Recently
there have been postings by prominent writers and speakers concerning
"hyper grace horror stories", in which they lay out their case against
the "grace message" by sharing some terrible tales of lives and hearts
that have gone astray after believing the message of Grace. As a "hyper
Grace" preacher myself, I can relate to and sympathize with this man's
concerns. I too have seen a handful of folks become loose and careless
in their morality after embracing this message.
However, as
I've traveled here and there, delivering this message, and as I've read
countless emails and messages from listeners and readers, the great bulk
of the "horror stories" actually seem to emerge from the "hyper
holiness" side of things. I will not share these publicly, but trust me
when I say that I've heard my share of "horror stories" from that side
of the river. In fact, I have quite a few of my own to tell...
I remember the HORROR of regularly having panic/anxiety attacks
throughout the day, as I desperately would pray "Wash me, Jesus! Wash
me, Jesus!", believing that this repetitive mantra would some how
cleanse me from my sins. I remember the HORROR of thinking that every
little action, from walking past a straw wrapper on the ground at
McDonald's, to accidentally looking in the direction of an attractive
female, was a nearly unpardonable sin, which would cause God's presence
to leave me, and would require that I beg for mercy for at least an
hour.
I remember the HORROR of making my wife, and everyone
within a thousand miles of me, feel inadequate and unacceptable to God.
I remember the hopelessness that my former message and way of life
helped to create in those under my leadership, and in my sphere of
influence. I remember the HORRORS of suffering under depression in
secret, calling it a "burden from the Lord", or some other fancy
spiritual term, when the truth is that it was good, old fashioned hope
deferred (Prov 13:12). I remember what strong a hold sin once had on
me, as I thought on it day and night, desperately trying to concoct ways
to overcome it - all to no avail. I also remember the HORROR of
fearing that I was never good enough, and that every little misstep
could earn me a front row seat at God's eternal barbecue pit...
I remember, I remember, I remember...
And I also remember the joy, freedom, life, and light that filled my
life when I finally accepted the truth of Grace! I had heard it and
believed it, but did not apply it, as it seemed to good to be true.
However, after coming to the end of myself, I had no other choice. I
remember the darkness fleeing, and life flooding my veins! Oh, do I
remember that!
I also know that this message has done NOTHING
but produce godliness, character, and discipline in my life. Before, I
never felt that I was doing good enough, and so would regularly think,
"Who really cares then?", and would sort of "punch out" for a few days.
Because of that, my "walk" was up and down, down and up, and there was
no real stability to it. However, the truth that I'm accepted in the
beloved, and "as Jesus is", frees me to live everyday for the sake of
Christ, knowing that I am never NOT measuring up! I measure up in
Christ, and so I do not need to "punch out" from exhaustion and
hopelessness.
Yep, I'll tell you right now, Grace has produced
some "horror stories" in my life. I'm sure the devil and his defeated
buddies are HORRIFIED at what has taken place in my life as a result of
believing this Gospel, but I for one couldn't be happier.
Recently
there have been postings by prominent writers and speakers concerning
"hyper grace horror stories", in which they lay out their case against
the "grace message" by sharing some terrible tales of lives and hearts
that have gone astray after believing the message of Grace. As a "hyper
Grace" preacher myself, I can relate to and sympathize with this man's
concerns. I too have seen a handful of folks become loose and careless
in their morality after embracing this message.However, as I've traveled here and there, delivering this message, and as I've read countless emails and messages from listeners and readers, the great bulk of the "horror stories" actually seem to emerge from the "hyper holiness" side of things. I will not share these publicly, but trust me when I say that I've heard my share of "horror stories" from that side of the river. In fact, I have quite a few of my own to tell...
I remember the HORROR of regularly having panic/anxiety attacks throughout the day, as I desperately would pray "Wash me, Jesus! Wash me, Jesus!", believing that this repetitive mantra would some how cleanse me from my sins. I remember the HORROR of thinking that every little action, from walking past a straw wrapper on the ground at McDonald's, to accidentally looking in the direction of an attractive female, was a nearly unpardonable sin, which would cause God's presence to leave me, and would require that I beg for mercy for at least an hour.
I remember the HORROR of making my wife, and everyone within a thousand miles of me, feel inadequate and unacceptable to God. I remember the hopelessness that my former message and way of life helped to create in those under my leadership, and in my sphere of influence. I remember the HORRORS of suffering under depression in secret, calling it a "burden from the Lord", or some other fancy spiritual term, when the truth is that it was good, old fashioned hope deferred (Prov 13:12). I remember what strong a hold sin once had on me, as I thought on it day and night, desperately trying to concoct ways to overcome it - all to no avail. I also remember the HORROR of fearing that I was never good enough, and that every little misstep could earn me a front row seat at God's eternal barbecue pit...
I remember, I remember, I remember...
And I also remember the joy, freedom, life, and light that filled my life when I finally accepted the truth of Grace! I had heard it and believed it, but did not apply it, as it seemed to good to be true. However, after coming to the end of myself, I had no other choice. I remember the darkness fleeing, and life flooding my veins! Oh, do I remember that!
I also know that this message has done NOTHING but produce godliness, character, and discipline in my life. Before, I never felt that I was doing good enough, and so would regularly think, "Who really cares then?", and would sort of "punch out" for a few days. Because of that, my "walk" was up and down, down and up, and there was no real stability to it. However, the truth that I'm accepted in the beloved, and "as Jesus is", frees me to live everyday for the sake of Christ, knowing that I am never NOT measuring up! I measure up in Christ, and so I do not need to "punch out" from exhaustion and hopelessness.
Yep, I'll tell you right now, Grace has produced some "horror stories" in my life. I'm sure the devil and his defeated buddies are HORRIFIED at what has taken place in my life as a result of believing this Gospel, but I for one couldn't be happier.
- Mark Paulson and 108 others like this.
- 50 of 54
- Michael Gibney The funny thing is these people who are looking for an excuse to live haphazardly would have found something...and the people who want to blame it on grace preaching would have found another doctrine or reason to pounce on. Human nature man... Whatever.... I'd rather preach grace and have someone abuse it than never to preach it at all. ...jerks.
- Jeff Turner Also, the same folks who live "loosely" after embracing grace would have just simply all out rejected the "law" gospel. So really, what is the difference? There is none. It's just about the person, and the condition of their heart in that moment. Besides, who's to say that someone getting drunk because they say they're under grace is any worse than someone being prideful and arrogant because of their morality?
- Arthur Robins my main problem i have with hypergrace is that whenever i mention that some of GOD'S ''Laws__(instructions for living) contain His WISDOM, you get called all kinds of names, all of them WRONG. IF YOU CANT SEE GODS LOVE IN HIS WISDOM, THEN YOUR doctrin...See More
- Michelle Collins So agree!!!! I lived that hell myself and found that it was easier to give in to the sin as it didn't seem that I could get around it. There will be people who abuse grace but I belive from my own personal experience that many more will just sin in the...See More
- Fidel Whosoever Arce It's ok cuz after you except God's Grace you tend to be angry at the church, shortly after they drink the wine and get in the bliss and Jesus will reveal Himself and then. It's all good and they will mature instantly
- Valerie Charron "who's to say that someone getting drunk because they say they're under grace is any worse than someone being prideful and arrogant because of their morality?" Well said.
- Jeff Turner Arthur Robins, There are some extremists who jump to big conclusions in ANY movement in church history. Luther axed James' epistle from the New Testament among many other things. Yet, we are indebted to him for what he brought to the Church. There w...See More
- Jeff Turner Fidel Whosoever Arce, I hear you, bro. There is a period that MANY go through of anger and bitterness. However, when they go beyond grace, and embrace the Father's love for the whole body, there is healing, and many of the overreactions go away on their own.
- Michael Gibney The funny thing is all these objections to Grace are confronted in Romans. These are things that have always happened in the church and will till Jesus comes. We do not guide our doctrines on the performance or abuse of man but on the word of God.
- Jeff Turner I think the criticism is, in some ways healthy, and needed in order for there to be some adjustments. On the same hand, it's proof that the Gospel is being preached correctly.
- Fidel Whosoever Arce Paul preached Grace and was criticized and persecuted. We preach Grace now. How have things changed? Lol
- Jeff Turner Fidel Whosoever Arce, It hasn't, and it won't. And for the most part I could care less. I'd like to give those who "criticize" a big hug, and go see a movie with them. I'm only addressing this since it's making waves in national Christian news.
- Carla Woods Many have abused freedoms in the past, but that does not negate the freedom. Many that reject the New Covenant teachings of grace live in America where the freedoms that America provides are abused every day (burning of the American flag, using their '...See More
- Stefan Korth God had waited until Moses til he introduced himself to mankind through the law he gave. Until then every person was legally sinless, as besides the heritage of Adam, they could not break any law of god as there was only the one, not to eat from that t...See More
- Fidel Whosoever Arce @stephan Legally sinles NO sin was always there! The Jews did a ritual of an animal sacrifice once a year and God only "COVERED" the or sin
- Dana Elizabeth Fripp The freedom to know you are fully loved, fully redeemed, and now you can go and sin no more. HORRORS! Dun-dun-duuuuuun! Thanks, Jeff Turner. Good stuff.
- Fidel Whosoever Arce Just like when Adam realized he was naked, God killed animals to make clothes for him and his wife... Without the shedding of blood there was no remission of din
- Marco Lochem Alvara Shalom...I believe in Adonias grace that allows us to come before him for the forgiveness of our sins..we are made complete to his righteousness because of it..but what must be understood is just cause we live under his grace does not mean it gives us ...See More
- Josh Jordan I think that once someone comes out from the bondage of living under legalistic pressure, they can have things in there lives that come to the surface that most likley were already hidden behind closed doors and might not be the best choices for them, ...See More
- David Collins Thanks Jeff, I'm grateful for your gracious rebuttals of these denouncements. It's simply church history repeating itself - God is breathing fresh life into the gospel of grace and proponents of past moves of God are resisting. I've been in ministry over 40 years and have seen it all before. Grace and peace to your family and church from New Zealand.
- Marcia Struble Totally agree. 99% of grace preachers/people are not saying or preaching what 99% of critics say they are.
I started out being "offended" but realized it wasn't the message that was offensive but the way I perceived the delivery. The message, the Good ...See More - Christina Augustyniak A video! Wonderful! ... Anyone who has been under the law and finally gets set free can relate to all you have said above. I'm sharing this in hopes the Light will shine and others will get set free!
- Jeff Turner This video is about two years old - but I address some of the same issues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt1GLkQ39EEwww.youtube.comGrace and sin can coexist, but Grace and legalism can never coexist.
- Cara Harris Love your work jeff. I have just been on a four day missions trip with a "holyness/law" preacher. It was amazing to see how law and grace can be two ways of bringing the same massage. That is: FREEDOM FROM SIN and PEACE WITH GOD!!
It is also 100% clea...See More - Margie Addison Tubbs What part of life more abundantly are the horrors you just descirbed? None. I was just like you. I searched my heart night and day, lest there be some sin that I didn't know about that would keep me out of heaven. I didn't allow myself to enjoy anythin...See More
- Natalie Haskell I REALLY love this. I seriously do not get how people live their entire lives this way! Thank you so much for speaking up about this. I know it's not easy. But it's such a relief to hear someone admit that they felt this way too. Being caught up in the fire of religion were the worst years of my life when it came to anxiety and panic attacks.
- Marco Lochem Alvara Jeff God bless u brother the video clip u shared sums it up...I wish more folks would watch ...
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