Doing the Math

Greetings!

Jim has invited me here to do a post for the Refuge.   Thank you for this privilege, Jim.

Introduction

Being outside the realm of Sovereign Grace Ministries, but not outside its purview (Note 1.), I have, as have many of you, considered the math involved with Sovereign Grace Ministries.

The Sitting Room

“During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith.  They begin eliminating possibilities.  Incarnation?  Other religions had different versions of gods appearing in human form.  Resurrection?  Again, other religions had accounts of return from the dead.  The debate went on for some time until C.S. Lewis wander into the room.  “What’s the rumpus about?” he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions.  Lewis responded, “Oh, that is easy.  It’s grace.” (Note 2.)

“I have been picking on Christians because I am one, and see no reason to pretend we are better that we are.  I fight the tentacular grip of un-grace in my own life.  I battle daily against pride, judgmentalism, and a feeling that I must somehow earn God’s approval.  (Note 3.)

“…the devil succeeds in laying his cuckoo eggs in a pious nest….The sulphurous stench of hell is as nothing compared with the evil odor emitted by divine grace gone putrid.”(Note 4.)

“Religious faith—for all its problems, despite its maddening tendency to replicate un-grace—lives on because we sense the numinous beauty of a gift undeserved that comes at an unexpected moment from Outside. Refusing to believe that our lives of guilt and shame lead to nothing but annihilation, we hope against hope for another place run by different rules.” (Note 5.)

Working On The Foundation God Has Set

“In this work, we work with God, and that means that you are a field under God’s cultivation, or, if you like, a house being built to HIS Plan.  I, like an architect who knows his job, by the grace God has given me, lay the foundation, someone else builds upon it.  I say only this, let the builder be careful how he builds!  The Foundation is laid already, and no one can lay another, for it is Jesus Christ Himself.

But any man who builds on the Foundation using as his material gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or stubble, must know that each man’s work will one day be shown for what it is.  The Day will show it plainly enough, for the Day will arise in a blaze of fire, and that fire will prove the nature of each man’s work.  If the work that a man has built upon the Foundation will stand this test, he will be rewarded.  But if a man’s work be destroyed under the test, he loses it all.  He personally will be safe, though rather like a man rescued from a fire.”

–The Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, about the year, 57 A.D.; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 (Note 6.)

Set to Music

“It’s been so long since You felt like you were loved –So what went wrong –But do you know There’s a place where you belong –“Here in My Arms”, Yea!—When you feel like you’re alone in your sadness -It seems like no one else in this whole world cares–And you want to get away from the madness–You just call My name and I’ll be there–You just call My name and I’ll be there…”  –“…Never doubt, the love I have for you, is so alive…”  (Note 7.)

…You just call Jesus’ name and He’ll be there…

Notes:

1. Webster’s. The range or limit of authority, competence, responsibility, concern, or intention.  The range of vision, understanding, or cognizance.

2. Lewis. Cited in Scott Hoezee, The Riddle of Grace, Grand Rapids: Erdmans, 1996, p.42.

3. Yancy. Philip Yancy, What’s So Amazing About Grace? Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997, pg.33

4. Thielicke. Helmut Thielicke, The Waiting Father. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1959, p.133.

5. Yancy. Philip Yancy, What’s So Amazing About Grace? Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997, pg.40

6. Phillips. J.B. Phillips, Letters To Young Churches, New York: Macmillian, 1957, p.41

7. Third Day, “Call My Name”