March 15, 2010 issue
FPU speaker: Grace will fill the gap
By Fresno Pacific University staffPage:
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FRESNO, Calif. — Misunderstanding grace makes us guilty, tired and thirsty, according to pastor and author John Ortberg.
John Ortberg: “We have restricted grace to just the forgiveness of sin.” — Photo provided by FPU
Despite the wonder of God’s grace, we still feel emptiness due to “the gap between the me I am and the me God wants me to be,” Ortberg told a record crowd of 550 pastors and lay leaders Feb. 25 at Fresno Pacific University’s Central Valley Ministry Forum.
We try to fill that gap by increasing activity, getting spiritually fit the way we would get physically fit. We compare ourselves to others, feel guilty and decide to try harder.
“The result of misguided trying harder is fatigue,” Ortberg said.
Once tired, we stop trying. Once we stop trying we feel guilty again and restart the cycle.
“What if there’s another way?” Ortberg asked. “What if this is not God’s will for spiritual formation?”
Ortberg is senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church after nine years as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church. His books include If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat; The Life You’ve Always Wanted and Faith and Doubt.
Our do-it-yourself spiritual formation fails because we don’t fully understand grace.
“We have restricted grace to just the forgiveness of sin,” Ortberg said. “We’re meant to live in grace.”
Living on grace is not about doing more. It’s about treating grace like water. Jesus told the thirsty to come to him.
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