S is for Specifically

As believers ourselves, but especially as witnesses and teachers to others, we need always to include the grace note in the gospel's melody, the specific disclaimer "not by works," "not by our deserving," "not from us but only from God's steadfast love." For only through this recognition that Easter is a gift to faith does the Spirit resuscitate our joy and confidence that we are loved by God for sure, despite anything and everything, and will be saved. But too easily we could take this gift as a cheap grace, a bargain gospel, a remaindered edition of God's pity. So in our faith, witness and preaching we must keep specifically, as "of first importance" that this saving grace comes in one place, the crucified and risen Body. (Is that too "narrow" of God; not gracious enough--to our way of thinking? Perish the thought!)

For a message about the cross without specifying all the grace that comes to us thereby could make for a gloomy Christianity. On the other hand, lackluster Christianity could result from a message of grace without the cross, "We're lucky God is the forgiving type." But don't you think that a steady diet of specifically cross-rooted grace will nourish a Christianity that is both joyful and dedicated? (The kind that we hear about in the next story.)

tbcm