Trevin Wax
The Gospel Coalition
The most well-known hymn in America, "Amazing Grace," by the former slaveholder John Newton, contains a line that many people stumble over.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
The hymn may be popular, but the sentiment is not. Few Americans consider themselves "wretches" of moral repugnance and debasement. We like to think of ourselves as basically good, with a few flaws; not fundamentally bad, with few virtues to save us.
Some Christians believe it would be good to remove unnecessary offense by downplaying human sinfulness, but such a move severs the root of what makes grace so powerful. It is precisely because we're bad, not good, that God's love in sending his Son to die for our sins is so significant.
The trouble is, grace is unimaginable in a world where everyone believes grace is deserved. And when grace is transformed into entitlement, the definitions change, for both those inside and outside the church.
New Definition of ‘Showing Grace’
In a culture that thrives on self-affirmation and self-determination, "showing grace" now means accepting someone else's definition of their own righteousness.
