THE “NEW” HERESY: GRACE
We’ll walk in the light! Beautiful light!
Shine where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright.
Oh, shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus, the light of the world.
Anyone who really knows me, knows that I am truly unconcerned about most of the historic heresies of the Christiam Church throughout its 2000+ year history. I studied these things in depth (unfortunately), and found most of them to be childish hair-splitting that was often riddled with propaganda and political agendas for supremacy. Not much unlike what we see going on in our national and global politic.
But there is one that does concern me, and has concerned me for many years, probably since I first discerned my call to serving God’s people almost 25 years ago. Most heresies fixate on orthodoxy, or right belief. And despite what I am saying, it’s not that there isn’t a place to discuss this. There is. The briefest review of human history and Christianity’s role in it will show such stark examples as the Nazi Church, transatlantic and American slavery, and the genocide of Native Americans to show how religious beliefs of supremacy and Manifest Destiny fed the Seven-Headed Beast of white supremacy.
There is another heresy I have watched emerge, grow and evolve into numerous hydras within and outside of the Christian Church. I say outside because, like many of you, I am well aware that as much as America talks a game of Separation of Church and State, since our founding that line has blurred to the point of nonexistence. People actually WANT to become a Christian Theocracy. Even if you don’t (and I sure as fuck do NOT), you cannot deny in 2026 that one of our overcultures IS “Protestant Christian.” It is in the air we breathe, whether we like it or not.
The heresy on my mind, on the 250th anniversary of America, is the corruption of the Christian understanding of Grace/Mercy. The historic and traditional understanding across the major branches of Christianity is that Grace is something God alone gives. It is not earned, nor is it conditional. It is FREELY and WRECKLESSLY given by God to us. PERIODT. THAT is what Grace is, full stop.
But over time, various (usually Protestant) denominations have twisted this core tenet to suit their group. Bullshit like:
1. You must accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.
2. You must give a certain amount of money to receive the blessing that removes your sinful past.
3. You must align your beliefs with the political agendas of a specific political party.
4. You must not associate with people who do not practice or share your religion.
5. You cannot be Christian and anything else along with it (despite the fact that Jesus himself was a Jew and Christianity did not exist).
Certain people and groups want to put conditions on Grace because God’s Grace makes us uncomfortable. It usually boils down to two things: either we don’t want someone to have it easier than we did, OR we don’t want others to have access to Grace because we believe they should suffer and be punished for whatever they did wrong. Both of these possibilities are the adversary of Grace, and say far more about us as a race than it does the One Who made us. If you hold these beliefs, as a man of God I am challenging you today to search your heart and work on the crust that has accumulated. You are drinking a poison and expecting others to die. It won’t end well.
I pasted the refrain to Charles Wesley’s hymn because they are the poetry that has always captured what Grace means for me. it is my firm hope, in these sometimes dark and broken times, that the dewdrops of mercy rain down on you, shine bright, and keep your hearts soft.
