What's so amazing about grace?

In his blog "Stuff Christians Like" Jon Acuff had a great quote about blogging in a recent post. "When it comes to blogs, 80% perfect and published will always change more hearts than 100% perfect and stuck in your head."

Those words are quite true. In fact, today I am following his advice and writing about what has been 'stuck in my head' for a while. (Even though it may not yet even be to the 80% perfect stage)

In a previous post I mentioned how I've been thinking a lot about arrogance vs. humility in the Christian life. This topic has still been on my mind often. Here I present to you some of my thoughts on the subject and would be interested to hear your responses.

It will come as no surprise to any of you to hear that within the realm of Christianity there are a broad range of opinions about how one should live his or her life. (Just to be clear on terms, when I refer to 'Christians/Christianty' I mean those people who profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin. Those who hold that forgiveness and eternity in heaven can be attained through Christ's work on the cross alone and not from any good works or rules) That being said, there is one thing that many Christians often have in common (beyond trusting in Christ for salvation). Sadly, this one thing is arrogance.

To illustrate, I am going to compare two different sides of the realm of Christianity.

Some Christians fall on the side of "Legalism". While they do trust in Christ, they also believe that in order to be a good Christian one must dress a certain way, act a certain way, follow a specific set of rules, use a certain version of the Bible, etc. And often, they can look down their noses at others who do not believe as they do about these things.

However, others of us fall on the side of "Grace". We believe strongly in God's sovereignty, election, and the freedom to live by grace without being trapped by a list of rules. And we look down our noses at those "legalists" and think, 'How can they be so blind to the freedom that we have to live and serve without fear?' 'Why do they think they're so much better because they do such-and-such?"

And those on both sides of the equation puff up with pride thinking that they have somehow arrived and are pleasing God by the way they live more than those 'poor Christians' who have not yet figured out what it means to walk in newness of life.

How arrogant. How sad. How true.

What is the answer? I have been driven to tears of frustration over this and have more than once marvelled that God so patiently puts up with His squabbling children.

That is what is so amazing about grace; the fact that God chooses to forgive and save any of us. The fact that I will spend eternity in heaven with that brother or sister in Christ who I thought was so wrong about 'such-and-such standard'. When it comes down to it, none of us will be in heaven because of the way we lived, how we dressed, or how much we understood theology. We'll be there because God, in His mercy, offered us forgiveness and chose to make us His children.

We are left with no choice but to be humble.

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit." Titus 3:5

"But avoid foolish controversies, geneologies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless." Titus 3:9

"For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord." Ephesians 5:8-10