Striving For a Balance Between Law and Grace

 

Recently I posted something on Facebook regarding the serious nature of sin, stressing the importance of not watering it down or using grace as an excuse to continue in habitual sin. As expected, I got different responses. Though most agreed, some assumed my motives and implied that it was unkind to discuss such a “negative” subject. Unkind? Is it really unkind to say that sin is evil in God’s sight, that it has severe penalties, and that we should not trivialize it, when millions of people around the world are suffering severely from the detrimental effects of sin (e.g., drug and alcohol addictions, physical and sexual abuse, selfishness, greed, robbery, hatred, murder, war, fraud, deception, injustice, oppression, sexual perversions, abortion, rape, human trafficking, gender confusion, etc.)? Should we view sin with indifference, treat it lightly, encourage it by our passive silence, or worse, justify and defend it? We just need to turn on the TV or look on the internet to see the devastating effects of sin in our world. Additionally, is it unloving to warn people that their sin will lead to physical as well as eternal death if they do not repent? Is this not rather demonstrating love and mercy toward them? Or is it unkind to inform people about the destructive nature of sin so they can be set free from it? How could I be indifferent to lost souls as they head down a suicidal path toward eternal destruction and not try to warn them? I admit, it would be much easier for me to not get involved and just remain silent, and thereby avoid any controversy. But I think that would be rather selfish of me, and it would not demonstrate Christ’s love if I knew people were in extreme danger, and yet I did not care enough about them to warn them, because either I wanted to avoid conflict or I feared rejection. No, my conscience would not allow me to do that. Could yours?

 

Sadly, many are swayed by a very old and baseless argument that we should not discuss sin (and its eternal consequences), because it is “mean” or negative. Hopefully, I have demonstrated that this is not the case at all and that, in fact, it is quite the opposite. Unfortunately, though, this liberal trend, which is not founded on Scripture, is gaining more and more acceptance in the Church today, influencing its approach toward evangelism, preaching, and instruction. Even if someone is allowed to discuss sin today, he is often told to just stick to generalities and only define sin in very broad terms. The problem with this is that without clearly and specifically defining sin, people may not recognize something as sin and ignorantly continue in that behavior. This is especially a concern in our post-Christian society, in which Biblical literacy is at an all-time low, and very few are familiar with even the basics of God’s Word, including its Biblical principles and laws. Unlike in the past, we can no longer assume that unbelievers today, especially among younger generations, know what sin is. Thus, we need to get back to the basics and define what sin is – very specifically – even though this is contrary to what our culture teaches. Yes, of course, we all should know the basics of right and wrong which God has written on our hearts. However, our consciences, if not rightly informed by God’s truth but instead conditioned by years of godless indoctrination (via our educational system, media, entertainment, etc.), can become seared and not function properly.

 

The moral underpinnings upon which our country was originally founded are quickly crumbling. And we are witnessing the horrifying effects of abandoning God’s moral absolutes and instead embracing antinomian philosophies. While evil pervades our society at every level, myriads of people today do not even know the basics of right and wrong or how to distinguish between good and evil, largely due to the destructive influences of moral relativism, evolutionary and atheistic dogma, religious pluralism, and liberal theology; the lack of moral instruction and role modeling in the home; the watering down of God’s Word in the Church, etc. Amazingly, many do not even acknowledge that there is such a thing as right and wrong or true and false. We are raising a generation of youth whose minds have been reprogrammed and inculcated from the youngest age with extreme leftist ideology and whose consciences have been severely desensitized, if not completely disabled. Evidencing this radical shift in thinking, the modern trend is not directed toward “immorality,” as bad as that is, but even worse than that – toward “amorality,” a mindset that lacks moral sensibility or a sense of right and wrong and which is strongly bent on totally eradicating any moral accountability. Ironically, the only thing that seems to be considered wrong today is to hold to a concept of right and wrong, a view often labeled as “intolerance.”

 

Though all this “progressive” dogma is lauded by the academic elite and the politically correct, common sense recognizes that no society founded on such absurdity can survive long. For how can any laws be established if there are no moral absolutes and everyone’s definition of right and wrong differs, or worse, no one even believes that there is such a thing as right and wrong. And if no laws can be established, what will prevent crime from continuing to escalate until it is completely out of control and results in total mayhem? And then how can social order and stability be maintained? As we can see, the inevitable consequence of rejecting God’s law is quite devastating. It leads to moral confusion, chaos and disorder, anarchy, and ultimately, the demise of a society. Does this sound familiar? We’re witnessing this happen right now in our own nation.

 

Unquestionably then, it is critical that we return to clearly defining what is right and wrong, based on God’s moral standards (i.e., His law). Without this, not only will the gospel not make any sense to the spiritually lost, but also the whole moral fabric of society will eventually collapse. So, instead of defining sin broadly (e.g., using the general categories of murder, sexual sin, etc.), we need to be very specific in our descriptions and explanations. For example, a definition of murder needs to include not only murder itself, but also abortion, euthanasia, suicide, hatred, unrighteous anger, malicious intent, etc. And if we just say that we should not commit sexual immorality today (unlike in the past), some may not realize the breadth of what that sin includes. Like many of the young women I taught years ago in a prison ministry, they may think it just means extreme things like rape. They may not realize that it also includes premarital sex, adultery, homosexuality, bisexuality, incest, pedophilia, bestiality, transvestitism, pornography, immodest dress, seductive behavior, and lust.

 

As Spurgeon emphasized, we need to pierce peoples’ hearts with the sword of God’s law (using very specific examples and personal applications), to convict lost souls of their sin, before they will recognize their need for the only remedy - Christ. Walter Chantry in his concise, but excellent book, Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic, concurs with this: “God’s law is an essential ingredient of Gospel preaching, for ‘by the law is the knowledge of sin’ (Rom. 3;20). The absence of God’s holy law from modern preaching is perhaps as responsible as any other factor for the evangelistic impotence of our churches and missions…Our Savior used the law as a primary tool of evangelism. He knew that preaching the Ten Commandments was the only way to teach a sinner his guilt and thereby stir within him a desire for God’s grace.”  Ah, but we are told that if we use the law in our evangelism and get too precise in our definitions by providing specific examples of sin (e.g., saying homosexuality, pornography, or lust instead of using the broader term sexual immorality), this might prove to be too convicting, challenging, and quite frankly, a little too personal for most people. This, in turn, could be perceived as judgmental, legalistic, or offensive. (Ironically, the greatest sin today seems to be offending man rather than offending God!) In response to this, Chantry replies, “Present-day preaching only pays lip service to the concept that a man must recognize himself to be a sinner before he can genuinely embrace the Saviour. The average witnessing booklet insists on the question, ‘Do you believe that all men are sinners?’ If there is any hesitation, you establish the point with, ‘For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God’ (Rom. 3:23). But no definition of sin is included. There is scarcely a man alive, including the most hardened sinner who will deny this broad statement. Anyone would answer, ‘Of course I am less holy than God. No one is perfect’…But such is hardly an acknowledgment of sin.”

 

How very different our modern attitude toward God’s law is to that of the Puritans, who feared God more than man and did not compromise His truth by watering it down. In other words, they did not neglect to define sin and convict souls by wielding the sword of God’s law in order to make the message more palatable or appealing to the worldly mindset. On the contrary, they made a point of delineating sin by using very detailed descriptions, specific examples, and clear illustrations to help people first identify and then mortify their sins, by way of practical use or personal application (sadly, a relatively unknown concept today). Fast forward to today and note the extreme contrast in modern evangelicalism. Unlike the Puritans, most of today’s preachers (if that term is not too offensive and can still be used!) not only define sin very vaguely or broadly, but many just gloss over it or avoid the subject altogether, because it is too convicting and from fear that it might drive people away. When was the last time you heard a pastor or teacher who had enough courage to preach or teach on the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, (an excellent exposition of God’s holy law), or God forbid – eternal judgment (i.e., hell)? Thankfully, men like John MacArthur, Steve Lawson, and Paul Washer have done this. Sadly, though, the vast majority of pulpits today remain silent on these issues, ostensibly in defense of grace or because pastors fear that this might offend people (e.g., be perceived as legalism) or injure their self-esteem by making them feel bad about themselves. But isn’t that precisely God’s intent - to show us our sin so that we will be humbled and seek His mercy and forgiveness? And the means God has chosen for that is through the mirror of His law, “for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20). In order to be saved, we need to first see our sin and be humbled and convicted by it. This is paramount and critical to comprehending and accepting the gospel. And how can we possibly appreciate the gospel – the heart of which is God’s grace shown toward undeserving sinners - or see our desperate need for a savior if we do not feel the weight and burden of our sin? And how can we know how grievous our sin is unless God’s law is expounded in a very clear and direct way? I feel like we are back in the days of the Old Testament, when Israel, in a state of apostasy, repeatedly told the prophets of God to just speak smooth and soft words to them in order to tickle their ears and make them feel good about themselves, instead of confronting them with their sin and pleading with them to repent and turn back to God. Is it any different today?

 

So, back to my original point. What is my response to those who say that discussing sin is harsh or unloving? Quite the contrary! Just as a good doctor will be honest with his patients and warn them that they have a terminal disease which will kill them unless they take the remedy, so should believers warn the lost about a worse terminal disease called sin that will destroy them physically and spiritually if they do not seek the only remedy - Christ. Far from being harsh or unkind, it is the most loving and merciful thing to inform someone about their soul’s lost condition by explaining how destructive and serious sin and its consequences are.

 

Continuing, yet another groundless argument opposing honest discussions or “straight talk” on sin (and the law) is that this will supposedly not demonstrate the love and grace of God, and thus not glorify Him. Chantry gets to the real source of this false allegation – Satan.  “Satan has effectively used a very clever device to silence the law which is needed as an instrument to bring perishing men to Christ. He has suggested that the law and love are irreconcilable enemies; they are opposites. If they are in conflict, men will obviously choose love and spurn law; for no one would dare to despise love. Thus, the Wicked One has declared that love is independent of the law and contrary to it. Precisely the opposite is declared by Holy Scripture. Law and love are mutually affinitive.”

 

Furthermore, just as a black cloth or backdrop placed under a diamond greatly magnifies its brilliance, so the stark contrast of our black hearts (i.e., our depravity) to God’s amazing forgiveness magnifies God’s grace!  In other words, the more we recognize how sinful we are (made possible by the Holy Spirit’s convicting us through bold preaching on sin and the law), the more precious God’s grace will be to us. Using an analogy, if we think we just have a minor cut, we will only see our need for a bandage and feel minimal appreciation for the person who supplies it. However, if we realize that we have a fatal wound, we will not only see our desperate need for surgery and seek it, but we will also have a far greater appreciation for the doctor who heals us. In applying this principle spiritually, how do we see our fatal wound (i.e., sin’s destructive consequences) spiritually? As Scripture informs us, we need the law to show us our sin (Rom. 3:20). In support of this, Chantry remarks, “It is essential to declare the commandments in order to show the sinner his heart of hatred toward God and enmity toward men. Only then will he flee to the grace of God in Jesus Christ to provide him with righteousness and love. Men are not turning to Christ because they have no sense of sinning against the Lord. They are not convicted of sin because they don’t know what sin is. They have no concept of sin because the law is not being preached. You cannot improvise a hasty sop, ‘All men have sinned.’ You must dwell on the subject at length. Exposit the Ten Commandments until men are slain thereby (Rom. 7:11). When you see that men have been wounded by the law, then it is time to pour in the balm of Gospel oil. It is the sharp needle of the law that makes way for the scarlet thread of the Gospel (Samuel Bolton).”

 

Put simply, if we truly see how black our hearts are and know that we are headed toward eternal judgment if we don’t repent, we will not only ask, but also BEG for spiritual surgery on our hearts, and we will be forever grateful to Christ for saving us from eternal death. How could someone who thinks he is pretty good or does not truly recognize how sinful he is possibly see his need for a savior? And how could he really appreciate the grace of God? It is not possible. He needs to first see how “exceedingly” sinful he is (as the KJV puts it) and just how destitute his spiritual condition is before he will run to Christ for deliverance and be sincerely grateful for God’s immeasurable grace. To hide this truth (i.e., our total depravity and enslavement to sin) from someone then, which could save them from a Christless eternity, suffering unimaginable pain and misery, is neither merciful nor kind, but rather, the very opposite!       

 

So, to those who mistakenly think that my discussing the “taboo” or forbidden subject of sin and its consequences is unkind or negative, let me say, “Please do not judge me. You do not know my heart or my motives.” For those who know me, I strive, by God’s grace, to maintain a “balance.” What do I mean by that? Just as a good parent tries to balance justice with mercy (in imitation of God, our perfect heavenly Father), so I try, by God’s grace, to do the same.  (Of course, like every other believer, I’m not perfect and need God to help me maintain that balance, but that is at least my sincere desire and goal.)

More specifically, on one hand, I think we, as believers, should view sin seriously as very evil, destructive, and grievous (as God sees it), for quite frankly, sin is – undeniably so. On the other hand, I think we should revel in, be eternally grateful for, and broadcast to the world the abundant and matchless love and grace which God demonstrates toward those who put their trust in Him and repent of their sin.  To upset this balance and swing the pendulum either too far to the right toward legalism (by overemphasizing the law or human responsibility) or too far to the left toward antinomianism (by overemphasizing God’s grace or His sovereignty) is very harmful to both the Church and to those outside the Church, which is precisely the enemy’s design. Not only that, it paints a very distorted and imbalanced picture of who God is and how He wants us, as believers, to live for Him. If we seldom or never discuss sin, unbelievers will not be truly convicted or feel guilty (yes, guilty – another taboo word today) about their sin, they will not recognize their desperate need for a savior, and thus, they will not look to Christ for salvation. (By the way, “guilt” is not a bad thing, contrary to what secular psychology claims, but a good thing when used by the Holy Spirit to humble and convict us in order to bring us to Christ in true repentance.) Teaching on sin (by means of the law) also aids believers in their sanctification by showing them 1) God’s expectations for them; 2) His attributes (e.g., holiness, justice, mercy, wisdom, etc.), which they are to imitate; 3) their weaknesses and areas they need to improve in, by His grace; and 4) their inability to be holy in their own strength, thus humbling them and keeping them dependent on God.

 

So, now to balance things. I discussed sin – how grievous it is and how we should take it seriously in my last post. Now, I’d like to talk about God’s grace and also our need to show grace, as believers, when dealing with others, especially those who are lost. Let me begin by saying that when I spoke of sin in my earlier post, I was not speaking self-righteously, condescendingly, or haughtily with a finger pointing in condemnation at those who are still in bondage to sin, as if I saw myself as better or higher than them, sitting high up in my lofty tower. By no means!  I am certainly no stranger to sin, darkness, and spiritual enslavement – believe me. You can read my personal testimony on my Facebook page to find that out.  I was lost as anyone can possibly be, before God, in His mercy, dragged me up from the mire and filth of my own sin. To compound matters, I actually thought I was saved during this period of my life, even though I was steeped in sin, simply because I grew up in church and said the sinner’s prayer (following the dictates of modern evangelism), perhaps multiple times, even though I did not really have a true grasp of the gospel, but merely a shallow understanding of it. Like a “good” girl, I got baptized, attended services and Bible studies, and even served in the church. How very deceived I was, thinking that I was saved this whole time, because I had bought into the lie of easy-believism and cheap grace. Then, after years of living like the prodigal son – living for the world, cherishing a sinful lifestyle, and ignoring all of Gods’ warnings - God got a hold of me. Yes, He – not I – did the pursuing. He took the initiative and saved me – all by His grace! My contribution? Nothing but my sin! He regenerated me, all by His grace, and granted me the gifts of faith and repentance, by which I believed and came to Christ in true faith and repentance. Because I was so stubborn and stupid, He had to really humble me through very severe trials – even life-threatening ones – until I finally bowed the knee in humble submission to Him. He had to shatter my self-confidence (i.e., trusting in my own wisdom, achievements, abilities, so-called goodness, etc.) and bring me to the end of myself, revealing to me what I was really like, and crushing my pride. Thank God He did that! I am forever grateful for His saving a wretch like me. I did not deserve it at all. Like I said, He came looking for me, not the other way around. As Christ took the initiative with the Apostle Paul, when he was at his worst and not looking for Him at all, but, in fact, opposing Him, I was also not seeking the Lord at all. By His grace alone, He came and got me. So, all the glory goes to God and Him only!

 

So, when I look at others who, like I once was, are lost in spiritual darkness and in bondage to sin, my reaction is not to pounce on them and condemn them. Not at all. My first thought, if you could read my heart and mind, is to pity them. How could I not feel sorry for those who are blinded by Satan and enslaved to sin, which will ultimately destroy them? Yes, of course, I share the gospel with them, and I try not to mince words about the seriousness of sin and eternal judgment (out of love, so they will be saved, and not out of hatred or unkindness), contrary to the philosophy of modern evangelism, which waters down the gospel, robbing it of its power and making it ineffectual. And I try to show them the love of Christ, remembering how very merciful and longsuffering He was with me, when I, too, was spiritually lost and destitute. For many years now, I have tried to minister to those whom the world would consider “nobodies” or outcasts – the poor, weak, sick, disabled, immigrants, criminals, etc. And yes, I reach out to the homeless, as well, though many say I shouldn’t. I have witnessed the devastating and destructive effects of sin (e.g., usually substance abuse) in many of their lives, resulting in many severe mental disorders. My heart goes out to them, because I can empathize. Though I was never homeless, living on the streets, or addicted to drugs or alcohol, I spent much of my early childhood in poverty and living in crime-ridden neighborhoods, where drugs, alcohol, and violence were prevalent. Perhaps God, in His providence, had me grow up that way so that someday I could feel compassion toward those in similar circumstances. Those who despise what I do seem to imply that I should just let those “outcasts” of society “work out their karma,” if you will, implying they deserve their lot. “Afterall, it’s all their fault. They deserve what they get,” they say. True, I don’t deny that for many, it's their fault, and I don’t deny that they deserve the consequences of their sinful choices (e.g., drunkenness, drug addiction, etc.)  – just as we all do. And neither do I condone or try to excuse the sin of many of them (e.g., substance abuse, indolence, theft, etc.). But I thank God that He did not treat us that way when He looked down on us as we were wallowing in the mire of our own sin. Instead, despite our wretchedness, He stooped down and rescued us – all by His grace, and nothing more.

 

So, like the tax collector in the parable, who beat his breast in sorrow over his sin and couldn’t even look up at God, how could I possibly look down on those poor souls, who are lost in spiritual blindness and enslaved to their sin, when I, too, was once like them? I have said before and still say repeatedly, “But by the grace of God, there go I.” I truly believe that I am no better than any one of them. The only difference between them and me is the grace of God. That’s it! If not for God’s restraining grace in my life, I could easily have been in their same situation. And that goes for all of us – if we can truly come to grips with that and humble ourselves. If we were born into a Christian home and received a wholesome upbringing; if we worked hard, went to college, and got a good-paying job; if we are healthy and live a comfortable life in relative ease and safety; and if we avoided the pitfalls of drugs, alcohol, pornography, sexual sin, violence, theft, etc., is it because we were somehow better than those who were not given these same advantages we were given? Notice, I said “given”? Should we attribute these things to our own wisdom, goodness, or abilities? Or should we instead praise and thank God for granting us those blessings all by His grace? I have to admit, this is quite humbling. If we are saved, healthy, not poor, not on drugs, not addicted to alcohol, or not enslaved to any other sin, it is only by the grace of God. And any good we do is wholly attributable to God, and not ourselves. The only thing we can take credit for is - our SIN!

 

So, in summary, I think we, as believers, should try to live our lives in a way that reflects the balance that God shows us in His Word - between justice and mercy or law and grace. That is, I think we should be careful to avoid the extremes of either legalism or antinomianism, for both are injurious to the Church. And finally, I would like to encourage my fellow believers not to fear discussing sin and its serious consequences, because, contrary to what some erroneously claim, that is actually one of the most LOVING things you could possibly do for someone. Don’t believe the enemy’s lies and his distortion of God’s Word. Also, for those who are of the Reformed faith, such as I am, I would also like to encourage you not to fear discussing hard or controversial subjects like predestination, election, God’s sovereignty, providence, etc. (while also balancing this with man’s responsibility to believe and repent for justification and to cooperate with God in progressive sanctification), since these doctrines greatly magnify His grace by demonstrating that all – yes, ALL – of salvation, from start to finish, is by His grace and nothing we do. May the Lord richly bless you as you live for Christ and magnify His name by striving to maintain a balance for His glory!

 

Your sister in Christ,

Elizabeth