Proposed Core Value

Proposed Core Value

The Crossway Board has proposed a new core value for consideration by the congregation. This value will be presented (perhaps with minor word changes) at our annual meeting, and will be voted on at a future congregational meeting.

Superabounding Grace and Complete Obedience

We are committed to building a community that practices superabounding grace while calling our people to complete obedience to Christ.

In superabounding grace, we welcome people to come as they are and we will go to people where they are, and we are committed to building relationships with people as Jesus did, including with those who are often judged by others, just as Jesus welcomed sinners, prostitutes, and tax collectors (Luke 5:29-32).

We also call our people to complete obedience to Jesus in all parts of our lives, conforming to His call to holiness and to sacrificial service (Luke 5:27-28; 9:23-26). And we recognize that this road to complete obedience is lifelong and requires grace, patience, perseverance, and mutual encouragement (Hebrews 10:23-25; 12:7-13).

Questions and Answers

What are examples of superabounding grace?

  • A warm and honoring welcome of all who come to join with us
  • An eager invitation to all who might be open to come to learn more of Jesus
  • For each of us to consider: what makes us hesitate to provide a warm and honoring welcome?
    • The bumper sticker, the clothing, their political association, …
    • If they’ve hurt me, their standards of cleanliness, …
    • These may lead me to avoid them completely, or to show “a cold reluctance of the handshake”
  • Repeatedly Jesus shocked people by His willingness to associate (including eating meals together) with the people they and society judged

Are we at risk of implying our approval of sin?

  • Loving sinful people always has that risk (whether that sin relates to our money, or our anger, or our sexuality, or our power, or …)
    • even for people who are not new
  • We all join in the prayer of confession, and we choose to express that everyone is on a journey that includes uncovering new areas where we will need to change and grow
  • “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Who “enforces” complete obedience?

  • The short answer: the Holy Spirit, working among us
    • Conviction of the Spirit through the Word of God in community
  • Conversations also come at different “milestones” in the life of the church
    • For example: when people explore Baptism, Membership, or Leadership roles

When do we transition from grace to obedience?

  • We never leave grace
  • Increasing obedience comes over time
    • Through relationships and Life Groups and discipleship
    • As the Spirit works
    • Through the Bible, in preaching, teaching, Bible studies, personal reading, and more

Why are words needed in front of grace and obedience?

  • People wanted to moderate Jesus’ gracious welcome
    • In Jesus’ day, people were shocked that He gave priority to the ones whom they considered to be worse sinners
  • People also wanted to moderate Jesus’ call to obedience
    • Some left when His demands were too great
  • We also have a tendency to soften grace and to soften obedience, and so we choose to include words that help guard us against that tendency

What words should modify “grace” and “obedience”?

  • We have learned that “Radical” is a word that helps some of us and hinders others
  • Perhaps “superabounding grace”
    • “in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7
  • Perhaps “complete obedience”
    • “And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:6
    • “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:20

What makes this not be “bait and switch”?

  • That is, are we implying to people that we are affirming everything about them by warmly welcoming them, only later to say that we don’t affirm everything about them?
  • We want to communicate that every one of us is on the journey of growing obedience. And for every one of us, God still has significant work yet to do in our hearts. We are not currently aware of all the areas where God needs to do His work.
  • We look to the Holy Spirit to help guide when conviction will come in different areas in our lives for every one of us.
  • We will also endeavor to answer honestly questions that arise

What does it mean “to go to people where they are”?

  • It means that we don’t just wait for people to come to a worship service
  • First: we take the initiative to build connections with the people who are already in our social networks (neighborhoods, school, work, hobbies, …), including those we might be inclined to avoid, to welcome them and invite them to know more about Jesus
  • Second: as the Spirit leads, it also means establishing new connections with people who are not a part of a Christians community and who are not currently a part of our social networks. This will look different for different people