Perfect ~Submission~

The current split in the Church between the so-called “Grace” and “Holiness” camps is doing much damage to orthodoxy and practical Christian living and has its root more in culture and church history than in Biblical doctrine itself.

The constant back-and-forth and bickering between both pulpits is making their adherents feel that anyone who preaches “Holiness” is against grace and anyone who emphasises “Grace” does it to hide antinomianism (lawlessness).

Each camp feeds off the extremes of the other and are just as guilty in their equally extreme retorts and gross caricaturing of the other’s views. This dichotomy between Grace and Holiness is false. Both camps must appreciate that grace implies holiness and holiness is impossible without grace.

Something has terribly gotten lost in translation if any call to holy living is viewed as “work”, and any emphasis on restful Christianity is seen as easy-believism or even licentiousness.

The second stanza of Fanny Crosby’s Blessed Assurance utters the two phrases: “Perfect submission” and “Perfect delight” in one single breath. There’s obedience in Christ. In Mat 11:28-30 Jesus says those who are heavily laden should come take his yoke! While this looks like nothing but a switch of burdens, He adds that his yoke is easy, and his burden is  light.

Christian living is analogous to work in marriage. Regardless of the gruelling task of married life, every weekend we see young men and women rushing into it; why? Because it’s beautiful work, because it’s gratifying work, because it’s work borne out of love and not of compulsion.

We know that 1Jn 5:3 says that the love of God is that we “keep his commandments”; but it also adds that God’s commandments “are not burdensome.” The regenerated heart is naturally for holy living, righteousness and discipline, and will not bristle at any mention of it.

We’re all love-struck brides living in obedience to our Lord and Christ. Is it work? If they say so. But to us it is perfect submission; it is perfect delight.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN