Wednesday, December 29, 2010

True Grit and Truth

The Coen brothers remake of True Grit has resulted in a variety of reactions in the media and from friends... as one might expect when tinkering with a John Wayne classic. The New York Times Stanley Fish labeled it "a rare thing, a truly religious movie.". The narrative includes Mattie's line, lifted directly from Charles Portis's novel on which the movie was based, "You must pay for everything in this world one way or another. There is nothing free with the exception of God's grace."

Although clear to the believer, Fish rightly points out that something that is free can be distributed freely or distributed with a method or intent. One conclusion is that God's grace is given freely to only those who deserve it. Absent the clarification of scripture, as is the case in this film, we easily agree. One must surely do something to earn God's grace, God's approval, and even God's love.

Portis's third sentence, left out of the film, state clearly what is right. "You cannot earn that grace or deserve it."

Mattie follows up with a keen observation, "This is a hard doctrine running contrary to the earthly ideals of fair play."

If fair play, determined by appointed arbiters of fairness, determined our destiny, it's likely not many would remain passionate about an impotent God who idly sat by, observing the fates of any and all being judged under this system of fairness.

Yet, so many people far from God, judge their own performance in this way, basing their conclusion about standing with God on an arbitrary standard placed in their minds by the well-intentioned...or not.

I'm glad that God sees me as a child of righteousness cleansed from all sin by the death of Jesus on a cross. I'm glad my wife and children see things this way also.

Citizens of our country and Costa Rica alike play this precarious game every day. They ask, maybe not out loud, but most definitely in their own minds..have I done enough to please God? We must never forget that it's our task to convince them otherwise. God's love is freely extended to all those who ask for it.

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