Dominion is not found in grace
Em July 27th, 2008
Over the summer, my church has begun a series of discussions on topics of spiritual formation, based on the writings of classic authors. (If you’d like to hear them, we have podcasts! Search for Urban Bridge Church. It’s worth it just to hear the jingle.) My eyes have been opened to the wisdom of these foundational Christian writings, words that have shaped the church and the faith of many. My list of books to read gets longer every Sunday.
I love quotes. A couple stood out to me one week, so much that I emailed them to myself for later reference.
“The Church’s belief in Original Sin should make us intensely realistic and should free us from trying to create a Utopia. For there is no such thing as a Christian social ideal to which we should try to confrom the society we live in as closely as possible. After all, no one wants to live in “the ideal society” as depicted by anyone else. … Although Christianity supplies no ideal, it does supply something of far more value, namely, principles on which we can begin to act in every possible situation.” – William Temple, Christianity and Social Order
This was so freeing to me. It seems that many Christians are crusading to establish a safe, secure, family-based, Bible-based society. Like William Temple says, I don’t think that’s realistic or even Bible-based. We can’t control the society we live in, but we can control our reaction to it.
“Even to imagine that those who are not saved cannot teach you is a very great and serious mistake. Dominion is not found in grace. Not observing this has led some into many mistakes and certainly into pride. Beware even the appearance of pride! Let there be in you that lowly mind which was in Christ Jesus. Be clothed with humility. Let modesty appear in all your words and actions.” -John Wesley, Christian Perfection, emphasis mine.
This must seem so obvious to anyone who is not a Christian, but for me this quote, too, was freeing. It also means that I don’t have to force myself to be better than anyone; I accept the grace that God has given me and humbly learn from every circumstance. Ideally, that is.
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