What’s so amazing about grace?

When my friend Grace recommended to me the book “What’s so amazing about Grace?” I was tempted to say to myself “What a megalomaniac - asking me to read a book about you! Perhaps you wrote it yourself?” Of course, knowing Grace, I knew that was not the case. It turned out to be an excellent book written by Philip Yancy. Half way through the book, I went out to buy a copy for myself to keep.

The world is full of “an eye for an eye” type of justice, and rightly so. Grace, on the other hand, is Christianity’s unique contribution to the world, according to C. S. Lewis. It is God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached.

A Boston woman’s wedding was called off because the bridegroom-to-be had cold feet. But the banquet was already ordered. So the bride-to-be changed the menu to boneless chicken – “in honor of the groom” – and sent invitations to rescue missions and homeless shelters. Hyatt Hotel waiters in tuxedos ended up serving hors d’oeuvers, champagne, and chocolate wedding cake to senior citizens on crutches and aluminum walkers, bag ladies, vagrants, and drug addicts.

It is unnatural and underserved. Behind every act of forgiveness lies a wound of betrayal, and the pain does not easily fade away. It is pretty amazing that someone so wounded can forgive. Yet Jesus requires – no, demands – a response of forgiveness. Anyone can love friends and family. But love your enemies? Now, that’s truly amazing.

In reality there is no other way around some of the logjams. If everyone follow the “eye for an eye” principle of justice, observed Gandhi, eventually the whole world would go blind. Yet it seems so unfair, to forgive injustice. We are caught between forgiveness and justice.

In the final analysis, forgiveness is an act of faith. By forgiving another, I am trusting that God is a better justice-maker than I am.

All of the above, and a lot more, are in the book. It is highly recommended.