I am by no means an expert on how to live a life of grace. Up until a few months ago, the entire focus of my life was to read, write, study, teach, and talk about grace. I did a very poor job living it. Yesterday, I suggested that the more a person talks and writes and proclaims grace, the less they seem to live it. That’s just my experience.
(So, with that being said, let me talk and write some more about grace!)
Here is how I am trying to learn to live a life of grace.
First, I started trying to figure out which sort of people were most often criticized, judged, and condemned by the churches, Christians, radio shows, books, and articles I interact with. These people made my mental “grace list.”
Second, I started praying to see these people as Jesus sees them, and to give me opportunities to get to know them. I suspected that it is much easier to judge a person’s bad theology or bad behavior if I don’t actually know them.
Finally, I began to actively seek out these people to get to know them and befriend them. I set up appointments. I scheduled lunch meetings. I applied for jobs with them so I could work with them and help them. I read their blogs, and interact with them by e-mail (all in a kind, gracious manner!).
I’m not going to tell you who I have been meeting with, but let me give you some examples of people you could try to develop relationships with: atheists, abortion doctors, homosexuals, pornographers, strippers, prostitutes, drug addicts, alcoholics, people who have different theological views than you do, people with different political views, etc. There are dozens more.
And by the way, if you are going to try to develop friendships with these people, don’t focus on the things that separate you. Your friendship will last about two seconds if you do that. Just try to get to know them as a person. Focus on the things you have in common. Try to find out everything you can about them, and who they are. Learn about their dreams, desires, and goals in life. Ask if there is any way you can help them or be of service to them. These are some ways you can live grace, which is the only way to truly teach it.
Sam (3)
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That sounds too hard. Isn’t there just a pill I can take, or something?
Seriously, that’s a great answer to my question. I am challenged by it. Please keep us updated with how it’s going.
Good ideas, don’t forget homeless…I even let a vet on the street live with me until we could get him on his feet. I got the chance several times to share Jesus Christ with him. Who knows maybe we will meet in eternity.
Jim
You’re absolutely right. If all people could learn to focus on what we all have in common we would undoubtedly get along better and the world would be a much better place. After all, we all have much more in common with others than differences.
Do you think religion might be partly the cause of this? Religion ministers to all, but continually points out the ways we are not like others and to reach out is usually to make “them” more like “us.”
What do you think?
Oh, and I don’t know where this path will lead you, but if more Christians showed the curiosity and acceptance that you seem to have, perhaps they wouldn’t be so reviled by non-believers. I hope this turns out well and that others can follow your example.
David,
I wish there was a pill. Ha ha. I’ll keep you informed…at least, with the details I can share.
Jim,
Yes, the homeless are one group too. That’s great you let a guy live with you for a while. That takes courage! Good work.
Bullet,
As always, good questions. They make me think. Truthfully (as with a lot of things in my life right now), I have no immediate answers to your questions.
Off the cuff, I do think that religion has a lot to do with encouraging an elitist, critical, condemning attitude in some people, especially the type of religion that causes one group to speak and act as if they were closer to God than every other group. Of course, such attitudes are developed, it seems to me, in spite of the example of Jesus and the teachings of the Bible, not because of them. Some of those who think along these lines are rejecting religion, but holding on to Jesus. Of course, that seems to make some of them proud that they have made such a split with religion, and the cycle continues.
“…and the cycle continues.”
I know! It’s the same thing among atheists/agnostics as to who’s “more enlightened.”
I find that highly amusing.
Grace is an attitude for life!
Brad,
Thanks for the comment. Respectfully, I think that grace is a lot more than an attitude. I think grace is more of an action. You can tell whether a person understands grace or not by how they live toward others, especially toward those they disagree with, than by what they say, what they teach, or their attitude in various life situations. Is attitude part of grace? Certainly. But it is an attitude that must be revealed in loving, kind, forgiving, merciful, longsuffering action toward others.