Grace and baggage
I have been reading an excellent book by Arthur Ash called, “Married for God”. While this man is focused on marriage and sex and all things related to same, I am finding, as I read it, that it has a much broader appeal and can be applied in so many areas of my christian life. The first chapter is devoted to grace and baggage. Here is where I digress from his book – but want to acknowledge that it was this book that has driven my thoughts. Surely this is a wonderful place to start. It is God’s grace that has saved me and I come with a whole lot of baggage. There is individual baggage and there is corporate baggage. My life experience means that I don’t have big issues to deal with when it comes to individual baggage – I came to Christ as a child, was raised in a christian home and escaped some really big baggage issues, thanks to the grace of God and Godly parenting. I have learned to keep short accounts with the Lord over individual issues, attitudes and actions and I am sure I will be struggling with some issues that try to overtake me, all the days of my life on earth. I can be confident that in Christ – I have the victory. He is more powerful than sin. He has clothed me in His righteousness. I am safe! God’s grace reigns supreme!
The area of most concern for me is the area of corporate baggage for this is where I am easily overtaken and am often not aware that it has happened. Our culture speaks loudly and often, with very little wisdom and integrity and it is easy to be swept along with the tide. When God speaks into our culture we already have a canvas that is dotted with colour and a notebook of jottings that we have collected over time. All this background information gets in the way of God’s precious word to us. We filter what He says through the colours and black marks that our society calls normal.
For example - Our culture says it is OK to have sex outside of marriage. We face increasing opposition when we say that marriage should be between a male and a female and that they should keep only to themselves in the areas of sex. Our culture says that women should have the right to abort their unborn babies – after all it is the woman’s body – to do with, just as she pleases. Often, a woman is told that it is better to abort than to have a child you cant afford or don’t want. We make excuses for all kinds of abuse and excesses. My sons have been writing a blog that speaks to many issues, including that of eating and drinking the produce of the world, that has been brought into our shops and supermarkets at the great cost of quality of life to those who have produced it. Some of the people who are involved in producing these goods for us suffer from great poverty of wealth, family life and good health just so we can have an abundance of cheap produce that will help to maintain, and even enhance our lifestyles. These are just some examples. Surely we are shaped by our surroundings much more than we recognise, nor would like to admit.
This is where grace needs to step into our community life and we need to learn to stand apart. There are some things that we know about God that make it possible for grace to reign supreme NOW.
The bible clearly speaks to broken people and offers forgiveness, cleansing, healing, and sanctification for all who come to Jesus Christ –This is grace, God's grace for me in Christ. The colours and black marks of my culture can fade rapidly when subjected to the powerful work of Jesus at Calvary. For my part - I must remain close to the cross and live in the light of the truth of the cross. Now I am forgiven! The bible speaks to me this word of grace and I am no longer broken or spoiled. BUT – there is more – Not only forgiven and cleansed, but now I am able to act with increasing measures of purity as I am being transformed into the likeness of the one who poured out His grace on me – Jesus Christ.
YES - Grace overpowers baggage. In fact nothing should stop this grace from invading my life and washing over me with great love and power. Grace then reigns supreme in my corporate life as well as my individual life even though there are some serious obstacles along the way. Jesus grace is greater than all the obstacles.