Needed Grace-givers!

I'm a grace-craver. I need, want and desire grace. From God, family, friends and people in general. Grace is something all of us need and crave. However, our culture seems to be awfully poor at dispensing it! The headlines, blogs, and tv newscasts regularly point out human failings. Most of us know when we've done something wrong, or missed the mark. We also know what we need to do about it. I believe the majority of humans have an inner detector that lets us know when we've blown it or messed up. It's called a conscience. And for those of us who are Christ followers it's called conviction.

I'm not advocating throwing out personal responsibility and accountability. We all need it. As my Mom always said growing up, "There are consequences for every action." However, our culture is really good at beating up the accused or jumping on the bandwagon of criticism for those who've messed up. Just ask the three Duke lacrosse players who were tried and convicted in public last year without a shred of evidence. And DNA later confirmed their story. Now that shoe is on the foot of the man who led the charge against them last year. I bet he'd sure like some grace right now and he's probably wishing he had been a tad more graceful in his public duties regarding the three players. Families and young lives have been dragged through the gutter of public criticism. Permanent damage has been done.

It's easy to jump on Don Imus whose recent venomous radio tirade on the Rutger's women's basketball team cost him his job, or the season long suspension of the NFL's Pacman Jones for off the field conduct. No doubt both of these men really messed up. But to be honest, I don't know either of them personally and I don't know their family situations either. Are they responsible for their behavior? Absolutely! I'm not advocating doing away with punishment, laws or personal accountability. But our tendency is to try and convict in the public court of opinion and we often continue to beat them up once justice has been served by the appropriate authorities.

As Christ-followers we know better, at least I do. Our leader was pretty clear when He told the story about our tendency to focus on the toothpick in our neighbor's eye as we totally ignore the 4X4 post in our own eye. What would happen if we spent the time we devote to talking about these situations or people in prayer? Praying for them, the situation, and those affected by the conduct? What if we dispensed the grace each of us so desperately craves and needs?

A seminary mentor of mine was fond of saying: "Grace is a liberal thing." He was absolutely right. God is so liberal with His grace. Why who in their right mind would want God to be conservative in His grace? Conservative grace only covers bits and pieces. That sounds dreadfully human and so incomplete. God's grace is liberally lavished on each of us so that we may share it with the world and give God glory. It's complete. I want to be a better grace-giver.

Can you imagine a world where Christians were known more for their grace than their campaigns against things or people, boycotts, harsh words and judgment? It might just reveal a grace-giving God. A Cincinnati area church that's nationally known as a pioneer in the ministry of kindness, had members say the following after each act of random kindness they performed: "Because Jesus has been loving and kind to us we can't help but be loving and kind to others." Now that will change a culture, community and a world!