The Grace Divide

When our children are young rules are pretty straight forward. Don't touch the stove. Don't jump on the couch. Don't stick that fork in the socket. They are largely designed around the physical protection of our children and for the most part, children don't question the rule even if they are willing to push the boundaries of it. It is a whole different story when they become teens. I remember when my children started asking me to validate my rules for them. I am going to be honest, at first, I was pretty irritated. "Why is this a rule?" "Because I said so, that's why!" Oh, I was indignant. How dare she question my rules. That rule is for her protection. I know why I made that rule. I made that rule because...umm...I made that rule because...Crap. I don't know why I made that rule. Oh, oh! I bet I made that rule because there is scriptural precedent for it. *Rushes off to look up scripture*. There is none. Great. I made a rule and I h...

"If you do not witness to every person you meet, then one day you will stand in heaven watching friends, family, and strangers walk past and ask you why you never told them as you look down and see their blood dripping from your hands." I can't tell you the number of nightmares I had related to hearing this said in multiple sermons from multiple pastors during my IFBC days. The day my children said the sinner's prayer was a day of great relief for me. I had it in the bag. I got them to say the Jesus prayer and now I would not have to watch them being marched to hell while their begging eyes cried out to me. Their blood would not be on my hands. Then they became teenagers. In a way, the questions that my teens started asking were good for both them and us. It has made them reckon with their faith in a way that I didn't think I was allowed to reckon until I was an adult. It also started me down the road of Reforming. What does the scripture actually say abo...