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2007-07-03 issue:

Grace and truth

by Wilmer Sprunger, Berne, Ind.

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About a year ago I was saddened to read a Readers Say letter from someone with an ethnic Mennonite-sounding name that revealed his bent or bias. It soon became evident that he was not speaking to the issue of sound, biblical theology but from a conservative vs. liberal mindset, then equating one of those positions as being the true Christian, Mennonite belief system. That proved to me once again that many Christians in America have been manipulated and distorted by the media and political parties. Few of us seek to frame today’s problems from God’s perspective—to which most Christians give at least tacit approval—but rather to which political agenda we give our loyalty. The secular world has manipulated Christians as well as pagans in ascribing loyalty to political parties rather than our first and foremost allegiance to the one we call Lord.

I recently discovered a great little book that speaks to this problem of our being polarized as liberals and conservatives. If you pride yourself in being either one, let me suggest that you read this book to see if you are truly following Jesus’ example or whether you are a pawn of a political party. All political parties spout platitudes that sound good to different parts of our society, but none is espousing and following completely Jesus as a role model.

The book that speaks to our current dilemma is The Grace and Truth Paradox by Randy Alcorn. To quote the back cover: “Truth without grace breeds self-righteousness and crushing legalism. Grace without truth breeds deception and moral compromise.”

He has certainly grasped the true biblical message when he discovers a short but profound verse in John 1:14 and tells us in effect: There is no paradox because neither grace nor truth alone has all the answers. John tells us that in Jesus (the Word) was grace and truth. Yet one political party touts grace, while the other touts truth.

When you read this book you will recognize which side of the saddle I tend to fall. This book can begin to heal our church’s deep division if we adhere to its teaching.