MESSY GRACE

I Was Just Thinking About – MESSY GRACE.

A special person loaned me a book published in 2016 and asked if I could take time to both read and comment about it. The Book is: MESSY GRACE, By: Caleb Kaltenbach. Two reviews of the book will give you a sense of the subject matter. Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church wrote:  Messy Grace is a personal story of God’s incredible grace and a call to love people as God loves. The message of this important book combines grace and truth and offers hope to a broken generation. Messy Grace is pure truth spoken in love and will help you relate to every person in a way that pleases God.

Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC wrote: Caleb Kaltenbach ‘came out’ to his parents. This is the story of that coming out. Only this time, it’s was a Christian teen coming out to his gay parents. The book combines undeniable experiences with clear biblical arguments.

MESSY GRACE makes use of illustrations and situations that are powerful. For instance, the author writes about his Mother and her companion taking him to LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual. Transgender). At one event, during a Gay Parade, those who portrayed themselves as being part of the Biblical Christian and Church community, were obnoxious and somewhat vulgar (the things thrown at those marching). Caleb wanted to break ranks and confront the “Christian” protestors but his Mother asked him not to do so. She did say one thing to her son about the “Christian” protestors: “Why are they so filled with hatred.”

A question for consideration pertains to those who are “different” with whom the “Biblical Christian and Church” may/should have contact! Some questions: If a homeless and shabbily dressed person stumbled into your Church for a Worship Service, how would he be received? It he came at a time of a Church Dinner, would he be given a plate and welcomed to sit at your table? What if a gay couple entered your Church and were holding hands, could they sit in “your pew” or would they be asked to locate elsewhere? Or, would they be asked to leave “your church”? What if a practicing gay person wanted to join the Church on the basis of a credible profession of faith, would he/she be accepted and received? Why? Why not?

We love to use well-known Biblical passages to assuage our consciences and decisions, such as: Genesis 19 – Sodom and Gomorrah judged by God and destroyed by fire from heaven (aptly summarized in Second Peter 26-9); Romans 1:18-32 – “…since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done…” Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality…” Paul begins by categorizing the Gay Community (Lesbians and Homosexuals) as being among the “unrighteous...who will not inherit the kingdom of God.” These Verses MUST BE READ IN CONTEXT. Paul goes on to state in verse 11: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

These references must also be considered with Second Corinthians 5:17-18, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” The author concluded his book by asserting that both of his parents ultimately gave a credible profession of faith BUT saw no need to leave their individual gay lifestyle. Is this a valid conclusion? Answer: No! If one is genuinely “in Christ” that one has been “washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”  He/she will have become a NEW creation in Jesus Christ.

Despite our biases, opinions and beliefs, the Author appeals that we see all kinds of people as those the “Biblical Christian and Church” should seek out and welcome in the name of Christ. Can you? Do you? Have you? Will you? When?

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.