Sam's Schoolwork - Religion - Last Best Word Response

    I certainly agree with Mr Yancy that grace is indeed the last best word. Even words such as love and mercy have been twisted, although only slightly. Yes, grace is not able to be shown outside of a life influenced by God. Grace is something that is selfless, by which I mean not simply not benefiting oneself but self sacrificing, which the ungodly are not able to do. People are able to die for a good man, or to sacrifice something precious, gaining at least their own sense of self worth. Yet, sacrificing yourself for someone who is not what one would consider a good person does not even contribute that. And yet, that is the concept that most people do not realize as being what God wants us to do.
    The Church is not a place for perfect people. In the words of my late pastor, "Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners." Just like a lot of people in the Psychiatric Ward do not understand that they are sick, a lot of people are in the church, and not trying to be saved. They see the church as a place where they have their act together already, or at least are getting it together simply by being there. People look at that and see their attitude, (Which a lot of people need to fix; including myself) and it repulses them, as it says "I have my act together and you don't." This makes them feel worse, as there is no hope in those words. And where there is no hope, God is not in them. God and his words convict us, but not condemn us. The difference between the two is that conviction carries hope along with it.
    There is no defined, quick solution to the problem. I think the best way to fix this is not to focus on fixing others, but rather ask God to help us to fix ourselves. Church is not a place whose focus should be on the outside world, as by doing so, it misses out on the thing that is needed to truly fix the world; attending to ourselves, and making us who God wants us to be. Therein by doing so, we will be able to help the world, and show Christ through us.