Grace - A Christian Entitlement Program?
By Jack Jackson

As I lay awake last night with the Lord it dawned on me that many Christians appear to look at grace as an entitlement program they are now entitled to, rather than it being a blessing.

When our Nation began to enact social welfare, to really help the down and out; it started off with it being a huge blessing which was appreciated by those it was meant to help. Many had much pride and either did not want to accept it, or tried to get off the program as soon as possible. Then as time went on, many started to demand that which was first a gift. They began to feel entitled to it, making it really no longer a gift at all. Many even began to complain that they wanted more and more and showed they were really not thankful at all. The program which was enacted to help people make it was grown into a program that could be manipulated to rip off the system. Trying to remove that type of system now would be nearly impossible and political suicide for any candidate who would try it.

I see a parallel between that mentality and those who believe that God is not just in taking His gift back. They claim it is by grace upon grace, yet they somehow seem to feel entitled to the grace once they receive it. Does that still make it grace?

We can read the Bible and have no problem with the punishments for the Jews or see no fault with a King who would take back his gift (of a huge debt paid off) from that servant who would not also forgive a debtor; yet, we scream "you don't understand grace" to one who suggests God could touch the gift He gave them!

Do they now see the grace of God as another entitlement program which they demand God honor? How utterly haughty and highminded! How perverse and shallow is their fear of the Lord?

Will they really negotiate with God on Judgment Day? Will they demand justice, when He says depart men from Me?

The fact that some might demand justice, will result in them getting exactly what they deserve, eternity in hell! It is what we all deserve, now, tomorrow, and for eternity. We never deserve heaven, never can lay claim to it, IT NEVERS BECOMES AN ENTITLEMENT!

By the grace of God may we always be thankful for Jesus' blood and never feel entitled to it. Is it too much to be thankful enough to turn from our sins? Is it too much for God to expect honor and fear?

"A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priets, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine alter; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. And ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts. And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the Lord of hosts. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught? neither do ye kindle fire on mine alter for naught. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at you hand. Malachi 1:6-10

Many Christians return polluted and less than their reasonable service of worship for the great gift of grace ever known to man. Do they think God can't see they are bringing their blind, lame and sick faiths and trying to trade it for grace? Their faith is an abomination to God because it neither honors Him, nor shows forth fear which He deserves. Those who would offer such stained and polluted lives of service, and claim God doesn't care because of His grace will find out on Judgment Day how foolish they became.

These are they of the Laodicean church, thinking everything is fine, when Jesus is on the outside looking in and even knocking at the door. A man on a forum named Doc H said that Christians don't have to worry about the Spirit leaving, yet Jesus clearly stood knocking to get in at the churches door. They were so blind they didn't even know He was outside knocking. Can deception be that deceptive? Obviously, YES!

Don't turn the grace of God into an "entitlement program", or help others get away with doing so. Some even preach the gospel as an entitlement program, where God (or should I say god) becomes the servant to you, rather than you doing everything he says, and following the will of His Father in heaven.

Anyone who can honestly say they feel God would be unjust to send them to hell, regardless of whom they are, has now turned the gift of grace into an entitlement that they possess and that God can't take away from them, because they have a right to it.

I place my trust and hope in what Jesus did, but feel it is foolishness to think that if I return His grace by placing myself right back on the throne of my life, that He would be unjust to give me my hearts desire, "Myself Forever" in a lake which burns with fire. He says He gives eternal life to those who keep on hearing and keep on following (John 10:27). If any of us stop doing that, can we say anything to Him at Judgment Day if He denies us? If we don't forgive others, can we find fault if He doesn't forgive us? (Matthew 6:14-15) If we turn from our first love (Him) can we say He is unjust if we are denied the tree of life? (Revelation 2:1-7) If we fail to keep our robes white and find our name was blotted out of the book of life, can we blame anyone but ourselves? (Revelation 3:1-6) If we become lukewarm, and He spits us from His mouth, can we argue that He was not fair? (Revelation 3:14-22). He warned us of all these and more in scripture, if we will actually read them and just accept the warnings, rather than trying to argue with men that God's word doesn't say what it does.

Who will stand before the Lord and argue their case for why they deserve heaven? Only fools!!!!!!!!!

Jack Jackson