt guilty and
tried to step up my game.
Finally, I learned about grace. I learned that the Good News isn’t about my
being “well mannered” or “nice”. In
fact, it isn’t about what I do at all.
When the focus is on me and what I do, it is always Bad News. The Good News is always and only about what
God did for me by sending Jesus to perfectly fulfill every virtue on my behalf,
and to take the punishment for every instance of my failure to be patient,
loving, grateful, etc.
I learned that ‘having faith’, doesn’t mean faith that I
will one day become a better person. It
means having faith in Christ’s blood which washed away the very real condemnation
for all of my imperfect conduct. I
discovered to my relief that my ‘hope’ is not based on my progress, but on what
Christ accomplished once and for all at the cross and credited to my
account. I learned that ‘trusting’ means
being able to count on God’s acceptance of me because of Jesus’ obedience, not
my own. Jesus was the only one who truly
trusted and obeyed.
It is grace, not guilt, which motivates me. I am still far from perfect and in constant
need of a savior; but, it is that very realization, of how much grace has been
and is being given to me daily, which prompts in me a desire to extend that
same grace to others. And, when I do manage
to respond out of grace instead of reacting with selfishness, I am well aware
that I have nothing for which to pat myself on the back, because the ability to
respond in that manner is also a gift.
Now when I hear that sermon, I want to shout the good news
to both the pastor and the congregation: ‘It’s okay, God isn’t disappointed in
you; because everything God wanted us to be Jesus already was!’
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