The Tullian Lesson

Tullian Tchividjian seemed to have it all.  A vibrant ministry (we'll talk more about that later), a growing church, book deals, looks, fame, family, twitter followers, you name it.

The official message of Liberate.org was "God's inexhaustible grace for an exhausted world." But the actual message was:  God's grace is bigger than sin, christian's shouldn't feel guilt over sin because it's already taken care of. We can't out sin God's grace.  What's wrong with the message?  Tullian's fruit can help us understand the dangers.  

Why am I writing about this?  Firstly, this is not a grace vs legalism, antinomian post. The theological debate was needed in the face of a mounting hyper-grace movement. But what cannot be denied is that the main voice behind the hyper-grace movement was living a life of licentiousness, and that at the heart of the message there existed a personal rationalization of sin.  

The hyper-grace movement tapped into a fundamental human need - relief from the guilt of sin. (Guilt - the burden to great to bear.)  Teaching grace week in and week out was like a balm that brought temporary relief to the searing spiritual pain and guilt one feels when we try to please two masters.   But the fruit of this teaching becomes obvious - lack of growth, no hope of victory over sin, disillusionment and despair that leads to questioning ones salvation, or, as in Tullian's case, a rationalization of sin that allows the sin to remain while still staying in God's good grace.  

In fact the hyper-grace movement often advertises weakness and inability to stop sinning as a strength as if God wants us to accept the we are just sinners who can't do anything but keep sinning and just need to trust in grace more.  It is a subtle, dangerous, and heretical message that leads only to destruction.  

So back to Tullian.  While his message may have sounded great on the surface, his fruit was poisonous.  But additionally,  his actions undermined what he claimed to believe, and this is the greatest blow.  If Tullian believed that his teaching was the truth, that it was the proper biblical message that God gave us from the beginning then why did he lie, lie again, and lie some more to cover up his affairs?  Is this not a sign that he knew his life was a lie, that sin in the christian's life does matter to God?  

As often happens, in the end, the working of the Holy Spirit is what took care of Liberate.org.  God is not mocked, whatsoever you sow that you will reap, and He will not allow satan to lead his sheep astray.  He takes care of the sheep and exposes the wolves.