A Moment Aside --- 26 August 2021
Bishop Robinson is a
bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US, a part of the world-wide Anglican
Communion. His ordination as a bishop was controversial at the time, but that
doesn’t come into our discussion here. The point he is making does.
Do we see God as merciful
and forgiving? Or do we see God as vengeful, angry, and unforgiving? What do we
need to do to obtain forgiveness and peace from such a god? More often than not
it becomes a matter for our own work, understanding, and achievement. The
forgiveness and peace we desire and look for under those circumstances can only
be found through our hard work, our sweat, and our deeds that we hope will earn
us the forgiveness of God. It is then all “works” to use Luther’s term. If we
can work and strive and achieve such forgiveness, then what is grace and of
what value is Jesus’ life, cross, and resurrection? What indeed is that worth
if we can do it ourselves?
The Gospel proclaims a
different understanding of God and of the life (and death) of Jesus. The
offering and giving of grace is the entire point. We cannot earn, achieve,
demand, or work out God’s forgiveness. That forgiveness is in fact freely
given, without cost to those who receive it. Our own human nature often bristles
against such a thing, a result of our belief that “a thing is worth what you
pay for it.” Free things are often seen as having a “catch” or a hidden cost.
Free things are often considered worthless. Free tickets to a sporting event
are often left behind since we have nothing to lose if we don’t take advantage
of that gift.
We want to earn it… and we
can’t. We want to deserve it… and we can’t. We might not believe that God could
be so good… so we don’t believe it and refuse to hear the liberating message
when it is proclaimed and call the proclaimer a trouble-maker.
Sad, isn’t it?
No comments:
Post a Comment