Grace

How much of History is interesting only because we can study someone else’s mistakes? Just think of all the books written about Napoleon’s ill-fated invasion of Russia. Or how about the gallant but disastrous quest of the Confederate States of America? Not only can we entertain ourselves for hours contemplating all the ruinous decisions of the southern politicians, but countless books have been written describing in wretched and gory detail the needless waste of lives by incompetent northern generals. Perhaps one reason the Bible itself makes such fascinating reading is because it is full of stories about imperfect people. Yes, we love to tell the story of David and Goliath as a story of triumph of a young man full of faith and spirit, but it is the story of David and Bathsheba that bonds us with this giant figure of history as a man human and flawed as we. Look at what sells at the supermarket. I would guess that the tabloids that hawk the sins and private griefs of the rich and famous outsell the “local-boy-makes-good” stories ten to one on any good day.

Political history books are compelling to read only because we can glean lessons from the errors of others gone by. Success stories just do not have the staying power to hold our attention in reading a book of 300-500 pages. Error, ruin, calamity, destruction, and death are the ripe and, nay, essential counterpoints of any good and successful history book. Without them, we classify any such biography especially as a one-sided whitewash job, a piece of family propaganda, or a piece of political hack. We know that behind every great man there are little known closets that contain either evidence of weakness, doubt, and fear or skeletons of outright scandal. Churchill and Lincoln suffered from acute bouts of depression. Nixon fell because of paranoia. John Wesley had a disastrous marriage. Augustus Toplady, author of “Rock of Ages,” was capable of venomous attacks upon fellow believers.

Our fascination with weakness is endemic to humanity itself. Numerous theories probably abound. Most likely is that each of us knows that we are deeply flawed ourselves. It is hard to identify with others in their strengths but comforting to know that we share their weaknesses. But to dwell on the failures of man is morbid and leads to depression. To crusade against sin and weakness is tempting but results in legalistic cruelty. To condone it results in compromise and permissiveness. To analyze it results in an endless psychological maze. There is but one solution: grace. It is the one distinctive that Christianity gives to the world.

We are all crippled. All are in need of grace every day. Communion speaks to me of that truth: His grace - as necessary as our daily bread and drink. Without it we can’t live or move or have our being. Marriages can’t function without it. Nor can administrators or schools or teachers. Your children need it as well. Daily doses. Free and unmerited. Do we sanction sin and failure? No. We face it squarely, and overcome it with grace, the ultimate white-out that enables us to face another day. Receiving grace humbles the proud and heals the brokenhearted. Giving grace does the very work of God. May you be blessed in both the giving and the receiving.