In 2004, one of my favorite theologians likened American consumerism to Naziism. I thought he was grossly overstating the problem. But he was right. Naziisim brought down Germany, and consumerism brought America to the brink of collapse, which may still occur. Thankfully, consumerism didn't result in the death of millions of people, although one could argue that it does. Consumerism leads to us spending money on ourselves, rather than meeting the needs of the needy who are dying worldwide by the thousands on a daily basis. So, maybe consumerism is worth looking at.
Some 25 years ago, I began coming to Sandestin for legal seminars. At that time, there were two towers of condos and the Sandestin Hilton. Now, there are seven additional towers on the beach side‼! Seven new towers‼! Twenty-five years ago, there were some small boutiques in the Market Shops of Sandestin which fronted Highway 98, along with a small restaurant for breakfast and light lunch. My wife did her shopping there and always found a cute outfit. We ate many small meals there. Now, those shops are largely vacant, except for the chains—Starbucks, Columbia Clothing, and Beef O’Bradys. This parcel of real estate—these shops—probably meets the definition for blighted. But hold on, there was plenty of room across Highway 98 to build newer and better shops, so they did. In America, everything always needs to be bigger and better.
Some 25 years ago, I began coming to Sandestin for legal seminars. At that time, there were two towers of condos and the Sandestin Hilton. Now, there are seven additional towers on the beach side‼! Seven new towers‼! Twenty-five years ago, there were some small boutiques in the Market Shops of Sandestin which fronted Highway 98, along with a small restaurant for breakfast and light lunch. My wife did her shopping there and always found a cute outfit. We ate many small meals there. Now, those shops are largely vacant, except for the chains—Starbucks, Columbia Clothing, and Beef O’Bradys. This parcel of real estate—these shops—probably meets the definition for blighted. But hold on, there was plenty of room across Highway 98 to build newer and better shops, so they did. In America, everything always needs to be bigger and better.
At the same time, people are starving in Africa. I know this is trite, but it’s true. At the same time that we are building more and more vacation spots, and more and more shops in America, children in America are living in broken homes, they are living in dangerous neighborhoods, they are receiving little to no education, politicians are bashing one another, the government has become “Big Brother,” and the middle class is dying. At the same time that we Americans are relying upon consumerism for an economic revival, the middle class is being destroyed, and the poor have no hope. But the problems are worse in other parts of the world: people are starving, countless people in Africa have AIDS, warlords are reigning, men are subjugating women, and pedophilia is accepted (Kite Runner).
Maybe, just maybe, we as Americans need to examine our hearts, our priorities, and fall on our knees in repentance. Maybe, just maybe, we as members of the human race who get to vacation at Sandestin and get to shop in the newest shops, need to ask for God’s grace to change our hearts in a radical fashion…to perform heart surgery through the radicality of His grace. But what is radical grace? It's free, absolutely free.
Free Grace. This terminology give apoplexy to most people, including most so-called Christian preachers and theologians. Free Grace—favor bestowed simply because God chooses to, not because of anything we have done. But free grace is rejected by most everyone. You always hear:
“If God’s grace is free, then what incentive do people have to live good lives?”
“If God’s grace is free, then won’t I just sin more?’
“If God’s grace is free, won’t people just become more and more selfish?”
No, it doesn’t work that way. Contrary to every other religion and contrary to most forms of so-called Christianity, true Christianity says that “free grace” is the only thing that actually leads to selfless, not selfish, deeds. If it is true that your only reason for doing good deeds is fear of retribution or a desire for reward, then your good deeds are done for selfish reasons. Many of my Jewish friends believe that Christians only do good deeds so that they will be blessed by God and accepted into heaven. This is a fair critique. This is true for most persons who profess Christ. But this is Selfishness 101. No matter how good the actions may appear outwardly, they are tainted inwardly if done for reward or to avoid punishment. So, by definition, our good deeds are bad. How can one’s deeds ever become good? Only when one believes in free grace.
When we believe in free grace, then we know that we can’t earn acceptance from God, and we also know that we won’t face retribution for our bad deeds. This freedom from self-righteous living and from fearful living places us in a state of thankfulness to God, which issues forth in good deeds which are not just outwardly good, but also inwardly good. When our hearts desire to exhibit grace to others because of the grace which God has exhibited towards us, then our deeds are more selfless than selfish.
When we get free grace, then we can build houses for Habitat for Humanity, feed the poor, and be more community-minded without patting ourselves on the back or looking down on others for not doing it. Then, we can take vacations that are less extravagant and bypass the shops more often that not. Then, we have hope for truly righteous, not self-righteous, living.
When we get free grace, then we can build houses for Habitat for Humanity, feed the poor, and be more community-minded without patting ourselves on the back or looking down on others for not doing it. Then, we can take vacations that are less extravagant and bypass the shops more often that not. Then, we have hope for truly righteous, not self-righteous, living.
But the only, and I do mean the only, hope that we have for truly good deeds is the free grace of God. Oh what a Savior! Oh what a God! Oh what a Lord!
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