Discipleship Encouragement and Correction
Of Grace, or “Yes, God’s Children May Own a Prius.”
When we associate God’s grace in our lives as something that distinguishes us from others, that is not grace. That is prejudice. There is no true, Biblical distinction between men; not if we are in Christ Jesus and truly saved by His blood. Don’t you recall reading ‘for all have sinned, and God is no respecter of men?’ Is God’s house divided? Rooms may be shared by those of common belief and culture, but Christ’s shelter is for all of God’s elect.
The Bride of Christ is one. This is true no matter how appalling the difference may seem among us theologically, politically, educationally and culturally as I travel the King’s Highway. If Christ is preached and glorified, I should be compelled to embrace; not to move away. The fact I’m uncomfortable in a new environment and around people who are strange to me doesn’t mean that God’s Spirit in Christ is not there. I should not readily take my discomfort as His Spirit’s telling me to leave. Now, if it is clearly evident that Christ is not there, then, yes, run for the dickens. I’ve done so. However, the fact I may hear or see things in worship that are unfamiliar does not make them wrong. Grace commends me to ask myself, ‘Lord, help me understand. I trust you Lord. I’m here for Your sovereign reason.’
In sum, the Christian’s walk may begin with great diversity in its origin; e.g., place of rebirth, ethnicity, education, and so on, but we share a common end: eternity with our Lord and Savior in heaven. Now, grace may take us there by bicycle, rickshaw, tractor, Audi, Chevy, and yes, even Prius (for those who believe certain cultural and political leanings are vested in what a person drives — combined with the bumper stickers, of course.) The point is; as we meet along the way, if our Gospel is Christ Jesus who was crucified for our sins, remember that no one will arrive until they have departed this world, and while here, it will be by God’s grace and promise to bring to completion what He began in us.
