Why Christians Do Not Accept Grace

I have this theory about Christians..... Some use their religion to have a reason not to look at themselves and their issues. They believe that life is simply black and white; there is no middle ground or grey. All too often they believe that there is just right and wrong and there is no reason to stray from the right of a rule or a circumstance. However, I read in scripture that Jesus was not so much concerned about "right" as the religious people of his time understood it, but more the condition of humanity's soul.
Several times he was confronted by the religious establishments rules, most specifically about keeping the Sabbath. Once he and his disciples were confronted about eating and picking the grain in a field and another time about healing someone on the Sabbath. In both instances, Jesus was not concerned about he letter of the rule or law, but the understanding of the condition of the human soul. It was not only the religious establishment, but also his disciples and others who thought Jesus was breaking the rules. Why do you let this woman wash your feet with her perfume? Why are you eating with that tax collector? Why are you letting an adulterous woman go away free with no condemnation? Why are you forgiving thieves that are hanging with you on a cross? Why are you forgiving Peter who denied you in front of the world? Why is David a man after your heart when he committed adultery and murder? Why did you pick Saul, who killed Christians, to become Paul and preach your gospel to the world? Aren't you concerned about making sure that people do right? Do you not condemn those that do not stick to the letter of the law and "rightness."
Could it be that Jesus came to be the embodiment of grace? He came to show the world what it was like to forgive and not be so caught up with the rules, laws and right? Could it be possible that by living this and showing this to the world, God was showing how the world could be changed? It could be changed one life at a time.
I understand that this is a hard thing for us humans to grasp. We get caught up in out selfish desires, our hurts, our pain and what we think "should" happen. We like to be in control, even when it is obvious that we have no control. We like to give ourselves the perception that if someone else did something the way we thought they ought to, or should, things would be just the way we want them. It is hard for us to give up control, to turn it over to a God that we say we believe is all-knowing, all-powerful and all-loving. Christian say they believe that all things work together for good to those who love God, but some have a very hard time making that belief reality. Instead they like to think that they are right and all others are wrong because things did not turn out the way they planned, and if someone would have just done what they wanted it all would be fine. There would be no hurt or pain.
This, I believe, is a wonderful way to justify ourselves and to lay the blame with someone else instead of looking at ourselves and our relationships and asking "how did I contribute to this situation and along with other's responsibilities, what are mine?" Without the acceptance and understanding of grace, Christians miss the essential message of their own faith - Grace is the key that unlocks our selfishness. It makes us realize that we are the undeserved recipient of love, forgiveness and protection beyond measure, if we would only get out of the way and let God control it instead of us.

Who Holds the "Plan" for our lives?

Here I am again watching one of those television evangelist. Why, I don't know, except I want to know what America is learning about God. This preacher was talking to a group of students at a college chapel service and asked them to repeat the prayer and said "I reject the devil and his plan for my life. I accept Jesus and his plan for my life." I started to think, "Why do people, Christians, give the devil as much power as God?" Do we really have no control over our lives and have to let some unseen entity create, impose and direct a "plan?" I do think that God has a plan that he would like to see happen for all of us. However, I also believe that God gives people the power of choice, to decide how they will run their lives and what there "plan" is for that life. I seem to remember that Jesus did not force a plan on the rich young ruler who asked him how to go to heaven. Scripture records that the man walked away sad because he was unwilling to do what Jesus had asked of him. Then scripture records that Jesus turned to his disciples and talked to them. It does not record him chasing the man down and saying, "Hey you did not understand that I have a plan and you need to choose it, because if you don't your doing the devil's plan."
So I come to question the reasoning that says you must choose one or the other and that it is really not up to us at all. This reasoning that says that we are just the creator and his adversary's chess and checker pieces. We really do not have a choice and this must be what it is like if we follow the reasoning of the afore mentioned preacher. I think that it is sad that this is used as a way to explain our relationship to God and his creation. I see it as a way that none of us have to be responsible because it is either "God's plan" or "the devil made me do it." It allows people the opportunity to absolve themselves from any responsibility and choice for their behavior. It does not appear to follow what Jesus taught and actually did - allow people to make their own choices about their own lives. So who or what really holds the "plan" for our lives?

Does God Really Work Like That?

I am sitting here right now and looking at "The Healing Hour" with Richard and Lindsay Roberts and I am asking myself the question above. Does God really wait for me to give "them" a "seed faith" of a thousand dollars so that He will bless me? It just seems so fake and full of fear to make people give their money so that God will not be "mad" at them and not bless them. Now, I am not saying that God can't do anything he wants in anyway he wants, despite the person or message that is being portrayed, because he most definitely can. However, would Jesus be on the television asking us to give money so that he can send college kids to school, finance the repairs of the buildings or make sure that home school children would get their curriculum? Can we really picture Jesus on our television saying that he would only bless you if you "release your faith" and "plant a seed" and "sow your faith."
I sure believe that faith is a requirement of any spiritual life, but do I need to show it by giving or believing that I will be well and rich for the rest of my life? Is there something wrong with me if I get sick sometimes or struggle at times to make ends meet? Do I really lack faith and therefore disappointed God? They never really say this directly, but it sure is implied all over the place, isn't it? So this brings me back to my original question - What if grace is true? Does God really work like that?

How Should We Treat Each Other?

So how should we treat our fellow brother and sister? The terrible happenings in the gulf coast should make us all think, "How does God expect us to treat those around us?" Jesus said that as we have treated he least of these so we have treated him. I also remember him teaching that there will be those who think that they will make it to heaven, but will be shocked by the reception they receive from their savior. Jesus said that many will say to me in that day Lord, Lord. However, Jesus will reply, "depart from me for I do not know you." They will ask him how that could be and he will tell them because he was naked and they did not clothe him, hungry and did not feed him and in prison and did not visit him. Still dumbfounded, they will ask, "When did we see you in these circumstances?" Jesus will tell them that how they have treated the least of these, so have they treated him.
What a shock for those who thought they were doing God's work by preaching and making this world turn to Christ! Today I believe that there are many Christians in the United States today that are in this situation. They believe that they are on their way to heaven, but would never "lower" themselves take care of the least of us. I hear people say that it is the people's fault for not leaving the city, they should have left when asked. I wonder when I hear this how many of the ones saying this would say they are "Christian?" Do they forget the story of the Good Samaritan and Jesus' own actions of reaching out to the lowest of his time? I hear them say and act out all too often that only those they deem "worthy" will make it to heaven.
Who are these worthy? Do we have to be just like them? Do we all have to learn how to "take care of ourselves," and "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps?" If you listening to Rush and many on the religious right, this is what you must do and anything less is just your fault. Now I do believe that there are those who refuse to take the appropriate advantage of the help they are offered, but they are few. To listen to many of the religious right leaders it sounds like America is just about to fall over the abyss to a terrible socialist state. Could it be that they are pushing the country there by their own refusal to follow the commandant of Christ - to love thy neighbor as thyself?