The Apostle Paul opened every letter he wrote with the words “grace and peace.” Some people might think these words are a formality, but these words of greeting were breathed out by the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament epistles even the greetings are part of the inspired Scripture! Paul knew that everyone needs grace and peace, and he could extend to each congregation grace and peace because they were his to give. Paul himself possessed grace and peace. He apparently had a surplus: He could give it away.
In many cases, Paul was the founder of the church to which he wrote. He wrote to encourage what was good in these churches and to offer correction for whatever needed help. This means that correction and teaching are sources of the peace and grace of God. For those who have given it any thought at all, we should prioritize God’s grace and peace above almost anything else in our lives. Many of Paul’s churches faced persecution from the outside, and some experienced disagreements on the inside. All of them needed grace and peace. Grace and peace were so important that Paul presented these gifts up front.
Paul wanted his friends to experience God’s grace and peace, and when necessary, he brought powerful words of reproof. From our perspective 20 centuries later, we understand that each letter was the Word of God—then and now. Those people who first heard the words of Paul read aloud in the congregation had a choice: They could listen beyond the mere words of the letter (and in so doing receive the grace and peace offered them), or they could refuse to receive the grace of God and the peace contained in Paul’s biblical teaching. How often does God’s grace or peace appear to us in some form we might not recognize? Do we receive the words of loved ones as God’s grace in our lives? Do we ever consider the instruction we receive from those in authority as a means of grace?
Paul’s words were not only about receiving: His greetings were examples of what we have to give. Have we received some measure of grace? Of peace? Jesus had straightforward instructions to his followers: “Freely you’ve received, therefore freely give.” If we have received any grace from God then we have grace to give to others.
Don’t worry, you won’t run out! Paul’s famous words from Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” were not words he claimed exclusively for himself. He was speaking them over those who were listening to his letter. Many believers have quoted this verse on their own behalf in order to fight off guilt and condemnation. Have we ever quoted them on behalf of others? Our everyday lives are no different than the times in which Paul wrote his letters. Words of grace and peace are not mere formalities, they are ours to give.
Grace, Not Karma
From one point of view we might ask, is there anything more irresponsible than grace? It’s the refuge of losers, the hiding place of the harebrained, the only hope at end of the line. How can we learn anything if God’s grace shields from the fruit of our ways? How can we grow into responsible adults if we are allowed to avoid the shipwreck of our poor choices?
Better to live well-grounded in the predictable world of choice and consequence. Consequence is the lever of choice, tilting upon the worldly fulcrum of cause and effect; sowing and reaping are the dependable laws of nature. The concept of karma looks a lot like what we call responsibility: “Choose, and eat the fruit of your choice.” How can we mature apart from learning the mathematics of choice and consequence?
To look at grace from the outside the gospel is to see how rogues get off scot-free. The work of grace is the spoiling of an only child. Grace runs counter to worldly ideas of good stewardship. Grace is the foolishness of giving a field hand a full day’s pay for but a few hours work.
Oh, but from inside the gospel, to taste of grace is to drink the water of life. It’s the meal without the tab. The drinks are on the house. Grace is more and better wine even though the guests are tipsy. Grace is calories that somehow don’t count. Karma is the voice of reason; grace is the voice of God’s love. And here is our dilemma: We want grace for ourselves, but choose karma for others. The trick is to see grace from the inside—on behalf of others.
Simone Weil said there are only two forces capable of moving the human heart: gravity and grace. Gravity, the great force of nature, exerts its unstoppable influence from the outside; grace, the beautiful power of super nature, lifts our hearts until we float on air. Reason cautions us that grace is dangerous: The unscrupulous can figure out the con quickly. We worry that grace can be abused, grace can be played the fool, grace can be wasted.
But grace doesn’t care. Grace is the divine scandal. Grace is the way of heaven, where mercy triumphs over judgment: not that judgment is unknown, but that judgment itself has been tried and found wanting.
