So what's wrong here?

[Hans Deventer]

The other day someone posted this one on Facebook.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdXGxNcs4eE

The more I look at it, the more disturbing I find it. There's actually one thing I do like about the video: "grace isn't fair". That's true.

[Todd Erickson]

This does seem to communicate that you can be as bad as you want, and as long as you're "a child of God" you're going to be fine.

[Paul DeBaufer]

This does seem to communicate that you can be as bad as you want, and as long as you're "a child of God" you're going to be fine.

Yeah. It wasn't even mentioned that Jesus was after the file of bad had gotten so big which could give the impression that one could live anyway they want and still be okay. And the guy certainly looked smug like he was getting away with something that the others weren't.

[Ryan Scott]

Wow. That's terrible.

[Dennis M. Scott]

Let's put that in the "spoof" category. Like many silly and unfortunate presentations, there are slivers of truth.

boogidy, boogidy, boogidy

[Benjamin Burch]

The other day someone posted this one on Facebook.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdXGxNcs4eE

The more I look at it, the more disturbing I find it. There's actually one thing I do like about the video: "grace isn't fair". That's true.

It's pretty standard Reformation imputed righteousness. We'll never be good enough, we're always sinners saved by grace, and ultimately Christ dies in our place to take our punishment and God views us as righteous because God looks at Jesus' righteousness, not our sinfulness. The same will be true on judgment day.

However, as many different scholars are making clear right now - this is the exact opposite of what Paul actually says.

[Marsha Lynn]

Interesting timing on this, Hans. I have been contemplating a blog post (I have actually made a couple of new posts in the past couple of weeks) along a similar line.

Recently, someone told a story of being confronted years ago for the first time with the question: "If you died and God asked you why he should let you into heaven, what would you say?" The speaker was caught off-guard by the question and gave the "wrong" answer -- he went to church and read his Bible and such. The trainer of the questioner pointed out to the trainee that this was the wrong answer. The correct answer, of course, was that he had repented and been forgiven and asked Jesus into his heart. It was because of his faith in Jesus that he would be able to stand confidently before God in heaven.

Really? Isn't that just another version of saying, "I followed all the rules, dotted all my evangelical i's and crossed all my evangelical t's"? Isn't it still a works-based salvation if we are relying on something we have done rather than falling simply on the grace of a God who knows us, hears the cry of our heart, and has accepted us?

(I blame Brian McLaren for my negative inner response to even that evangelically correct answer. I am reading A New Kind of Christianity and I fear that it is pushing me over the edge into outright evangelical heresy.)

Admittedly, that's a slightly different discussion than this video provokes, but I think the same part of my heart cringes in both cases because of the legal transaction mentality -- that somehow we have done something to ensure ourselves a place in heaven, that we have trapped God by his own words into admitting us.

It seems that the appropriate attitude of those in the line depicted would perhaps be, "I tried my best to follow the law of God but I know my best efforts don't even come close to qualifying me for heaven. My only hope is the grace and mercy of the God whose heart I sought to know and who has, incredibly, invited me into his presence."

You know, the worst part for me of that video was the guy who gave his life to serving others and was sent on his way as "not good enough". Really? Was there not a bit of God's influence and love in that selflessness? Can someone really live a life of selfless sacrifice for the sake of others without the grace of God being active in their lives?

Definitely something wrong somewhere.

Marsha

[Todd Erickson]

If you declare Jesus is the way in a way which says you're having your way, and everybody has to do it your way, or hit the highway, whose way is it, really?

[Dale Cozby]

It seems to me that everyone should be wearing dirty bloody clothes and that the guy with Jesus is the one wearing white. You may have gotten a ticket to get in, but this affair is stickly white tie....so come dressed.


"For many are invited, but few are chosen."
"they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’"
"and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

[David Lyons]

Hans,

You asked "What's wrong here?" Well, mainly the video is only making one point, which is that the only way to Heaven is with Jesus. What's wrong is more a matter of what is missing or not explained. However, without researching this video or its origins, I would guess that this video could be used as a discussion starter for a class. I doubt that it was intended to give the whole story in less than 3 minutes.

[Wes Smith]

Without knowing more about who put this together and why, it succinctly illustrates my repulsion at much of Christian theology. Multitudes lost. One man found. Begs the question, "Who wins?" And, just in case my logic is oblique, in this description, Satan and evil clearly wins. I thoroughly and totally reject that possibility.

Friend,

Wes

[David Graham]

If you declare Jesus is the way in a way which says you're having your way, and everybody has to do it your way, or hit the highway, whose way is it, really?

Exactly!

Just one thought though? Didn't Jesus die for all sinners (therefore everyone?) Isn't grace extended to all?
The Calvinists say NO, but I don't agree!

They're vieo clip depiction is far too simplistic and couldn't possibly reveal why people are finally rejected (if indeed they are!). In the end I believe that if any are finally rejected it will be because they have finally rejected Christ..... the only Saviour!

[Randy Wise]

If you declare Jesus is the way in a way which says you're having your way, and everybody has to do it your way, or hit the highway, whose way is it, really?

It is the Father who glorifies the Son and the Father is glorified in the Son. It is the Father who shows Jesus is the way to true salvation. We have a lengthy testimony through many people made known to all. (OT + NT). We ourselves also testify about Jesus by deed and word.

This isn't to hard to understand but for many outside the faith its hard to accept that Jesus is the Living bread that came down from heaven. He who believes in Him shall not go hungry and he who believes in Him shall not be thirsty. Jesus did have a way with words.

Many still refuse....But the offer stands and Jesus knocks at the door.

Jesus showed the way:
You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.



Randy

[Todd Erickson]

It is the Father who glorifies the Son and the Father is glorified in the Son. It is the Father who shows Jesus is the way to true salvation. We have a lengthy testimony through many people made known to all. (OT + NT). We ourselves also testify about Jesus by deed and word.

This isn't to hard to understand but for many outside the faith its hard to accept that Jesus is the Living bread that came down from heaven. He who believes in Him shall not go hungry and he who believes in Him shall not be thirsty. Jesus did have a way with words.

Many still refuse....But the offer stands and Jesus knocks at the door.

Jesus showed the way:
You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.



Randy

...

Why did you bother quoting me here? In what way is your statement, in any way, at all, a response to what I was saying?

[Randy Wise]

...

Why did you bother quoting me here? In what way is your statement, in any way, at all, a response to what I was saying?

Those outside the faith wouldn't be in response to you what I responded to was the way that is proclaimed.

Randy

[Todd Erickson]

Those outside the faith wouldn't be in response to you what I responded to was the way that is proclaimed.

Randy

Once again. In doing so, you are not actually responding to my statement at all, but only the part of my statement that you wanted, thus ignoring the actual meaning of my statement.

And, in a way, illustrating it, I suppose. *sigh*

[Randy Wise]

Once again. In doing so, you are not actually responding to my statement at all, but only the part of my statement that you wanted, thus ignoring the actual meaning of my statement.

And, in a way, illustrating it, I suppose. *sigh*

*sigh* to you as well:)

R.

[Hans Deventer]

*sigh* to you as well:)

R.

Randy, you may not understand but this was a sigh of frustration because no communication was established. What is so funny abou that?

[Paul DeBaufer]

If you declare Jesus is the way in a way which says you're having your way, and everybody has to do it your way, or hit the highway, whose way is it, really?

I completely agree!

Repeatedly Jesus tells us the He is the Gate, He is the Way. It is Jesus who determines who enters ans who does not. Our doctrines and dogmas have nothing to do with it. Yet, we think that by making some dogma and doctrine out of this we get to decide. At best our doctrines and dogmas concerning what is meant by Jesus' statements about being the Way, the Gate are opinions. Although so many of us will use them to deny entrance to to others. We usurp Jesus' role.

[James Diggs]

The other day someone posted this one on Facebook.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdXGxNcs4eE

The more I look at it, the more disturbing I find it. There's actually one thing I do like about the video: "grace isn't fair". That's true.

I absolutely agree that grace isn't fair. But my problem with the video is the moralistic lens in which it views the gospel. The "Good-o-Meter" misses the point of how we are both lost and redeemed; as it misses the point consistent with our particular Christian culture within our larger culture which obsesses with contextual-less moralism.

The closest the video got to being on track was in the end when the last person was saved through his "identity". And this is what is wrong with the "Good-o-Meter", because it incorrectly applies that God was ever looking for anything else.

Failing to love God with our whole being (as beings created in God’s image) and likewise failing to love our neighbors AS ourselves isn’t about failing some moralistic standard to be “good enough” but rather a more troubling sign that we have lost our identity and what it means to be a human being in God’s image.

Thanks be to God that Jesus redeems us by identifying with us and embracing our humanity as his own anyway (through the incarnation- cross- and resurrection).

So in a way the video gets it right in the end; but the tragedy of the video (and the way many preach the gospel today) is that the good news is very often obfuscated by our insistence that God will one day make us stand on a "Good-o-Meter". By completely missing the point of our problem we undermine the gospel itself and can miss what our redemption in Jesus Christ is really all about.

[Rich Schmidt]

It's pretty standard Reformation imputed righteousness. ... God views us as righteous because God looks at Jesus' righteousness, not our sinfulness.

That seemed to be the main message I got from the video. Which is close to correct... but not quite. Or perhaps, as David said, it only tells part of the story. (Imputed righteousness without imparted righteousness?)

What it gets right: Grace isn't fair. Our sins, though they may be many, are done away with and not held against us. Our salvation is through Christ and our being identified with him.

I think enough others have already pointed out the myriad ways that the video falls short. Of course, every analogy falls short.