Gothard's Definition of Grace

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Gothard's Definition of Grace

Now that I've been told that BG hasn't changed his definition of grace, I'd like to say why I not only disagree, but think it is a dangerous definition and am completely kerflummoxed (whatever on earth that means!) that he would teach such a bizarre and potentially heretical definition.

Remember, here's what it says: "The success of our life is entirely related to how much grace God gives us. Grace is the desire and power to do God's will. (Philippians 2:13) Paul's prayer was that grace would be multiplied to every Christian. How then do we get this grace? There is only one way---by being humbled."

Phil 2:13 says, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure." [Note: it says nothing about grace being the desire and power to do God's will.]

Elsewhere in the same book, BG writes, "The energizing power needed to live the entire Christian life is called in Scripture, 'the grace of God'." One of the verses he uses to back up that statement is Titus 2:11, which states, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age..." Aha! Doesn't that say just what BG claims? More later...

Just a page later, BG writes that our pride can trample on "the grace which God gave for the situation, and we are then left to our own ways thereafter since no new grace will be given to us until we humble ourselves again." No verse is given.

Another quote: "Paul explains 'the grace of God' as an active work of God within us to do His will...God's first work of saving grace within us is to call us to repentance."

To recap BG's teaching on grace:

1. Grace means "the desire and power to do God's will"
2. We get grace by being humbled

3. Grace will be withheld from us if we are proud

Now, when I was a little girl, I asked my Daddy, who just so happened to be my pastor also, what grace meant. He answered something about it being "God's unmerited favor towards men." But he also taught me, as years went by, not just to take his word for it.

Where did my Daddy get his definition of grace? Where did BG get his? Why are the two so different and what are the implications of this?

One of my dictionaries defines grace (in its theological meaning) in this way: "the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from Him". Elwell's Evangelical Dictionary of Theology states, "its meaning is that of an undeserved blessing freely bestowed on man by God--a concept which is at the heart not only of Christian theology but also of all genuinely Christian experience."

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states, "The word 'grace' in its special Christian sense refers to the freedom of salvation in Jesus Christ. As used by Paul in particular, the word underscores the fact that salvation is freely given by God to undeserving sinners. This is its central meaning..."

The New Geneva Study Bible says, in its notes for Galatians 1:3, "Each of Paul's letters begins with a reference to these two blessing from God. 'Grace' translates the Greek charis, which means 'an undeserved act of kindness'. Paul uses this word more often than any other New Testament writer and give is immense theological significance. It refers to all that God has given us in Christ; nothing of which we have earned or can repay."

To sum up what the traditional Protestant understanding of grace:

1. It is freely given by God for our salvation.
2. It is His unmerited blessing.

3. We cannot earn it or deserve it---it is freely given to undeserving sinners.

Where did my Daddy get his definition of grace? From reading the apostle Paul, from the meaning of the Greek word, and from theologians through the ages.

Where did BG get *his* definition? From none of those sources, obviously. So we are left to wonder...did he make it up? Get it from a source outside of Christianity? develop it through a misunderstanding of Scripture?

Some may wonder if differing definitions really matter or if it's simply semantic hairsplitting. I believe that it matters very much. This is a central area in our entire understanding of Christianity. Either we believe that we have been saved by God's unmerited blessing that we can never deserve and that this same unmerited blessing is what not only justifies but also sanctifies us---OR we believe that we are justified and sanctified by "the desire and power to do God's will" which God withheld from us until we humbled ourselves. The implications are not only deeply disturbing regarding BG's understanding of our salvation, but also regarding the process of our sanctification. Is it a work of God's unmerited favor in our life or do we earn it by humbling ourselves? Is the emphasis on what Christ has done for us or what we are supposed to do? Is it grace or works?

So, what about Titus 2:11, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age..."? If you superimpose BG's definition, it seems to make sense. But if you look at the whole counsel of God, it becomes clear that it is even God's unmerited favor that purifies us.

Now that I've read BG's definition, I understand why I've had a difficult time communicating with some people who keep claiming that they need to earn God's favor in some way, need to apply a particular system in childrearing, for example, in order to "work towards their children's salvation". I've replied, "But it's all grace! Every little bit of it! Grace! Grace! Grace!" little realizing that we're speaking two entirely different languages. I was talking about God's unmerited favor, bestowed on us while we were still prideful sinners and continually bestowed on us no matter how undeserving---they have been talking about having the proper attitude so that God would give them the power to live what they believed to be the successful Christian life.

Please, those of you who follow Bill Gothard---do a study of the meaning of grace! Its real meaning is one of the glorious cornerstones of our hope in Christ! It was one of the rallying cries of the Protestant Reformation! It was the cry of Paul's heart! If you don't understand what grace *really means*---what God meant when he inspired Paul to write the epistles---than you cannot possibly understand what a great salvation we have and what a glorious God we serve!

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