April 29, 2006 11:57 AM
Randy Alcorn on Grace and Truth
A Lesbian Responds to Grace & Truth
by Randy Alcorn
Some churches today embrace truth, but need a heavy dose of grace.
Other churches talk about grace, but cry out for a heavy dose of truth.
I invited an outspoken lesbian activist, who was also a prominent abortion activist, to lunch. For the first hour, she hammered me, telling of all the Christians who'd mistreated her. She seemed hard as nails. I listened, trying to show her God's grace, praying she'd see the Jesus she desperately needed. She raised her voice and cursed freely. People stared. But that was OK. Jesus went to the cross for her-the least I could do was listen.
Suddenly she was crying, sobbing, broken. I reached across the table and took her hand. For the next two hours I heard her story, her heartsickness, her doubts about the causes she championed. I told her about Christ's grace.
After four hours we walked out of that restaurant, side by side. We hugged.
In our conversation, truth wasn't shared at the expense of grace, or grace at the expense of truth.
Birds need two wings to fly. With only one wing, they're grounded. The gospel flies with the wings of grace and truth. Not one, but both.
The apparent conflict 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.
(Excerpt from The Grace & Truth Paradox by Randy Alcorn)
More from Randy:
Postscript on the lesbian activist: This woman was one of the most outspoken abortion and homosexual activists in our area. By God's grace, she came to faith in Christ. She now fellowships with the same Christians she used to despise. Her life has not been easy, but when I see her—the last time was when I did a book signing at Costco, to which she brought several family members—she hugs me and we talk about our Jesus. She is precious. I look forward to walking with her on God's New Earth. And I know there are countless others, as deserving as Hell and undeserving of grace as I, who will join us there.
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Randy, you may remember, is the man who acted as mediator in the End of the Spear controversy. I've met him a couple times and he is a wise and very humble person, who has sacrificed much for the pro-life movement. You can read more of Randy's wisdom in his many books or at his website Eternal Perspective Ministries
Posted in Church Issues, Inspiration, Religion | Permalink
Comments
Thanks for posting this Barbara. I think this is the balance that we often search for but so seldom seem to find.
I grew up in evangelical circles where truth was sacrificed to feeling. And I am now in a reformed church where subjective experience is marginalized. But truth is both propositional AND subjective.
Posted by: Cheryl | April 29, 2006 12:41 PM
Amen and amen! I have attended a church that was 100% truth and 0% grace - not a place in my life that I *ever* want to return to. It can be hard to find the right balance in our zeal for truth, but truth without grace also becomes truth without love, compassion, gentleness or patience.
Posted by: Amy | April 30, 2006 1:24 AM
Thank you for this post. I recently read a book by Randy Alcorn, whom I had previously never heard of. The book is called "Deadline". Upon reading it, I was challenged to really think about my own faith & how I live it out. Although this book is an easy fictional read, principles like the one you are talking about in this post are themes that make this book a good mirror. After reading more about Alcorn's life and ministry, and gaining insight through this one book, I look forward to reading more of his work. I am blessed by the challenges and grace that God presents in the most curious ways.
Posted by: kel | April 30, 2006 10:20 PM
I *loved* this quote: "Birds need two wings to fly. With only one wing, they're grounded. The gospel flies with the wings of grace and truth. Not one, but both."
I think of how many Christians I know who wouldn't consider eating lunch with a person like her (they'd use the excuse they were condoning her beliefs and behavior by breaking bread with her), or if they got past their own discomfort would have left once the cursing began. Yikes. The world needs more Randy Alcorns.
Posted by: mopsy | May 1, 2006 12:33 PM
