The Perfect Collision
Bringing diverse leaders together for Whiteboard showed me something about the church landscape in America: There's such a huge chasm in ministry between those who advocate the holiness of God and those who advocate the grace of God.
Yeah, the 'gracers' often get lax in how they approach God. Sermon series are less biblical exegesis and more exegesis of Desperate Housewives in the name of Athenian apologetics. Worship leaders seem more interested in grooming their Euro rock mullets than their own hearts.
But the 'holiers' have to cover-up God's grace in their own lives to make their point about his holiness. They cry foul at the grace-focused church, angry that they would dare make God so accessible. Let me just say, if you're in ministry, and your find yourself seething at the grace of God others are enjoying, it's time to hang up your hat.
If we truly understood the Gospel, we'd look at the cross and see the perfect collision of grace and holiness. The righteous wrath of God satisfied by his unconditional grace.
And then maybe instead of approaching God with defiant anthems from the Top 40 chart, we might fall on our faces. And then maybe instead of verbally whipping ourselves and others for sinfulness, we might celebrate that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Wow.. way to make us do a quick self-check. It's hard to balance the appropriateness of awe and respect for God with the youthful joy of grace. Thought provoking... THANKS!
Posted by: Abby | June 05, 2008 at 09:55 AM
This is good stuff. I grew up in a holliness tradition which for various reasons I ran away from to embrace complete grace. Now after many years I am learning what it is to live in the middle.
Thanks for sharing this!
Posted by: Dustin Ahkuoi | June 05, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Ben,
This is by far the best post you've written. well played sir!
Posted by: chris barras | June 05, 2008 at 01:38 PM
If we truly understood the Gospel, we'd look at the cross and see the perfect collision of grace and holiness. The righteous wrath of God satisfied by his unconditional grace.
This is one of the best paragraphs you've ever written. Seriously, what a great summation of Romans 3:23-25.
Posted by: Subversive Pastor | June 05, 2008 at 02:22 PM
rock on. thanks for the comments.
Posted by: Ben Arment | June 05, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Ben, see what great community is built through "comments"? (HA! - JK) Just wanted to echo what has been said - GREAT post.
Posted by: Terrace Crawford | June 05, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Ben,
WhiteBoard was great! It was nice meeting you too! These are rocking comments. Don't know if you saw this too, but Vince wrote about the same kinda thing on his blog too!
http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2008/06/my-rant-and-plea.html
Take care and don't get too southern man! :-)
Posted by: Richie Merritt | June 06, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Wow, in a few short words, you summarized the problem AND provided a solution - look at the cross. Why is it we have such a hard time doing that?
Posted by: Jason Ebeling | June 09, 2008 at 04:41 PM