An Odd Logic

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, MUCH MORE, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

-- Romans 5:10

Neither reason nor prudence would die for an enemy. But, that is precisely what Christians believe God has done for us. “When we were enemies” Christ died for us.

The metaphor of the enemy indicates that there is more to sin than simply making a mistake. Sin is being viewed as a rebellion. It is revolt. It is as though sin were a declaration of war against God and his kingdom.

Though God is not intimidated by our puny revolution, he is wounded by it. It grieves him to see us plunge headlong into our own destruction. 

God is strong enough to bear the pain of our rejection. He has chosen to absorb the devastating effects of our sin in order to reconcile us to himself. God has chosen to demonstrate his divine power by saving us from our worst selves, recreating a pure heart within us and resurrecting us to a new life in Christ. 

An odd logic is at work here -- a logic of superabundance.

Surprised by Superabundance

Throughout the Bible a two word phrase stands out as sign of superabundance -- the phrase "much more."

Jesus used the phrase several times. Once when he said:

"Wherefore, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"

-- Matthew 6:30

We are often in the habit of worrying. We want the security of knowing well in advance where we will get the resources for the necessities of life. We fret and fidget and scheme and plan. Most of our worries are well beyond a concern for the essentials. We're not worried about being clothed, we're concerned about being clothed in the newest styles and latest fashions.

Jesus addressed our anxieties. He tells us to consider the lilies of the field -- Solomon in all his glory was never arrayed like one of them. How much more shall he clothe us?

God's love and grace always surprises us. It's always much more than we deserve or expect.

Citizens of a Different Kingdom

"For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."

-- Hebrews 13:14

Christians are strangers and pilgrims in this world. We are "in" the world but not "of" the world and we live "between the times." We are citizens of the kingdom of God who are sojourning in a foreign land.

Christians should live in a peculiar manner. We should neither think nor act like those at home in this world. The world thinks by a logic of equivalence. At best, men of the world live by rules, regulations and laws. Laws help us treat each other equally and fairly, but laws do not permit us to respect individual differences.

Christians think by a logic of superabundance. We live by faith. That faith is expressed by a pattern of life that allows us to respond to each other as individuals and persons. We live according to a standard that is higher than justice and equity. We measure ourselves by Christ's love. That's why we can turn the other cheek, walk the second mile, give both our coat and our cloak, and forgive one another seventy times seven.

On God's Logic

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." -- Isaiah 55:8

Man's logic is a logic of equality and equivalence. It is a logic that measures things by reason and prudence. It is a logic that gives us rules to live by -- an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

God's logic is neither reasonable nor prudent. His logic is one of generosity and superabundance. His reasoning transcends rules and regulations. Instead, he gives us patterns of response -- turn the other cheek, walk a second mile. The Christian pattern of life is one that responds to others by giving more than can be asked by ordinary judiciousness.

The pattern of response that Jesus asks of us is the same pattern we find in God's response to us. That is what prompted Paul to say, "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." -- Romans 5:20

Note: This post is a synopsis of an essay on the "Logic of Jesus, the Logic of God" by Paul Ricoeur published in Christianity and Crisis sometime in the late 1970's.

Signs of Superabundance

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."

-- 2 Corinthians 9:8

God’s love is always superabundant. It can be seen in the grace that is liberally lavished on the unworthy. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This forgiveness fills our hearts with peace and hope and joy.

Such generosity has a purpose. God intends for our hearts and lives to be so full that they overflow. He equips, empowers and motivates us to perform every good deed, as we trust his all sufficiency in everything.

Even in the worst of times, if we give honest reflection to God's love, his graciousness toward us should continually spill over in acts of gratitude and love toward others.