Thank God for Grace!

I recently read an article by the Vice President of Pastoral Ministries for Focus on the Family. The title of the article was, "Playing By The Rules Is Not Legalism." The writer used the illustration of Dustin Johnson's heart-breaking mistake at this year's PGA championship. His premise is that though Johnson's mistake was an error of judgment, he still violated the rules by grounding his club in one of the 1200 sand traps littered throughout the course.

Everything he stated about Johnson's mishap is true. However, the sad facts remain that the sand traps were left unprotected, and as a result, thousands of spectators trampled through the trap and violated the ingretity of the course. In hindsight, someone should have informed Johnson of his position in the trap (his caddie for instance) or Johnson, himself, should have asked for position clarity. However, in the heat of competition no can fault the young man for his lack of understanding. Johnson did not purposefully violate the rule.

No one can suggest that Johnson's grounding of the club gave him an unfair advantage. His next shot landed in an extremely high rough and only by his excellent play was he able to finish the hole with a bogey which cost him one stroke and left him tied with two other players. And who was waiting at the end of the course to deliver the good news of his impending penalty - THE RULE KEEPERS.

Several arguments have been made that the rule was unfair and that the course conditions were unclear, however, the fact remains that Johnson violated the rules and he had to be penalized. That is a cold hard fact of life. When men make rules they will do their best to judge and punish those who violate them, whether they do it willfully or unwittingly. Johnson's mistake was not on purpose however, he handled himself gracefully through the whole incedent. Congratulations to him for being a champion without a trophy.

To the author's premise that rules are not legalistic, I would suggest another thought. While the article is directed to the clergy, it's final paragraph is a telling sign of the stark reality that when men make rules they will do everything possible to enforce it, even if it means applying God's Name to the gavel. He wrote, "As God's called-out men and women, we must play between the lines. When we venture outside, it will usually cost us. . . .The camera may not be watching, but the One on the throne who calls us is -- and He wrote the "rule book."

May I suggest that God has never written a "rule book" in His life. What He gave to us is a "New Testament" (covenant) which offers grace, mercy, love and forgiveness of our transgressions. Those who want to live by rules will ultimately become SERVANTS OF THE SYSTEM, RATHER THAN SERVANTS OF THE SAVIOR! I am thankful that God forgives me when I fail and does not penalize me for my transgressions of man's rules and regulation.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17)