What makes something or someone scandalous? An online dictionary defines scandalous as “causing general public outrage by a perceived offense against morality or law.” You can also throw in some adjectives such as “outrageous” or “shocking,” to give the definition more color. In very general terms, it is an act that flies in the face of our beliefs or ideals for right living.
When you think of “scandalous,” what comes to mind? What images, actions, or stories pop into your head? How about God? Have you ever thought of God as scandalous?
I was serving with Youth With A Mission when I heard Rob Morris describe the love of God as scandalous. I was taken back by the thought, mostly because of the juxtaposition between two totally opposing ideas coming together (translation: I thought it was edgy and sounded cool). Yet, the more I study God’s word and come into contact with Him through this life, the more I understand a connection between God and scandalous.
This idea really takes hold in ch. 6 of Andy Stanley’s The Grace of God, which so far is the strongest chapter in the book. In ch. 6 Andy uses the example of Joshua, Rahab, and Jericho (Joshua ch.2-6) to highlight the “rescuing” nature of grace. Although as I read through the chapter, and we discussed it over a couple of Sunday mornings, “scandalous” kept popping up in my mind concerning the nature of grace according to this example. God’s grace is scandalous, because in many ways it is offensive and outrageous in its character. It does not play by our cultural ideals or philosophies; rather it tears them down, just like the walls of Jericho.
Look at Rahab. She is a prostitute, and probably had several opportunities to change her life and mind, but it is not until faced with death does she choose differently. Her motivation is based on fear and self-preservation for her and her family. Not quite last minute, but it is pretty close. Yet, she is spared and grace is granted to her regardless of her timing, motivation, and past.
Even more scandalous is the fact grace is extended to her family and friends, the Scriptures tells us that anyone inside the house with the crimson cord hanging from the window will be spared. Grace is extended to everyone inside the house, just for being inside the house.
What kind of people do you think were trying to get into that house? These were not little old church ladies.
As the Israelites marched around the city for six days, how many people do you think tried to cram into Rahab’s house, or how many people took a piece of the crimson cord and tied it to their window so that the Israelite army would passover as it destroyed Jericho. Scripture does not say, but I would think as that army marched around the city for six days (scandalous to think how much warning God gave the people of Jericho to change their hearts and minds toward Him) there were dozens of people fleeing from the city or showing up at Rahab’s house trying to get inside.
The scandal of it all is that God grants grace to everyone, regardless of who or what they were prior to the fall of Jericho. At the end of the sixth day, if you were in Rahab’s house, or you got out of the city you were spared. Equally scandalous is, if you did not listen to Rahab or notice the Israelite army marching around the city walls for six days it was too late. God’s grace is pretty scandalous when you put it against our context of fairness, equality, and justice.
God’s grace grants us every opportunity to turn toward Him, regardless of the past and our motivations. Adding to the scandal is that once we accept this grace, we are full accepted. Rahab plays a significant part in the greater narrative of God’s revelation to humanity; she is part of the genealogy that will include Jesus Christ. It is pretty scandalous to think that the Messiah was born from a lineage that included a non-Israelite prostitute.
Further adding to the scandal is the opposite side of the coin, if you do not receive God’s grace in time period given to you, it does not matter who you are, what you done, or why you did it. Judgment is coming. Grace is pretty scandalous either way you look at it. Thankfully, like Jericho and Rahab, God uses every avenue possible to bring us His message.
Finally, if this is how God’s grace works, what does it mean for you? What does it say about God? As I really think about, scandalous is the best word I can find to describe this characteristic of God’s grace.
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