LORD, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TODAY?
Number 1 in series: "The Amazing Circle of Grace"

LORD, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TODAY?

Introduction to a study of the grace of God

The subject is "grace." "Grace" has been called the "watershed" of Christendom. "Watershed" ⁱ literally is a geologic dividing line of the flow of water into its respective bodies (e.g., there are two major watersheds on each side of the Continental Divide in America). "Christendom" refers to the worldwide communities of (professed) Christians. ⁱⁱ "Grace" then is said to be a "watershed" because it defines the thinking and creeds that separate the fellowships in Christendom.

Why is the study of any subject divisive?

The lureⁱⁱⁱ is for approval from men. God chose from the beginning a people to keep the knowledge of Him alive and to provide a means for Jesus to come to earth to provide salvation for all. Israel. However, God had trouble with them because they failed to live up to this responsibility. The basic problem appears to have been the fleshly weakness to imitate neighbors rather than be the leaders and models. Israel wanted to be "like all the nations" (1 Samuel 8:5, 20). She imitated their worship, their government, their lifestyle and language.

Within the last fifty years the differences between the Protestants and the Restorers has narrowed. Much of that fault probably lies in the desire to be like our neighbors. Again, why is there such a lure to imitate those around us in worship, in organization, lifestyle and language? The focus of this study is, in particular, imitating the language.

CURRENT STATUS. A recent encyclopedic entry: "Churches of Christ [have been] strongly anti-Calvinist in their understanding of salvation and generally present conversion as "obedience to the proclaimed facts of the gospel rather than as the result of an emotional, Spirit-initiated conversion." One's preference for words is very telling.

The entry continued: "Beginning in the 1960s, many preachers began placing more emphasis on the role of grace in salvation, instead of focusing exclusively on implementing all of the New Testament commands and examples. This was not an entirely new approach, as others had actively 'affirmed a theology of free and unmerited grace', but it did represent a change of emphasis with grace becoming 'a theme that would increasingly define this tradition.'"

LORD, "WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TODAY?"

The application of our consideration can be summed up with the question, 'Is it Scriptural to say, "LORD, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TODAY?" If the implication is, 'Does God want anything of or from me?', then I propose that it is.

I like getting friendly e-mail. Some end their text with brief messages such as "In God We Trust", "God bless", "God is good." How about this one: "God bless each of you with a special measure of His marvelous love and amazing grace!!!" Another friend of mine ended his e-mail with the question, "Lord, what can I do for You today?" This one has a stimulating thought. Since it has to do with a problem that has surfaced over the last half century among churches of Christ, I have borrowed it as a title of this section. I do not want to infer that the question is wrong. In fact, just the opposite. If we consider that one of the definitions for "worship" is "service" then indeed it is the right question.

The "Old Line Calvinism" taught that a few are saved unconditionally by God's grace; and "this theme appears to be an undercurrent in the teachings of change agents [of churches of Christ tradition] today." That is, does God require any conditions for salvation? Does God require any type of actions for His grace? Hence, the question: "Can we ask God, 'What Can We Do for You Today?'" If His favor is given without merit and cannot be obtained by anything we could or would do, AND He doesn't need anything from us, the question becomes pertinent!

HISTORY: 'UNMERITED GRACE" IS A FLEDGLING IN HISTORY *fledgling: " newcomer"

MEDIEVAL INDULGENCES

The catalyst for the Protestant Reformation?

Figure 1 commons.wikimedia.org pinterest.com

"At the height of the Middle Ages the issue that really tipped the west into the Protestant Reformation was the sale of Indulgences." ^iv Attributed to Tetzel, a salesman for the indulgences from the Pope, is "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul at once into Heaven springs." ^vii

The European Catholics of the Middle Ages were required to pay money for indulgences so that they might escape the torment of purgatory. In reality it was to pay for the rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Martin Luther thought that the money should go to the poor peasants instead of from them. Luther's solution was welcomed by those that heard him in Germany. The congregations were ready to be freed from the debt of paying indulgences. Did they also want a free ride into Heaven? Perhaps this triggered the extreme new definition of "grace."

So, from a monetary view, it can be easily understood why people were glad to hear about a new definition for pleasing God. They found it in the English word "grace."

Luther, and later Calvin, found the solution to paying indulgences which they labeled a "work" in a single word - "grace". But they had to give it a new and special definition. They thought they had found it in the writings of the fourth century Latin philosopher scholar (Saint) Augustine. Augustine had written about the "unmerited mercy" of God. Sadly, these Reformation Reformists did not go back to the first century or to the original Greek. First, they were apparently trying to reform some excesses in the Roman Catholic Church in Europe. Second, it is understandable that they would research Latin works because Latin was their academic and religious language in addition to their home language. Their Bible at this time was in Latin. Luther translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into the German for the people. Augustine had written only in Latin and admitted that he had been kicked out of his Greek class in school. It "wasn't his subject."

THE ISSUE FACING RESTORATION BELIEVERS

"Is a sinner commanded to do anything to receive God's favor? Today's Christendom says there's nothing one has to do to be saved!"

During the early 1800's in America one restoration teacher timely wrote, "Oh, that a pure speech would speedily supplant the jargon, gibberish, and fallacious jargon of scholastic theology!"*

Problem facing you and me: there is a recognized movement within the "churches" to go back to the "jargon, gibberish, and pseudo- theology" of the Protestant Reformation exploiting a false definition of 'grace' as 'unmerited favor.'

Figure 2 innovation of new definition

Adapted from chapter 1 in my book, GRACE, A FREE RIDE TO HEAVEN? If interested in the book, please go to htts://biblestudylessons.net.

 

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