If Grace Is So Amazing, Why Don′t We Like It?
Samenvatting
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound . . . or is it? Grace set to music is one thing, but what about grace itself? What about grace as an idea, an act, a force? Grace upsets the natural balance, turning the law of cause and effect on its head. Our instinctive reaction is to pull back from grace. Rather than recognizing our unworthiness to receive this completely undeserved gift from God, we want to believe that, on balance, something in our lives merits the good that comes our way, that we deserve whatever gifts we receive. And if we find it difficult to accept grace for ourselves, how much more unwilling are we to have it handed to others? When someone gets off the hook too easily, aren′t we uncomfortable?
A miscarriage of justice, we think.
That′s not fair! But real Christian faith requires that we accept and embrace this radical thing called grace. It s not about being fair: God s grace will turn your world upside down¾ if you let it.
Specificaties
Inhoudsopgave
<p>PART 1: Upside Down 1</p>
<p>1 How Sweet the Sound? 3</p>
<p>2 Hanging on a Hair 12</p>
<p>PART 2: Upside–Down God 21</p>
<p>3 Surprising, Not Predictable 23</p>
<p>4 For Us, Not Against Us 29</p>
<p>5 Near, Not Distant 39</p>
<p>6 Revealed in Weakness, Not in Strength 49</p>
<p>7 Rule Breaker, Not Rule Maker 59</p>
<p>8 Passionate, Not Unmoved 68</p>
<p>9 Therefore Risk Trust 76</p>
<p>PART 3: Upside–Down Self 89</p>
<p>10 Set Free, Not Condemned 91</p>
<p>11 Life, Not Death 101</p>
<p>12 Death, Not Life 110</p>
<p>13 Truth, Not Evasion 117</p>
<p>14 Delight, Not Manipulation 124</p>
<p>15 Giving, Not Getting 133</p>
<p>16 Therefore Be Human 141</p>
<p>PART 4: Upside–Down World 149</p>
<p>17 Love, Not Self–Centeredness 151</p>
<p>18 Affirmation, Not Condemnation 160</p>
<p>19 Forgiving, Not Keeping Score 171</p>
<p>20 Serving, Not Using 181</p>
<p>21 Creating Community, Not Competing 189</p>
<p>22 Peace, Not Violence 197</p>
<p>23 Stewardship, Not Ownership 206</p>
<p>24 Hope, Not Despair 215</p>
<p>25 Therefore Bear Witness 228</p>
<p>Notes 235</p>
<p>The Author 245</p>