Lectionary for 7/17/09

Today's readings are 1 Samuel 1.1-20 and Galatians 5.1-26.

Our reading in Galatians today talks about the believer falling from grace.  This idea of falling from grace is widely misunderstood in the Church today.  We often think of a fall from grace as showing up in a fall into sinful behavior.  Among some branches of Christianity this ends up being equated with the behaviors listed in Galatians 5.19-21.  I remember well the people who made it quite clear that believers would not engaged in social drinking (antisocial drinking was all right?), tobacco use, dancing, or theater-going. What does Paul say about the fall from grace?  

Paul says the fall from grace puts us not into licentious behavior but into bondage to legalism.  Those who have fallen from grace try to earn, maintain, or prove their spirituality by the works of the Law.  Law and Grace are the polar opposites, as Paul sees them.  So what of the people above who took a firm stance against drinking and the like?  Paul would say they have fallen from grace and are in bondage to the Law.  

What is the believer's response to such a passage of Scripture?  First of all, we are confronted with our sinful tendency to try to earn our salvation.  We all bind ourselves to the Law all too easily.  It's so nice to know what we can do.  "What must we do to be saved?"  The answer, of course, is, "Nothing, the very fact that you ask that question indicates you are saved.  Now go live like you are, in the grace of God, giving thanks to him.  And be baptized as our Lord commanded, since clearly you are already exhibiting that regeneration which the Lord promises."  So what about the social drinking, tobacco use, dancing, or theater-going?  We don't have to do that kind of thing, but our Lord has not commanded against it.  We do not earn merit by doing it or by not doing it.  Let us merely be guarded in how we conduct our lives, being good stewards before our Lord of what he has so graciously provided.