Keeping Faith

June 29, 2018

Ask any Super Bowl champion, Stanley Cup holder, or World Series winner what are the chances that they’ll be at the top the next year, and though they might be optimistic, they know that the odds are against them. Back to back championships don’t happen often; three in a row are unheard of. It turns out that winning everything is much easier than holding onto it. 

In 1787, as the first Constitutional Convention ended, a woman is reported to have asked Benjamin Franklin whether the fledgling country had a monarchy or a republic. His response, “A republic, if you can keep it.” James Madison, the architect of the Constitution, had studied various forms of governments throughout history, and concluded along with others, that democracies tend to implode in a relatively short period of time. Once the majority realizes it can outvote the minority, it is a rapid slide from freedom to manipulation, coercion, and dictatorship. Republican government such as ours is designed to put the brakes on majority rule, thus securing a more lasting stability. This system has been under increasing attack, as the majority always desires absolute control, while the minority reacts defensively with stonewalling or aggression, rightly fearing the total loss of liberty.

Franklin was right; keeping liberty is more difficult than securing it. If this is true politically, it is even more true in matters of faith. St. Paul chided the Galatian Christians,  saying, “Who has bewitched you, that you should turn away from grace?” He could imagine no logical reason anyone would exchange God’s grace which secured their freedom for the burden of human effort as a means of salvation. Later in this letter, he challenges them, saying, “For freedom Christ has set you free. Stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (5:1).

Why did he write these words? Because we are so susceptible to the allure of trying to earn our favor with God. It cannot be done. In Christ, God did for us what we cannot do for ourselves, viz. he declared us to be in right relationship with him due to Christ’s having suffered and died in our place. It is wholly by grace. And yet, we keep jettisoning salvation by grace through faith for homemade salvation. We don’t like to be beholden to anyone, even God. It is often harder to keep our salvation than it is to receive it. I am thankful tonight that forgiveness and freedom from guilt is not only a gift to be received, but a lifestyle to be kept. And by God’s grace, we can keep it.