A little theological musing on grace
Mar. 27th, 2004 08:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
owlIt being communion season and the run up to Easter, I was thinking about forgiveness and grace. There isn't a lot of grace in the world; all you get is mathematically exact quid pro quo and an ethic of 'get what you can grab'.
Grace by its very meaning is undeserved. It's the extra, the surprise that makes you laugh out loud for joy. God's grace is His saying, 'I'm not going to leave you to wallow in the mess of your own sins; I'm going to rescue you, to forgive you, no matter what the cost.'
Grace is costly for the giver, not for the recipient. It hurts to forgive someone; it hurt God to forgive us. I've met people saying, 'But it's not fair that people should be let off punishment for doing bad things! It's not fair that they should absolved of responsibilty!'
No, it's not fair. But I'd infinitely rather have it than the alternative. We're none of elder brothers; we're all prodigals. I deserve justice; I hope for mercy and pray for grace.
Grace by its very meaning is undeserved. It's the extra, the surprise that makes you laugh out loud for joy. God's grace is His saying, 'I'm not going to leave you to wallow in the mess of your own sins; I'm going to rescue you, to forgive you, no matter what the cost.'
Grace is costly for the giver, not for the recipient. It hurts to forgive someone; it hurt God to forgive us. I've met people saying, 'But it's not fair that people should be let off punishment for doing bad things! It's not fair that they should absolved of responsibilty!'
No, it's not fair. But I'd infinitely rather have it than the alternative. We're none of elder brothers; we're all prodigals. I deserve justice; I hope for mercy and pray for grace.
