MINISTRY / You are left-wing, radical-minded

An over-emphasis on God's law in the Chinese Christian church diminishes the assurances of God's grace. Almost all believers there are taught that God forgives us, but only if we earn it by living morally good lives and repenting with sufficient sincerity.

What is our role in forgiveness?

I had been texting with a Chinese Christian. A stateside pastor had introduced us. My new Chinese friend seemed especially interested in learning how much emphasis I gave to God's law.

For example, she asked, "Do you believe that homosexuality is a sin?"

"Yes," I answered. "The Scriptures are clear about that. But homosexuality, like all sins, is not beyond God's forgiveness in Jesus."

From there the discussion changed to the reason God forgives. My friend was insistent that Christians forfeit their relationship with God unless they not only recognize their sin but feel remarkably sorry for those sins and change their lives to conform to God's standards. Only then does God forgive them.

What is God’s role in forgiveness?

I pointed out that, although we Christians will admit to being thoroughly sinful, will be contrite, and will strive to live God-pleasing lives, we are not forgiven because we've done that. We are forgiven only because God's Son has paid for our sins with his perfection and punishment. God-pleasing confession of sin, sorrow over those sins, and change in our lives flows out of appreciation for all Jesus has done for us.

A number of text messages later, my friend was not convinced that grace alone forgives us. With no little frustration, she told me: "I want to tell you: 1. Your preaching of the truth is incomplete, you don’t talk about confession and repentance, you don’t talk about the law, you don’t talk about judgment, you only talk about faith, love, and grace. This is not beneficial but harmful to people, and life will not change. 2. You are left-wing, radical-minded, non-conservative, such as supporting left-wing Democrats. 3. Disobeying parents, not loving parents, not respecting parents."

I'm not sure how much she knows about Democrats, but my friend certainly finds fault with the Bible's teaching about grace.

The joy of grace

This is an issue 316NOW's teachers regularly encounter. Our students usually come to us with an improper understanding of the balance between the purpose of God's law and the purpose of the gospel. But what a joy it is for them -- and for our professors -- when our students are led to rejoice that they are right with God only because of his grace.

I pray my Chinese friend soon finds that joy.

Source: Jim Aderman, Executive Director