The Radical Optimism of Grace

(During 2022, these bi-monthly posts are exploring various facets of the beautiful diamond that is our holiness doctrine and heritage.)

 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”  - Acts 20:32

One characteristic of the Church of the Nazarene, and of holiness denominations in general, is the “radical optimism of grace.” We are a people of hope, because we have discovered there are no hopeless situations, or hopeless people. God’s grace can transform both individuals and circumstances.

While we hold that sin is a serious and terrible problem we cannot resolve on our own, we also hold that God has provided victory over sin in Jesus Christ. No matter how dark things get, God is able to redeem us and move us out of darkness and into the light.

We Wesleyan-Holiness folk accept the reality of sin, but we also acknowledge the power of God over sin. This radical optimism of grace characterizes our teaching and preaching. We have great confidence in the transforming power of God’s grace—because we have experienced transformation ourselves. It is why, from the beginning of our movement, we sought out the hurting, the homeless, and the hopeless—those whose hurts, habits, and hang-ups had them mired in despair, disappointment, and disconnection. We have always reached out to those with little to offer because we know how much God has to offer.

This radical optimism of grace is the good news that God can both save us in our sins and save us from our sin. God not only wants to give us “a hope and a future,” but also to redeem every experience we have ever had. God can weave even the darkest threads into a beautiful tapestry. No matter how great our sin, God’s grace is greater. He invites us to be living testimonies of his grace.

We don’t abandon people in or to their sin, nor do we deny the reality of sinful behavior and sinful nature. Such denial has gained recent popularity, especially in regards to sins of a sexual nature. Rather than merely consoling people in their sin, or refusing to acknowledge the reality of sin, the radical optimism of grace allows us to lovingly and confidently assure people of the power of God’s grace to bring about a change of heart and life.

Sin has resulted in a broken world full of broken people. But God’s grace brings forgiveness, healing, redemption, restoration, reconciliation, transformation, sanctification, and wholeness. Thanks be to God.

“Wonderful grace of Jesus, Greater than all my sin –

How shall my tongue describe it? Where shall His praise begin?

Taking away by burden, Setting my spirit free;

For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.”

-       Haldor Lillenas