Stetzer Interview Part Two
Tullian Tchividjian Blog | November 17, 2011
What is the biggest threat to Christianity?
This might come as a surprise to some, but the biggest threat to Christianity exists inside the church, not outside the church. According to the Bible, the biggest threat to Christianity is legalism.Since the fall of man in Genesis 3, the human race has been naturally prone toward works-righteousness, self-salvation projects. Having determined way back then that we could do it better on our own, we've been trying ever since.
There's a common misunderstanding in today's church, which says there are two equal dangers Christians must avoid. On one side of the road is a ditch called "legalism"; on the other is a ditch called "license" or "lawlessness." Legalism, they say, happens when you focus too much on law, on rules. Lawlessness, they say, happens when you focus too much on grace. Therefore, in order to maintain spiritual equilibrium, you have to balance law and grace. If you start getting too much law, you need to balance it with grace. If you start getting too much grace, you need to balance it with law. This dichotomy exposes our failure to understand gospel grace as it really is; it betrays our blindness to all the radical depth and beauty of grace.
It's much more theologically accurate to say that there is one primary enemy of the gospel---legalism---but it comes in two forms. Some people avoid the gospel and try to "save" themselves by keeping the rules, doing what they're told, maintaining the standards, and so on (I call this "front-door legalism"). Other people avoid the gospel and try to "save" themselves by breaking the rules, doing whatever they want, developing their own autonomous standards, and so on ("back-door legalism"). In other words, there are two "laws" we can choose to live by apart from Christ: the law which says, "I can find freedom and fullness of life if I keep the rules," and the law which says, "I can find freedom and fullness of life if I break the rules." Either way, you're trying to "save" yourself, which means both are legalistic because both are self-salvation projects. So what some call "license" is just another form of legalism.
This distinction is super important because the biggest lie about grace that Satan wants the church to buy is the idea that it's dangerous and therefore needs to be kept it in check. The perceived fear is this: if we think too much and talk too much about grace and the radical freedom it brings, we'll go off the deep end with it. We'll abuse it. By believing that lie, we not only prove we don't understand grace, but we violate gospel advancement in our lives and in the church by perpetuating our own slavery. The truth is, disobedience happens not when we think too much of grace, but when we think too little of it.
As a pastor, one of my responsibilities is to disciple people into a deeper understanding of obedience---teaching them to say no to the things God hates and yes to the things God loves. All too often I've wrongly concluded that the only way to keep licentious people in line is to give them more rules---to lay down the law. The fact is, however, the only way licentious people start to obey is when they get a taste of God's radical, unconditional acceptance of sinners. What licentious people need is a greater understanding of grace, not a governor on grace. Grace alone melts hearts and changes us from the inside out. Progress in obedience happens only when our hearts realize that God's love for us does not depend on our progress in obedience.
A "yes, grace---but" disposition is the kind of fearful posture that keeps legalism swirling around in our hearts and in the church.
What is the "now power" of the Gospel and what difference does it make?
I once assumed (along with the vast majority of professing Christians) that the gospel was simply what non- Christians must believe in order to be saved, while afterward we advance to deeper theological waters. But I've come to realize that once God rescues sinners, his plan isn't to steer them beyond the gospel but to move them more deeply into it. We never outgrow our need for the gospel. Because I am a daily sinner, I need God's daily distributions of grace that come my way as a result of the finished work of Christ.
When God's good news met me in my dark place during the summer of 2009, I started to see the many-faceted dimensions of the gospel in a more dazzling way. It's almost as if, for me, the gospel changed from something hazy and monochromatic to something richly multicolored, vivid, and vibrant. I was realizing in a fresh way the now-power of the gospel---that the gospel doesn't simply rescue us from the past and rescue us for the future; it also rescues us in the present from being enslaved to things like fear, insecurity, anger, self-reliance, bitterness, entitlement, and insignificance. Through my pain, I was being convinced all over again that the power of the gospel is just as necessary and relevant after you become a Christian as it is before.The gospel liberates us to be okay with not being okay. We know we're not okay---though we try very hard to convince ourselves and other people that we're basically fine. But the gospel tells us, "Relax, it is finished. The pressure's off."
Because of the gospel, we have nothing to prove or protect. We can stop pretending. We can take off our masks and be real. The gospel frees us from trying to impress people, appease people, measure up for people, or prove ourselves to people. The gospel frees us from the burden of trying to control what other people think about us. It frees us from the miserable, unquenchable pursuit to make something of ourselves by using others.
The gospel frees us from what one writer calls "the law of capability"---the law, he says, "that judges us wanting if we are not capable, if we cannot handle it all, if we are not competent to balance our diverse commitments without a slip." The gospel grants us the strength to admit we're weak and needy and restless---knowing that Christ's finished work has proven to be all the strength and fulfillment and peace we could ever want, and more. Since Jesus is our strength, our weaknesses don't threaten our sense of worth and value. Now we're free to admit our wrongs and weaknesses without feeling as if our flesh is being ripped off our bones.
That's what I mean in the book when I talk at length about the "now-power" of the gospel.
Why are Christians legalists when it comes to sanctification?
The way many Christians think about sanctification is that it's a step beyond our need for Jesus and his finished work on our behalf. In other words, we tend to think of justification as step one and sanctification as step two. And once we get to step two, we never need to go back to step one. We needed Jesus a lot for justification. We need him less for sanctification. The truth is, though, that sanctification is simply getting used to your justification--it's receiving Christ's words "It is finished" into our rebellious regions of unbelief.
As Luther put it, "To progress is always to begin again"--it's going back to the already secured reality of your justification and hitting the refresh button 1000 times a day. Going forward, in other words, requires a daily going backwards.
Legalism happens when what I need to do, instead of what Christ has already done, becomes the end game of my life. The gospel tells us the determining factor in my relationship with God is Jesus' work for us, not our work for him; his performance for us, not our performance for him; his obedience for us, not our obedience. The Gospel is the good news that God doesn't relate to us based on our feats for Jesus but Jesus feats for us. The gospel tells us that God's acceptance of us is not gained by our successes or forfeited by our failures---because it's not about us!
Martin Luther defined sin as "mankind turned inward." And sadly, the way many of us think about sanctification is terribly narcissistic. We spend too much time thinking about how we're doing, if we're growing, whether we're doing it right or not. We spend too much time pondering our failure and brooding over our spiritual successes. In short, we spend way too much time thinking about ourselves and what we need to do and far too little time thinking about Jesus and what he's already done. And what I've discovered is that the more I focus on my need to get better the worse I actually get--I become neurotic and self-absorbed. Preoccupation with my performance over Christ's performance for me makes me increasingly self-centered and morbidly introspective. This is the opposite of how the Bible describes what it means to be sanctified. Sanctification is forgetting about yourself.Peter only began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on "how he was doing." Anytime our natural fixture on self is rattled, shaken, turned from itself to that Man's blood, to that Man's cross, the devil runs!
When we stop narcissistically focusing on our need to get better that is what it means to get better. When we stop obsessing over our need to improve, that is what it means to improve!
Comments:
November 19, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Pastor
Ya'll please pray for St. Marys' church Belleview and the diocese of Central Fl. (Episcopal) they are making a decision on a new Bishop (overseeer). thanks God bless.
November 19, 2011 at 11:27 PM
[...] opposed to the person being “Christ” and the word He has already accomplished? Here is a great article by Tullian on the subject and a 15 minute interview where he really hits the [...]
November 19, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Paul
good comment, could not have said it better.
November 19, 2011 at 10:47 AM
This article came at the right time. Thank you.
November 18, 2011 at 07:05 AM
Moralism disguised as Christianity produces only two classes of people... Pharisees (those who think they're actually pulling it off) and the despairing one who eventually burns out and resorts to agnosticism or moves on to full blown atheism. Producing both have become the favorite past-time of the American Protestant and Evangelical church.
It is amazing how many people at the GC write as though "God has moved them up the ladder" just a little farther than whoever they happen to be conversing with. Reminiscent of "I thank you God that You have not made me as other men."
November 18, 2011 at 07:04 PM
Ouch!
You are spot on, Mitchell.
November 18, 2011 at 06:39 AM
Biggest threat...COLD INDIFFERENCE.
Miss the "on earth, as it is in heaven" focus. Afterall, what else are you gonna do after being LIBERATED. Well I guess you could just keep talking about being free, but "Come on man", there is too much WORK to be done. For His glory (not mine), through His Holy Spirit power (not mine), in obedience to His will (not mine)!
In love and much respect, just thinking you are falling back to your rebellious ways, and probably reading too much Horton. :)
November 18, 2011 at 04:07 AM
As long as we only look to legalism as the enemy of the gospel then we will never see any other enemies... grace can be an enemy to the gospel if it is abused... "Shall we sin so that grace may abound?" is one way to abuse grace, but as long as we let the pendulum swing freely as far as it wants to go without realizing that anything (even grace) that takes focus off of Jesus is an enemy to the Gospel. When we throw truth out with the law, then we are throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Today's definition of grace makes the opposites of on the one hand grace, forgiveness, freedom etc and on the other hand law, truth, accountability, etc. Grace and truth must be married... This is the Biblical gospel.
November 17, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Truth be told: Anyone in Christ 1Corinthians12:13 will live of the grace God declares is the gift of God. They who are not in Christ have not the Spirit which is of God; therefore they don't know the things that are freely given by God,1Corinthians 2:12-14, being yet only natural and not spiritual minded. They who are yet natural attempt to keep the ceremonial and civil parts of the handwriting in ordinances to keep the Moral law the Ten Commandments are. To this attempt the Word and the Spirit says no natural no flesh will be justified in the sight of God, Romans3:19-20, Galatians 2:16 To put grace in perspective is easily perceived when you not only see grace as the free gift, but also understand that grace while unmerited is God's willingness to use His Power and His Ability on your behalf; whether the saving gift or the continual son-ship mode of grace. Both are manifested by the faith OF Christ and the faith which is IN Christ. Both gives us access by one Spirit to God, Ephesians 2:18, 3:12. The mind which has not access to the Spirit are they who are not in Christ, therefore although good intention their minds are only at enmity against God whether in a tough or gentle way; either just don't see eye to eye with God being void of the Spirit; sincerely, edwah zj
November 17, 2011 at 09:16 AM
Tullian-Because of the gospel, we have nothing to prove or protect. We can stop pretending. We can take off our masks and be real. The gospel frees us from trying to impress people, appease people, measure up for people, or prove ourselves to people. The gospel frees us from the burden of trying to control what other people think about us. It frees us from the miserable, unquenchable pursuit to make something of ourselves by using others.
Loren, AMEN to your post. When a person realizes the statement above to be true we are overwhelmed and set free. Rivers of living waters flows out of us effortlessly. The fruits of the Spirit Love, Joy, Peace, etc. happen before you know it. This is the state that Jesus blesses us with and we respond with more obedience. If you really think about it, none of the Christian life is our efforts but simply believing the Gospel as presented in the above article and aloy it to set us free daily.
Tullian-The hard work that we are to do everyday is to believe the Gospel.
November 17, 2011 at 09:08 PM
Tullian,
Listening to your Sunday's sermon again tonight I couldn't help but send this to you, A Little long I know but good stuff. Can sustenance and government be separated? They are distinguishable but inseparable. Fathoming God’s rule is impossible (Ps. 77; 78; 96:10; 146:10; 121:8). The Psalmist recognized God’s rule: “My times are in thy hand...” (Ps.31:15). A man may make plans and follow them for a time, but he is soon diverted: “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Prov. 16:9). “...The way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). God’s rule does not follow a common path of operation. He kills, makes alive, brings down, raises up, makes the poor rich, makes the rich poor, and raises up the beggar from the dunghill (I Sam. 2:6-8). God did not restrain Adam from sinning (Gen. 3), but He restrained Abimelech from sinning (Gen. 20:6). He restrained Laban from harming Jacob (Gen. 31) and Balaam from cursing Israel (Num. 23), but He did not
restrain Shimei from cursing David (II Sam. 16:7,11). God thwarted Pharaoh’s fury against Israel; yet He hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God gave the evil spirit a commission to go forth and do what he purposed, which was to be a lying spirit (I Kings 22:21,22). God did not kill Peter for lying about being Christ’s disciple (John 18), but He killed Ananias and Sapphira for lying (Acts 5). God gives up some (Rom. 1:24- 28), and He sends a working of error to others for the purpose of their believing the lie (II Thess. 2:11). God used Caiaphas,an unsaved person who did not know the truth, to speak the truth (John 11:51,52). God makes the wrath of men to praise Him. Conclusively, God rules and overrules for His glory. I thought it was a good connection. Hope you like it.
November 17, 2011 at 08:55 AM
Undoubtedly there will always be those who object to the completed work of Christ being enough. They will insist that you do this or that (often when they themselves fail to do those very things).
That's when you do what is being done here. Hoist more sails and head directly into those winds of fear and doubt and announce to them (yet again) that 'all their sins are forgiven for Jesus' sake'.
If they hear that liberating Word enough...maybe one day it will stick.
November 17, 2011 at 08:01 AM
I normally don't like commenting unless I can add to the conversation, but I have to make an exception here. I just wanted to say that these are some amazing thoughts that have blessed me today. Thank you.
March 6, 2012 at 09:33 PM
Its amazing how you move right into the belief many hold to as what you yourself in conclusion have obtained; First you deny the works ethic and then take hold of it yourself. I am very sorry if I misunderstood your communication. We are saved by grace just as we are saved with the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Years ago when having been told that we were saved by the cross of Christ, then read Titus 3:5 I almost fell out of the chair. After much praying n searching the LORD led me to John 1:12a which reads: "But as many as received Him gave He the power to become the sons of God"... In that God gave us His Son He was giving us all He vested in the Son, including His Faith. This faith becomes the light though which God manifest His grace. Now the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit is the actual power Jesus purchased with His own body and blood; the cross of Christ. But the actual power of salvation is demonstrated by the Spirit" Not of works of righteousness which we have done but according to God's MERCY He saved us "WITH THE WASHING OF REGENERATION AND THE RENEWING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT" This demonstration and act of the Spirit is the power that the faith Jesus purchased with His OW BODY AND BLOOD THAT SAVED US The faith of Christ who believed if He gave Himself a sacrifice for the sins of the world dying the death of the Cross, God would raise Him from the dead to justify them who believe unto life, eternal life. This measure of the gift of grace is manifested to us through the measure of the gift of faith dealt to every man; but is upon all them who believe, Romans 3:22 'But now the righteousness off God is revealed without the law (the ceremonial and civil aspects of the LAW) being witnessed (testifying to) by the law and the Prophets, (the holy scriptures spoken of by the law, the Ten Commandments are, and the Prophets, the volume of the book) ... the righteousness of God, by faith "OF" Jesus Christ unto all, and UPON all them who believe".... In 2Corinthians4:6 the light God commanded to shine out of darkness apart from the law if the faith of Christ that makes manifest the knowledge of God's glory. Hebrews 11:1 reveals that faith is the substance of the things hoped for and is speaking of the hope which is in God.Now in regards to works as put forth by James; He is speaking of works of love and faith; Well faith works by Love and if you have no works of love faith is dead; so as like Paul saying in 1Corinthians13 nothing of the knowledge of the LORD or of the gifts of the Spirit will work without it being coupled with Love. Is faith working if your love doesn't aid a homeless brother or sister; who has come to your home and then you lip service them with be warm and filled but did not give them what was needful for their body? Where is faith and love in this? SO THEN how simple the grace and love of God to be intreated; sincerly edwah zj
March 6, 2012 at 07:57 PM
"Grace can be an enemy to the Gospel if it is abused." No, I agree with Tullian on this. I say it is not about "a balance between Grace and Law." It is about understanding clearly the purposes of both. A "balanced mixture" of Law and Grace is neither.
January 16, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Excellent, Tullian, excellent! Keep hammering home the Gospel of Grace (not Law!). May the full depth of the Gospel - Christ, the promise fulfilled, incarnated - break through to those of us who remain fearful of living under the Rule of Grace (not Law!).
peter latona
November 29, 2011 at 10:02 AM
I always track with Tullian. After I found him through an article in Christianity today I always look to follow his writings. I am fascinated with law and grace. Need to learn more and go deeper on the subject. Looking forward to getting the book. Lord knows I need more lessons on grace. This short interview has piqued my interest.... I'm hooked. Wonder if there are any corresponding messages. I think that's why I purchased Unfashionable, I heard a message and was all in.