Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
When Culture Seeks Revenge, the Church Seeks the Good (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

When Culture Seeks Revenge, the Church Seeks the Good (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

May 4, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, Discipleship, one another commands

Someone asked me how to cultivate a “culture of grace” in his church.

That is precisely the right kind of question to ask.

Grace should not only define the saving message (Eph 2:8-9), but the entire Christian life, including church life. Paul said we are no longer under law but under grace (Rom 6:14), and that should be reflected in your church culture.

But what does that look like?

It certainly does not look like anger and revenge. As Paul wrote:

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people (1 Thess 5:15).

What does a culture of grace look like?

Not like repaying evil for evil!

Or revenge!

That may be what the flesh wants, society does, and the news reports, but that is not how church life should be.

In a moral desert of revenge, church life should be an oasis of seeking to do good to your enemies—to the very people who did you evil.

I know that is outrageous.

I know that doesn’t make sense by any calculation of human justice.

And frankly, it won’t help you win nature’s bloody struggle for survival.

And yet, what do you expect? Is God’s grace in Christ supposed to make sense to the world?

No. It seems like foolishness. But who is the real fool? When people choose the bad news of revenge, don’t they always reap the predictable cycle of violence, blowback, and hurt that comes with lashing out in anger?

So don’t be shy of the foolishness of grace, because it is precisely that message that will come as good news to people burnt by revenge.

And if that is not reason enough, remember that Jesus is your King and you’re His ambassador. That means you’re here to represent Him, living according to His laws and customs, even if they seem strange to the culture around you. But maybe that’s the point.

To come back to the original question—how can you cultivate a culture of grace in your church?

You could start with revenge.

You might begin by naming and recognizing all the legitimate harms that culture says should be avenged. Don’t ignore or dismiss the devastating ways that people have been sinned against. Listen. Hear them out. But don’t stop there. Point them to the better way of the cross, where Jesus was pierced, crushed, and punished for the sins culture wants to avenge by their own hands (cf. Isa 53:5). Proclaim what the cross makes possible—that because of Jesus, you can step out of the cycle of revenge and pursue a better way.

Revenge is a bitter dish, so taste and see that the Lord is good, and seek the good of all.

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Shawn_L

by Shawn Lazar

Shawn Lazar (BTh, McGill; MA, VU Amsterdam) is the Editor of Grace in Focus magazine and Director of Publications for Grace Evangelical Society. He and his wife Abby have three children. He has written several books including: Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation and Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

May 27, 2022

Bob Wilkin – Life Story — DTS Experience

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Bob and Shawn are currently in a series discussing Bob’s autobiography, called “His Unseen Hand.” Today, they will be...
May 27, 2022

Does John 2:24 Prove That the Believers of John 2:23 Were Not True Believers? 

In response to a recent blog I wrote on “Beware of Confusing Explanations of John 3:16” (see here), Robert asks, “How do you handle John...
May 26, 2022

Bob Wilkin – Life Story – Campus Crusade Ministry – Arkansas State University – Meeting, Marrying Sharon – NC State University – Dallas Seminary

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Bob and Shawn are currently discussing Bobs upcoming autobiography. Today, they will be talking about Bobs time with campus...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Confident in Christ, 2nd Edition $22.00 $9.00
  • Beyond Calvinism and Arminianism $20.00 $14.00
  • Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation $15.00 $6.00
  • What Is the Outer Darkness? $14.00 $6.00
  • Luke: The Life of Imitating Jesus - Volume 2 $8.95 $2.50
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube