‘Words’ are in the news. Several authorities have recently issued lists of words banned from use, for example, in schools, universities and councils.
Words that lie powerlessly in a dictionary when written or spoken have immense potency for good or harm.
If you were asked for a word that defines Christianity what would it be?
C S Lewis’s answer to that question was ‘grace’.
What is grace and why is it so significant?
Grace can mean polite and courteous behaviour, or a smooth and elegant movement, say, in a waltz.
In Christian belief, grace has a much higher meaning – it is the free and unmerited favour of God; the divine giving of good things free-of-charge to those who do not deserve them.
This grace is significant because it means that we do not have to be good people to find favour with God. You may say, “But that isn’t fair”.
Quite right, grace is not fair, because no matter how much more undeserving I am than you are, God responds to us in exactly the same way.
It has been well said that there is nothing I can do to make God love me more; nor anything I can do to make God love me less. Isn’t that amazing?
To quote one of the proverbs in the Bible, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”.
So, to receive God’s favour simply requires humility; being humble enough to recognise our waywardness, stop relying on ourselves, and accept all that God graciously offers, including complete forgiveness.
Peter Jackman, from Norreys Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
