obedience x grace
This is still happening, and I am here for it. The post with the starter quotes can be found here. An intellectual and relational play in several parts.
The new dream isn’t about obedience, it’s about vision and engagement.
- Seth Godin, Linchpin
// New covenant.
Seth talks a lot about how the new system won’t reward blind obedience. We have automated machines for blind obedience. Anyone can learn to do your job if you only do what you’re told.
So he talks trash about obedience. He says, screw the system. But which system? He trashes the system where a person is a cog in a machine without humanity or grace. He does not say, stick it to the man whenever possible. In fact, he says - live with more grace. Live with more passion for making things better.
Not being obedient is not about doing less work - it’s about doing more than they’ve asked for. And doing it better, before they even know to ask for it.
Okay. So that and the gospel.
The book of Romans is a mess. People make all sorts of sense out of it, but you sit down and read it without any guidance and your head will be spinning. You know why it’s a mess? I have a theory.
Because we are trying so damn hard to be good, and we are failing, and God gives us grace and still wants us to try hard. And after grace, how hard is hard enough?
The new dream isn’t about obedience. It’s about vision and engagement.
From the book of Ezekiel: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Linchpins and Christians are called not to disobedience, but to more than obedience. Linchpins are going to make a ruckus, but not by screwing everyone over. They do it by giving generously of their humanity and initiative to solve hard problems. Christians make a ruckus, not by breaking the law for the heck of it, but by living the greater will of God through his Spirit alive within them. They live generously and outrageously with an extreme gratitude for grace.
There’s not a much better vision or engagement than the one that comes from God himself imprinting his Spirit and will on your heart and mind. We are moved to more than obedience.
The new dream isn’t about obedience, it’s about vision and engagement.
- Seth Godin, Linchpin
// New covenant.
Seth talks a lot about how the new system won’t reward blind obedience. We have automated machines for blind obedience. Anyone can learn to do your job if you only do what you’re told.
So he talks trash about obedience. He says, screw the system. But which system? He trashes the system where a person is a cog in a machine without humanity or grace. He does not say, stick it to the man whenever possible. In fact, he says - live with more grace. Live with more passion for making things better.
Not being obedient is not about doing less work - it’s about doing more than they’ve asked for. And doing it better, before they even know to ask for it.
Okay. So that and the gospel.
The book of Romans is a mess. People make all sorts of sense out of it, but you sit down and read it without any guidance and your head will be spinning. You know why it’s a mess? I have a theory.
Because we are trying so damn hard to be good, and we are failing, and God gives us grace and still wants us to try hard. And after grace, how hard is hard enough?
The new dream isn’t about obedience. It’s about vision and engagement.
From the book of Ezekiel: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Linchpins and Christians are called not to disobedience, but to more than obedience. Linchpins are going to make a ruckus, but not by screwing everyone over. They do it by giving generously of their humanity and initiative to solve hard problems. Christians make a ruckus, not by breaking the law for the heck of it, but by living the greater will of God through his Spirit alive within them. They live generously and outrageously with an extreme gratitude for grace.
There’s not a much better vision or engagement than the one that comes from God himself imprinting his Spirit and will on your heart and mind. We are moved to more than obedience.
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