Fighting God
(Thoughts on "HYPER-GRACE")
I've been thinking about grace lately. What got me thinking about it is a number of articles I've read regarding the grace issue, which has become a controversy in certain quarters. The last article I read was so absent the spirit of Christ...so absent, "others will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:35)..I stopped reading in mid-sentence.
I normally don't weigh in on such in-fighting but as I read two disturbing thoughts gnawed at me.
The first is the use of the term "hyper-grace" in a demeaning, belittling, marginalizing tone. It brought to mind 35+ years ago when another movement was berated with the term "hyper-faith"...as if too much faith in God was somehow evil. (Full disclosure here...part of my mentoring occurred then.)
Eventually, in my view, the constant demeaning wore down many...if not most...so that today that movement's impact is all but dead in the larger church and community. In many churches birthed or with leaders prepared then there is a feel of embarrassment as they distance themselves from that move and from certain truths of God it taught.
Were there excesses, errors and mistakes? Absolutely...but a cursory reading of the New Testament shows such has occurred since the birth of the church. (Hello Corinthians.)
Today? In churches once part of that move there is a striking ignorance regarding the truths it offered and the next generation is fortunate if it finds a slightly worn path left by the previous generation because the trail they should have blazed reverted back to overgrown, unexplored jungle. (May Father forgive us...if that's not too much grace to ask.)
The second, comes from a statement a friend made years ago. "The biggest opponents of and hindrances to the next move of God are usually those who led the last move of God."
That thought disturbs me deeply as I am reminded of the words of Gamaliel when the religious guard of his day opposed the next move of God. "...I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, (we) will not be able to overthrow them; or else (WE) MAY EVEN BE FOUND FIGHTING AGAINST GOD." (Ac 5:38-39)
Ruth and Billy Graham were said to be friends of the man then in charge of counterfeit enforcement for Scotland Yard.
While visiting him Ruth commented, "You must spend hours studying counterfeit currency."
"No Ruth," he replied, "I never study counterfeits."
A surprised Ruth asked, "Then how do you detect counterfeit currency?"
"I study the real thing and I always know the counterfeit."
The Lord once whispered something to me that I personalized and try to live by..."If, after spending time with me, someone is better able to recite the things I am against than the truth I believe I have failed Him Who called me and Whose I am, and betrayed His Gospel (good news) message."
Instead of wasting precious time on things thought counterfeit the church and the world would be better served, I think, if we invest our lives studying, teaching and writing "the real thing" lest we find ourselves "fighting God."
A MannMuse.
Blessings,
Michael M
Reply to: MannMuses@aol.com
PS...another Father-whisper...while reading Revelation 12 in which the enemy is referred to as the "accuser of God's people" I heard, "Michael, the moment you begin accusing My people you have ceased My work and begun My enemy's."
