The Responsibility of Grace

God has more grace for us than we could ever hope for or hopefully than we will ever need. This is a concept that most in "Christian" circles would agree upon. Where the path splinters is in what this actually means to the one who has a true relationship with Jesus. I have been reading about some "Christian" authors who are espousing that God's grace accepts us as we are, and that he loves us no matter what kind of people we are. We will show his presence by loving all around us, no matter how unlovely they may seem. All of this seems very reasonable, and in fact is right in line with my beliefs. The problem is in the current trend to de-religion ( new word) Christianity. I know, it is about relationship, but some authors seem to rely on throwing out all the tenets of Christianity along with the guilt and fear that was drummed into them by false religion. This is used as a platform to combat the aggressive "political" Christianity which is also wrong in it's castigation of an unsaved world. I am sensing a groundswell of Christian relativism that says, "as long as you are loving, and in a relationship with God, everything is alright." In my reading, I have seen little attention paid to the life changing power of Jesus. I am actually angry, in the way that Jesus was angry when they used his temple for ill gotten gain." Many who have been wounded by churches who have acted in the name of religion, not in the name of Jesus have caused harm, but this constant attack on "organized religion and its values", is a travesty. It has become justification that anything goes in the church, as long as love is present. If love is all that is needed, then what was Paul striving for or against? I am certain that love of God will drive our actions, but it does require work on our part. Christianity is not a "sit back and love and wait on the Lord religion". Nothing has to be earned through any of our efforts, but should not our love for Christ and what he has done for us inspire more than this cultural relativism? Should not our love inspire us to strive for the morality that is so clearly shown in the Bible? Yes, we must love all, but we should never settle for being all. Lord, help me not to be really upset at those who would diminish your work and try to fit it into a world sized box. help me to follow my words with actions that help me to live my life by your standards, not by the standards of a sinking world.