Is there such a thing...

...as too much grace?

Upon discussing this with a family member this week, I was told that a recent sermon she heard said the church in America has used grace as a crutch and that there is an emphasis on "too much grace" and not enough "consequences".

I can barely stand this kind of thinking. I actually heard another person say that New Orleans was like Sodom and Gomorrah and thus it was no surprise God chose to destroy it.

WHAT THE $%^&?

Hate to break it to ya, but there is evil in every city and goodness in every city. New Orleans just happened to be built below sea level and by an ocean. That alone is enough reason for destruction, obviously.

I refuse to believe that God is "up there" (well, all around us, really) waiting to dole out hardship and suffering as consequences. I think he is grieved by evil, surely, but I choose to believe He has more sadness over those who do not know Him than the rage of a hurricane.

My old church in Minnesota sang a song titled "God of Rage". This song was always a favorite, because rather than God being portrayed as typically rageful (i.e. lots of OT stories), he is full of raging compassion, love, and a deep desire for those who know Him and those who don't. He rages FOR us, not against us.

It is this thought I choose to take with me today, as I feel surrounded by shame and condemnation and instead I will surround myself with "too much grace".