How telling that we use that particular
terminology to describe an incident (usually of the high-profile
variety) of moral failure. By doing so, we tip our theological
hand. While we talk a lot about God's inexhaustible grace and
unconditional love, when it comes right down to it, we still
believe that grace is exhaustible. We know that we owe our salvation
to Christ's grace-giving work on the cross. But it doesn't take
long before we trade in that boundless grace for the boundaries
of the law.
In biblical terms, a fall from grace is not the sinner saved
by grace who is caught in moral failure. That is a fall to
grace. A fall from grace is the self-righteous person who
tries to earn his or her salvation through the guise of moral
living, declaring that Christ's work on the cross was unnecessary—at
least for them.
Let me ask a simple question: Do we really believe in grace? Or not?
When scandals hit the news wires and our TV screens, I'm reminded how easy it is to preach and teach grace, but how difficult it is to live out on the rugged plains of reality. And I say that as I search my own heart and attitudes. I say that because I struggle through the gamut of emotions, sometimes throwing critical glances toward a "fallen" man or woman in the Church. "Can you believe he did that?" I'm tempted to say with an air of arrogance.
And then I recall my own shortcomings, and a not-so-popular verse comes to mind, "How can you say, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:4, TNIV).
In Matthew 7:4 the word plank in the original language is a picture
of a crossbeam that holds up an entire structure. Some of
us have this critical crossbeam that holds up the entire structure
of our lives, blinding us from our struggles—and blinding
us from the way God views others and our own lives.
"Hypocrite!" Jesus says in verse 5. If you are trying to assume God's throne of righteous judgment, then you are a hypocrite.
People say to me, "I don't go to church anymore, because churches are full of hypocrites."
Let's just lay our cards on the table. We're all hypocrites! Being a hypocrite means assuming a role that is not yours to assume. Sadly, too many churches are communities of criticism instead of communities of compassion.
Criticism is like a boomerang. Matthew 7:2 says, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." So, if you want to get what you are giving, go ahead and give it. But be ready for its return to smack you on the back of your head.
That's why we need to humbly allow Jesus to yank the plank of criticism from
our eyes. Once we do, two things happen. One, we can see the
mercy of God in our own lives. And two, we can extend the
mercy of God to others. Because I am not getting what I deserve
from God, I have the power to release others from what they
deserve. I'm able to give them what God has given me—love,
acceptance and grace.
Don't misunderstand me. I'm not justifying, rationalizing
or any other type of "-izing" the moral indiscretions of Pastor
Haggard or any other Christian leader ensnared by sin. What
I am saying is that it's time to let God be the judge and
take our proper role as fellow sinner saved by grace. And
maybe it's time for us to stop putting other human beings—who
can't possibly live up to our expectations—on moral
pedestals. Maybe it's time to remember who the standard bearer
of our faith is: Jesus. Maybe it's time to put aside our human
nature and, as the apostle Paul suggested, "grow in the grace
and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter
3:18).
Maybe, just maybe, it's time to yank the plank. Search your heart today and take some time to pray for Ted Haggard, his wife and family, his church, his accuser and the thousands who have been impacted by his ministry. Regardless of the extent of his moral indiscretion, let this be yet another wake-up call as to how spiritually vulnerable we really are. In situations like this, we scream for accountability, but we have to realize that no matter how much accountability we have, we're still vulnerable to the enemy's tactics to deceive us and bring us down.
When it comes to temptation, particularly in the sexual
arena, we always overestimate our power to resist and underestimate
the enemy's power to persist. Only as we walk daily in the
grace of Christ can we find the humility to say, "There but
for the grace of God go I."
"What once was hurt / What once was friction / What left
a mark, no longer stings / Because Grace makes beauty out
of ugly things." ("Grace" by U2)
