What would happen if Jesus walked into a government office and tried to get a business license? I think it might go something like this:
Government official: What is your business?
Jesus: I’m here to save the world.
Official: Right. Really, what kind of business?
Jesus: People.
(The official finds a regulation book on human resources.) OK, specifically what people?
Jesus: Anyone and everyone.
(The official is already bored and irritated.) Even the homeless, illegals and those who can’t keep a job? You don’t want those working for you.
Jesus: Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom.
Nice words, but let’s talk about how you will pay them.
With grace.
What’s that?
It starts with complete acceptance and forgiveness, and ends up with crowns, mansions and eternal life.
(Writes down “unusual health plan and retirement.”) Ok, let’s back up. Tell me again what these down-and-outers…
Sinners.
…ok, sinners, what is it that they need to do for you?
Nothing.
Oh… you mean you’re a charity. (Finds the regulation book on non-profit organizations.)
Yes, my business is charity; in addition to faith, hope and love.
But you don’t actually give anyone a job.
Oh yes, I do. In many cases it will be the most demanding job a person has ever had.
But you said you didn’t want them to do anything.
I said I didn’t need them to do anything for me. But they will do amazing things for others.
What if they don’t want to?
No one does at first. That’s why I pay them first.
Pay them first? But won’t that encourage people to be lazy?
Grace isn’t like that. Once you receive grace, you want to give it to others.
Oh, I get it; you have a job training program. How long does it take?
No time. I have on the job training. People get paid the minute they start.
So, how much of this grace do you pay them.
As much as they will accept.
No, I meant to ask, how do you decide who gets how much?
I pay everyone the same.
Let me get this straight. Each person is hired immediately, no matter if they’re 9 or 90. And when they retire, they get a nice house, a great health plan, retirement in paradise and enough bling on their head to make their neck sore?
Are you saying you want a job?
Oh, no, not me. I need more structure than that. I need incentives, bonuses and a well-defined path for advancement. Besides, I don’t think I could handle the idea of everyone being paid the same. Success would lose its meaning if there was no competition. Those who are smart enough to get in first; the ground floor so to speak; they deserve to be rewarded.
In my business, the first are last and the last are first. And everyone looks out for his neighbor; so, everyone is happy.
I hate to break it to you. Business is not about happiness. It’s about profit and loss. Look, I’ll give you a few months. Then you’ll be ready to fold up and leave. If you don’t, this business will end up killing you. Remember, you can’t just go around giving the company assets away. Whatever this grace is, it doesn’t grow on trees. It won’t last forever.
Well, actually this business already killed me; and a tree did have something to do with it. And yes, my supply of grace is infinite. It will last forever.
That’s the most insane business plan I ever heard of. But I might still be able to help you. We’ll start by making a few forms for people to fill out.
Forms?
You can’t be too careful. You don’t want someone with a shady past getting in on all this free grace.
But that’s what grace is for. Some of my best clients have had very shady pasts. David committed murder and adultery. Paul arrested innocent Christians and put them to death. And my friend Peter completely denied that he knew me when things got rough.
Whoa there! You’re scaring me! Do you realize the precedent you’re setting?
What do you mean?
Every time you make an exception just to be nice to someone, you set a precedent. It means you’ll be required to do the same thing for someone else who doesn’t deserve your grace and who you might not even like.
No one deserves grace. That’s why it’s called grace! And besides, if I intend to give grace to everyone, isn’t giving it to the most undeserving people setting the right precedent?
But why would you do that?
Because I can. And because I want to.
You couldn’t possibly… I mean, no one really loves people, even when they say they do. Folks just want to feel good about themselves. So, they have a few fundraisers, take up a few offerings for the poor, etc., etc. But they don’t really like people.
I do.
Who says?
My life and death speaks for itself.
I don’t have a form for that.
Yes you do. Look under “G.”
For grace?
For Golgotha.
