Embracing both messages

a861c76fbad61f0e2eef5ab379dcd953The gospel presents both high ideals and all-encompassing grace. Very often, however, the church tilts one direction or the other. Either it lowers the ideals, adjusting moral standards downward, softening Jesus’ strong commands, rationalizing behaviour; or else it pulls in the boundaries of grace, declaring some sins worse that others, some sinners beyond the pale. Few churches stay faithful both to the high ideals of gospel and its bottomless grace . . . I am convinced that unless we embrace both messages we will betray the good news that Jesus brought to earth.

–Philip Yancey
Soul Survivor

%d bloggers like this: