Grace, Truth: AND, not OR
by Amy McGinnis
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son,
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14, NIV
When clients first meet with me for therapy, they often exhibit a thinking pattern which works to place events, situations, and people into strict categories such as good or bad, right or wrong. This pattern of thought is known as “black and white thinking.” On the surface, it may seem prudent to label situations or events as good or bad, as this can help keep us safe or prevent us from following harmful methodologies. However, this extreme thinking often manifests itself in thoughts like “I am a bad person” or “My life is terrible,” leading to negative beliefs about oneself and the world.
I have noticed when I see two words together, such as “grace” and “truth,” I tend to view them in terms of black and white thinking, as if they were opposite ends of one spectrum. Black and white thinking may lead me to choose between grace and truth in various situations, rather than integrating both. For example, if a person came to me struggling with difficulties in life and in need of help, I may think I need to be on the side of grace to adequately meet their needs. Conversely, if a Christian sister comes to me and has a skewed view of who God is, I may sit on the side of preaching the truth to her.
When I look at Jesus’ life, He did not balance grace and truth, nor did He choose one over the other in different situations. Instead, Jesus embodied grace and truth simultaneously in all his actions and words. Take, for example, the woman caught in adultery in John chapter 8. Jesus entered a tenuous situation and showed grace to the woman while speaking the truth to her: “Go and Sin no More.” If Jesus would have simply opted to show the woman grace, she would likely have left the situation feeling relieved but without the truth that could change her pattern of living forever. And if Jesus would have chosen to speak to her with stern admonishments about her way of life, her heart may have not been receptive Jesus’ words.
I have found that I tend to think in black and white terms when it comes to grace and truth. When I meet an individual who has experienced difficult times, my instinct is to shower them with grace and mercy. I want them to know they are loved, they are accepted, and they are safe with me. However, I have realized when I stay solely on the side of grace, I may be standing in the way of an opportunity for that person to grow or change in the light of truth.
If we are made in the image of God and are called to reflect who He is to the world, I believe we need to find ways to embody grace and truth simultaneously in our daily lives. How do we do this?
It depends.
The path to a fuller expression of grace and truth is unique to each of us because of our life experiences, personalities, and situations. A helpful place to start could be to prayerfully reflect on your personal patterns of interactions with others. Do you tend to be a soft landing for people to come be themselves and receive unconditional love? Or are you someone who is compelled to speak out when people’s pattern of living does not match what God has intended for his image bearers?
Wherever you start today, remember the same grace and truth you strive to share with others also applies to you. As you seek to live in the light of God’s truth, the grace of the Holy Spirit will give us wisdom, strength, and courage so you may act in a way that fuses grace and truth together into one holy movement that bears the image of God.
