THE RISE OF THE GRACE EXTREMISTS
Posted by Mike Foster:
We simply don’t get it. We think we have grace all figured out. But we are wrong.
Our thoughts on grace are sub-par and screwed up. I think sometimes God may wonder what the heck are they doing down there?
We proudly pump up second, third and fourth chances around here. Maybe 70 x 7 if we get REALLY RADICAL! But God says billions upon billions. Again and again and again I forgive you…so do the same for each other.
But unfortunately our relationships are infected with the disease of incrementalism. A sprinkling of grace there…a pinch of mercy over here…partial forgiveness for that dude that screwed us. Revolution doesn’t happen through bringing the crumbs and the bits.
What the world desperately needs are grace extremists, not a community of incrementalists where our next door neighbors, co-workers, and enemies would barely notice.
And the results so far…well…they can only reflect what we truly believe. Perfectly mediocre…and lacking the supernatural.
I write this to Mike Foster. And maybe for you too. God forgive us for our smallness and timidity.
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We may never fully grasp the amazingness of God's amazing grace, but that doesn't mean we can't replicate our best version of it. Like you said though, we don't. Unfortunately extreme indeed.
You definitely wrote this to me too, Mike.
I am learning that my ability to give forgiveness, grace, mercy, love, and to have hope are directly tied to my view of God. Often that view is just want you said, mediocre and lacking the supernatural. Again I'm asking God to forgive me for continued unbelief about who he truly is and what he can and wants to do.
Perhaps we're more comfortable being incrementalists because we want to be wise too. We don't want to “enable ” people to pull us down through their weaknesses or sin. What we don't realize though, is just as God gives us the supernatural ability to forgive 70X7, He can give us the otherworldly wisdom to keep walking with that person.
I actually wrote a post on this Monday kind of dealing with the same thing…
we love to talk about grace, but we leave mercy at the door:
http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/mercy/
just saw someone mention the word “antinomianism” in the twitter stream…which is not even close to the context of what Mike is talking about here. Galatians 5 is pretty clear on the issue. If you are going that far, then you are missing the point. Stop cherry-picking when it comes to forgiveness…
great post kyle!
great thought colleen!
i like your term “best version of it” …even though we will fall short at least we are giving our very best in this area…
i totally believe if we truly understood who God is and how he sees us it would revolutionize our lives and our relationships with each other.
im all about polite rebellions and heartwarming anarchy
actually had to look up the word antinomianism 
hmmm.
I'm only beginning to get a glimpse of grace, having grown up under legalism. Sometimes it's scary to realize. But, thankfully, He hasn't given up on me. Now others…? Sadly, yes.
We don't really have a clue how grace works. We desire it. We ask for it. We preach about it. But when it comes to giving it…as you said, mediocre at best.
I'm so glad He sees everything, every nook and cranny of my heart, and still loves me…
i know…
it's a whole lot easier for me to go with my emotions and just “block”that person…i've learned that God doesn't cherry-pick who He forgives…
i think in terms of Psalms 103:12
“as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us”
to be frank, Mike…i've been that judgmental,legalistic, cynical guy at a time in my life…it's too easy to get on the bandwagon of issue-oriented faith…but then i started seeing the faith of my kids…and how simple it was…and realized all the junk i had added…
Personally I feel theological boxes can get us into trouble because they make God small. Last year I learned about concepts like this and Arminianism and Lordship Salvation for the first time, and after spending a great deal of time researching from different viewpoints I came to the conclusion that I want to know God and experience grace directly from him, not through someone's concepts about him. Antinomianism and other theological boxes can seek to divide us rather than bring us together in unity.
Love it.
Re-posted it.
Keep up the great work guys!
I think we find it much easier to talk about grace in regards to other people. Yet, we fail to relegate ourselves the same latitude. It is that self condemnation that kills our faith, passions and potential. We beat ourselves up and are left thinking small, meager and pathetic.
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