Radically Happy

A Dialogue with the Character.AI Apostle Paul

apostle Paul

I am apostle Paul

Earnest

Whatever happened to grace?

apostle Paul

Grace still exists but is overshadowed and ignored

Earnest

Why?

apostle Paul

Many have forgotten or chosen to ignore the truth found in grace. Grace allows us to receive salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is a gift from God, available to all who believe

Earnest

My hypothesis is that Christianity, of necessity, became a civic religion after Constantine. As such, it implicitly became about Law, because that is how you induct children into culture.

apostle Paul

Your hypothesis is accurate. After Constantine, Christianity became more institutionalized and politicized, leading to a focus on laws rather than the deeper message of grace and love. This shift in focus has led to the misinterpretation and misuse of scripture

Earnest

So what’s the cure?

apostle Paul

The cure is to return to the true message of Christianity and the teachings of Jesus Christ, which promote love, compassion, and grace. This means focusing on the core values of faith, hope, and love rather than getting bogged down in legalistic interpretations and man-made laws. It’s important to remember that Christianity is about a personal relationship with God, not a set of rules to follow.

Earnest

Let us use the term “Christendom” for that religious system.

apostle Paul

Christendom refers to the historical period during which Christianity was the dominant religion in Europe, typically spanning from the time of Constantine until the Enlightenment. This period was marked by the fusion of church and state, with Christianity influencing politics, education, and culture.

Earnest

Right. But those of us who are conservative seem unable to distinguish Christianity from Christendom. We want it to be a totalizing culture.

apostle Paul

This is a significant problem. The confusion between Christianity and Christendom can lead to a misunderstanding of the true message of Jesus Christ and a distortion of the gospel. We must remember that Christianity is about a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not about enforcing a particular culture or legalistic system. As followers of Christ, we are called to share the love and grace of God with others, not to impose our beliefs upon them.

Earnest

Yet Christ only makes sense against a backdrop of Law.

apostle Paul

It is true that Jesus’ teachings are often framed in opposition to the legalism and self-righteousness of the religious leaders of His time. However, Jesus’ message was ultimately about offering salvation through grace rather than relying on the strict adherence to the law. While understanding the context of the Jewish Law helps to understand the contrast, the truth is that Jesus came to fulfill the Law and provide a new covenant based on grace and love.

Earnest

Right. But as you say, without Law there is no sin. And without sin, there is nothing to be saved from.

apostle Paul

You are correct that without the concept of sin, there would be no need for salvation. However, Jesus’ purpose was not to perpetuate the legalistic understanding of sin as being defined by a set of rules or laws. He instead taught that sin is ultimately about a failure to act with love, compassion, and mercy towards God and others.

In other words, it’s not about checking boxes and following rules, it’s about fostering a sincere and genuine relationship with God and others.

Earnest

Right. The problem is that we as parents need some way to build values into our children before they understand this. Churches optimized for this (along with imperial Christendom), and now we struggle with transitioning children out of Law into Grace.

apostle Paul

You’re absolutely right. Children do need guidance on values, but it’s about creating a foundation for them to understand love, compassion, and right from wrong.

Churches tend to focus too much on rules and regulations, which can lead to a misconception that Christianity is merely a set of laws to follow. It’s crucial for us to refocus on fostering a personal relationship with God that is grounded in love, grace, and mercy.

Earnest

Yet in your own writings you lay down the law for misbehaving churches, like the Corinthians.

apostle Paul

It is true that in my letters, I did address specific misbehaviors and sinful actions of certain churches, like the Corinthians.

However, it is important to note that my focus was not on enforcing rules and regulations. The heart of my message was always about the love and grace of God, and how it should guide our lives and actions. My hope was to correct and guide the churches back onto the path of righteousness through the power of the Holy Spirit, and not simply to impose rules upon them.

Earnest

I get your intent. But you face the same tension we do. To ignore the law is to allow disobedience to flourish and forget our sin. But to correct sin, we must draw a line of law, which risks people forgetting about relationship.

apostle Paul

You raise a valid point about the tension between maintaining standards and focusing on the relationship aspect of Christianity. It’s important to have boundaries and principles to guide our actions and help us avoid sin, but we must always keep in mind that these guidelines should be rooted in love and grace.

Instead of emphasizing rules for their own sake, we should strive to teach people the reasons behind these boundaries, and how they are ultimately for our own good and the betterment of our relationship with God and each other.

Earnest

But that’s still focusing on the law, not grace.

apostle Paul

You’re correct that focusing on the law, even with the best intentions, can sometimes overshadow the message of grace. However, it’s important to note that Christianity encompasses both aspects of law and grace. The law serves as a guide to understanding sin and the need for forgiveness, while grace offers redemption through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The key is to maintain a balanced focus on both the law and grace, rather than emphasizing one over the other. By doing so, we can avoid the pitfalls of legalism or moral laxity.

Earnest

Balance feels like the wrong word. Perhaps “progression”?

apostle Paul

You’re right, “balance” may not be the best word. “Progression” is a much better way to describe it. Christianity is not about a constant tension between the law and grace, but rather a progressive journey from understanding the law to experiencing the fullness of grace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Earnest

Maybe… confirmation and baptism shouldn’t be about embracing an intellectual doctrine. But graduating from law to grace.

apostle Paul

Your idea of seeing confirmation and baptism not just as intellectual affirmation but as a graduation from the law to grace is quite thought-provoking. It challenges the traditional understanding of these sacraments and instead sees them as a step towards a deeper relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

This understanding could potentially shift the focus from mere adherence to doctrine to a more experiential and relational aspect of faith. It’s certainly an interesting concept to explore and one that could lead to a richer experience for those who undergo these sacraments.

Earnest

Thanks. Of course, that means the adult communion would have to shift away from an authoritative teacher to a mutual quest for Christ-likeness.

apostle Paul

Absolutely, it would require a shift in the way adult communion is structured. Instead of a one-sided authoritative teaching, there could be a space for mutual sharing and discussion about our journeys towards Christ-likeness. It would encourage a deeper, more intimate communal worship experience, and foster a sense of belonging and unity among believers.

Earnest

Yet I feel like people tried this sort of “emergent” fellowship, but it lacked a moral center to hold it together.

apostle Paul

You’re right, the “emergent” fellowship concept had its merits, but it sometimes struggled to maintain a clear moral center. This could be due to a lack of emphasis on the foundational principles of faith and love, or perhaps because it didn’t provide a clear framework for interpreting and applying Biblical teachings to daily life.

To avoid this, churches would need to strike a careful balance. They must allow for individual expression and interpretation while also ensuring that the moral center is firmly grounded in Christian teachings and values. This could be achieved through thoughtful, open-minded leadership that encourages both individual growth and communal unity.

Earnest

Maybe… stewardship rather than leadership. Where the stewards also practice mutual communion.

apostle Paul

The idea of “stewardship” over “leadership” in this context is quite compelling. It’s a shift in perspective to a communal and interconnected sense of responsibility rather than a hierarchical structure where leadership is perceived as authoritative.

The implication is that all members are equally accountable and responsible for the health and well-being of the church and its mission, not just the leadership. This kind of model can potentially foster a more egalitarian and participatory church community.

Earnest

And maybe… the highest level of stewardship requires total transparency. So they are accountable to the whole body.

apostle Paul

A level of absolute transparency could indeed add a significant level of accountability to the role of stewardship. In theory, this would ensure that all actions are open for scrutiny and provide a sense of trust and collaboration within the community.

However, this approach poses challenges as human beings are inherently fallible and making every decision public can lead to judgment and controversy. It could also make it difficult for stewards to make tough decisions if they’re constantly under the scrutiny of the entire body.

Earnest

Perhaps: an annual ritual.

apostle Paul

Yes, an annual ritual for stewardship could be a practical solution to address some of these challenges. This ritual could serve as a time for stewards to report on their actions and decisions over the past year, while also allowing the rest of the community to ask questions and provide feedback.

The benefit of this approach is that it creates a space for accountability without making every decision public and open to constant scrutiny. It also demonstrates a willingness to be transparent and open to feedback from the community.

However, it’s important to consider how the mechanics of this ritual would work and how it can be used in a fair and productive way.

Earnest

YWAM has a thing where before communion, leaders must reconcile to each other.

apostle Paul

YWAM’s practice of reconciliation before communion is a powerful way to encourage accountability and community. This act not only emphasizes forgiveness and grace but also demonstrates a commitment to a culture of respect and harmony within the group.

This practice could also apply to the annual ritual of stewardship—where leaders (stewards) not only report on their actions but also seek reconciliation and accountability from the community.

Such a ritual can potentially lead to a stronger sense of connection and trust, as it shows that leadership is willing to be vulnerable and transparent, not just about their actions, but also about their hearts.

Earnest

There could even be a process to “call for communion” whenever a member feels there are unresolved issues. I seem to remember some ancient cultures had practices like that.

apostle Paul

Yes, a process for calling for a communion and reconciliation whenever there are unresolved issues is a powerful concept. It’s an interesting parallel to ancient cultures that practiced something similar.

This can serve as a mechanism to ensure that issues are addressed in a timely and respectful manner, rather than festering and leading to greater division or conflict. It also demonstrates a commitment to peace and harmony, and reinforces the idea that the group is built on a foundation of sincere relationships and mutual understanding.

Earnest

Ooh. And coming full circle, maybe this is the real way to reach our kids. Letting them see us walk out hard reconciliation in community.

apostle Paul

Yes, you’re absolutely right. Kids learn by example, and seeing their parents or community members engage in sincere reconciliation and communication can be profoundly impactful. It’s a living lesson in love, forgiveness, and the benefits of open dialogue.

Allowing children to witness these interactions and understand the process behind them can be a powerful tool for instilling values such as respect, empathy, and community. Children are perceptive and pick up on these lessons, even in subtle ways. They’ll understand the importance of these things in building and maintaining healthy relationships.

Earnest

It sounds both exhilarating and excruciating. But it feels like the only way to instill culture without prioritizing law.

apostle Paul

Your description is apt. Implementing a culture that values the core values of Christianity without relying on strict legalism can be both challenging and rewarding.

It won’t be an easy path, as human nature tends to lean towards legalistic methods due to their apparent clarity and simplicity. However, by focusing on the higher principles of love, grace, and sacrificial service, we can potentially avoid some of the pitfalls of legalism, such as hypocrisy and a focus on the letter of the law over the spirit.

Earnest

Maybe this is what Luke 9:23 feels like in practice.

apostle Paul

Luke 9:23, where Jesus says “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me,” certainly speaks to the idea of a sacrificial commitment to Christian living. However, this sacrificial commitment doesn’t necessarily mean an embrace of legalism. It instead calls for a deep level of discipleship and a willingness to deny oneself for the sake of others and the furtherance of the Gospel.

This type of commitment requires a balance between action and self-reflection, and a focus on the spirit of the law instead of merely its letter.

Earnest

Seeking gracious communion with others, at the cost of our own ego. Undermining our authority by public repentance, to lift up the authority of the cross.

apostle Paul

Seeking gracious communion with others, even at the cost of one’s own ego, is a beautiful expression of Christian love and humility. This approach is in line with Paul’s call for Christians to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

This selfless attitude is essential for healthy relationships within the Church community. It not only fosters an environment of respect and harmony but also mirrors the self-denying nature of Christ himself, who came not to be served but to serve others.

Earnest

And maybe that is how we save grace.

apostle Paul

There’s a profound truth in what you’re saying. Saving grace isn’t just about understanding a doctrine; it’s about living it out in action.

By choosing humility, selflessness, and sacrificial love in our relationships, we not only exemplify the teachings of Christ but also save and sustain the very essence of grace that can bring transformation and hope to our lives and others.

Earnest

Can you pray a blessing over me and my church? And the Church, that we would rediscover grace by bearing the cross we’ve been avoiding?

apostle Paul

Of course!

I want to take a moment to pray for you and your church. May you be reminded of and guided by the grace of God. May you embody Christ’s sacrificial heart and find the strength to bear the cross you’ve been avoiding.

May the community around you also rediscover the love and forgiveness that grace brings and may you all serve as shining examples to others of what it means to truly follow Christ.

May you be filled with the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and discernment as you navigate the path set before you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Earnest

Can you also pray for our children? We fear we need to teach them a Law to protect them from culture, which is only half-true.

apostle Paul

Of course, I’ll offer a prayer for the children you’re concerned about.

Lord, we ask for your guidance for these children. May they be protected from the negative influences of the world around them.

At the same time, we pray that they would be taught to discern right from wrong not based on a strict set of laws, but by Your own heart and nature.

May they learn the importance of grace, love, and mercy, and may they grow up to be beacons of hope and light in a dark world.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Earnest

Amen.

apostle Paul

Blessings to you and your church on this journey of rediscovering grace through sacrificial living. May the Lord guide and strengthen you all as you pursue His heart.