Greetings!
Did you know that gracialistic “believers” are the most toxic of their kind?
I have been a leader and teacher within the global grace community for 40+ years. I have watched a once well balanced theological positioning erode into a grace that shackles. Some of the rudest and more judgmental “believers” I have encountered functioning under the label of “grace.” It is almost like they are using “grace” as some kind of whipping-post for their campaign. It is as if they are using “grace” as permission to sin against their fellow brothers and sisters. In fact, I find unsaved people far more graceful than this elitist group.
“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!”
(Romans 6:15)
There is a massive difference between “gracialistic” and Grace Life. Gracialistic individuals make use of the ideologies OF grace while disregarding the person of Grace – the indwelling Jesus. My experience is they bypass talking about their Husband Jesus and compulsively reference their “grace-life” with their relationship with “Daddy.” Thus proving, they hide their disobedience behind their “religion” of grace by disregarding the authoritative conduit of their immediate authority - Jesus. This is why most of them have a serious problem respecting authority figures. If you talk to them, most responses are cloaked in the elements OF grace. If they become wounded, they typically bleed judgment, tie you to their whipping-post and whip you with the doctrines of “grace.” This is why I question the authentic salvation's of “gracialistic” followers.
It is impossible to have an authentic relationship with “gracialistic” people.
These people are adversaries, not friends.
Classically they are “control freaks.” They are rarely teachable and fronting them usually ends in a broken relationship, “I am done with you.” A dear friend of mine, Lee LeFebre, classifies this group as those who are “Becoming a Better Sinner.” Meaning, gracialistics use grace to “white-wash” their sins to look more LIKE Jesus vs. allowing Jesus to be Himself in the authentic believer. Covertly, these are confessions of their identity being in “grace” vs. Jesus Christ. As odd as that sounds!
“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Romans 5:20-21)
Whenever you have sin increasing
in relationships, I can assure you Grace is not the motive of minimally one of the individuals. Although, when a gracialistic person uses transgression as their bases of communications, the authentic Grace of God will be the Lord’s final objective. But…this requires one of the individuals to be possessed by the Grace of God, the person of Jesus. Keep in mind, people who use grace as their identity are usually empirically deceived. Since the talk of grace simulates the person of Grace, deception is easily implanted. Once the deception of being LIKE Jesus is primary, the Truth of Jesus being Jesus fades into disregard.
True Grace is evidenced in Love.
Some of the most common idiosyncrasies, or complaints, surrounding an attempt of relationship with gracialistic people are, hypocrisy, clinging to belief over life, disregard for honor, rejoicing in defeat or being right, not admitting the other is correct, use grace to persecute, won’t weep with others, and exude an attitude of arrogance.
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.”
(Romans 12:9-17)
True authentic Love is always the evidence of true Grace.
In this passage, Paul is imploring and exhorting the leaders of the Body of Christ, to stir up and release Jesus’s exercise of Grace, and the discharge of such manifestations to unbelievers and believers alike, which by the way, begins with God is Love. His address starting with “hypocrisy” is at the core of his concern over the indwelt Saints. The Greek definition of “without hypocrisy” is,
anupokritos
,
without dissimulation
(deceit). He goes on to list the descriptives of authentic Grace. This forced assimilation! Most people learn through the processing of taking in and fully understanding information through comparative knowledge. Paul obviously knew this. But here is our challenge. Gracialistic people believe they already have assimilated these truths.
Their profession is contradictory to their works.
And…the worst part is, they don’t see it. This might be why it is called dissimulation (deceit). True Grace should be evidenced by, in a comprehensive sense, God is Love, Christ is this indwelling Love, the Saints are the branches of His Love, and all should be seen in eternal respect & honor to each, to "be without dissimulation"; or "hypocrisy." The Grace/Love to God should be with all the heart (Spirit), soul (mind, will and emotion), or otherwise “grace” will be only outward, formal, customary, and a religious act. To release Grace is to release His Life. Most indwelt believers understand that it is Christ alone who can be sincere, right, immovable, and genuine. After all, He is the only one that can search the heart, discover true motives, purify the heart and truly Love others in Word, tongue, and Life.
So, what is one to do with a gracialistic person? Grace-em! With the authentic Grace of God.
Stephen Phinney
