Is it possible for us in the church to show too much grace to unbelievers? If we allow people with obvious and obviously ‘bad’ sin into our lives and into our churches, are we not in some way condoning their sin and becoming accomplice to it? Is this showing too much grace, a threshold from which we should draw away?
Someone from a Roman Catholic background asked me a few weeks ago if our church believes in ‘mortal sin’, in sin of such severity that it would keep one out of heaven. I told her absolutely – that every sin is sufficient to keep us out of heaven. That is why we all need Christ. But I told her that we do NOT (or should not) keep an hierarchy of sin. Pride and greed rank right up there with adultery and theft. We all are guilty, we all are living in sin, we all need the grace of Christ.
So, as those needing grace, can we inadvertently show so much grace to a sinner that we somehow encourage him in his sin? Can we show too much grace?
Did Jesus show too much grace? He was known as a friend of sinners. I don’t believe he came to have such a reputation by being quick to condemn. Our model is one who let a prostitute’s tears fall on his feet. He allowed her to wipe them dry with her let-down hair, to the consternation of those who would have treated her otherwise.
Do we tend to be more like Jesus or more like the Pharisee in that story? Can we really show too much grace?
Why would we limit the grace we would show? Are we afraid that people will not know they are sinners if we somehow befriend them as they are? Do we imagine that it is our job to make sure they feel the condemnation of sin, and must hear it from us? Do we somehow think it is OUR responsibility to change them?
Where did we get such notions?
Too much grace? I say, let’s give it a try. Let’s see what happens when we show people too much grace. Let’s see what happens if we just love people and keep our judgmental mouths shut. Let’s see what happens.
I rather think that if grace breaks out among us, it will not be greater sin that results, but something far more wonderful.
Mine’s on order. (I’m captivated by the highly creative title.)
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