Abusing Grace
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 7:6-23
Proverbs 7 is aimed at the young man who risks being tempted to commit sexual sin. It lets him in on the secrets of seduction so that he can spot it when it happens and flee from the danger it presents. In describing the seductive woman, the writer makes an interesting point about the way she talks about religion. In verses 14 and 15 she says, “I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; so now I have come out to met you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.”
Neither the woman nor the young man are atheists. How do they reconcile their belief in God with their willful sinning? The woman has the solution. She has performed her religious rituals and duties. She has done what is required for forgiveness even before the sin takes place. Call it a preemptive strike against just condemnation. She is using her religion as a cloak for her sin.
She is also giving the young man a subtle excuse for giving in to temptation. The New Testament version of this is Paul’s retort, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” This is a twisting of the theology surrounding forgiveness and grace.
There is mercy and grace to be found in Jesus Christ. But when we use grace as a cloak for our willful sinning, we demonstrate that we understand neither the sinfulness of sin nor the greatness of grace.
