From Timothy Keller’s book ‘The Reason for God’ preambled by a previous post (* The Difference of Grace) also differ fundamentally in how they treat the Other—those who do not share one’s own beliefs and practices. Postmodern thinkers understand that the self is formed and strengthened through the exclusion of the Other—those who do not have the value or traits on which I base my own significance. We define ourselves by pointing ourselves to those whom we are not. We bolster our sense of worth by devaluing those of other races, beliefs, and traits.4 This gospel identity gives us a new basis for harmonious and just social arrangements. A Christian’s worth and value are not created by excluding anyone, but through the Lord who was excluded for me. His grace both humbles me more deeply than religion can (since I am too flawed to save myself through my own effort), yet it also affirms me more powerfully than religion can (since I can be absolutely certain of God’s unconditional acceptance).
That means I cannot despise those who do not believe as I do. Since I am not saved by my correct doctrine or practice, then this person before me, even with his or her wrong beliefs, might be morally superior in many ways. It also means that I do not have to be intimated by anyone. I am not so insecure that I fear the power or success or talent of people who are different than me. The gospel makes it possible for a person to escape over-sensitivity, defensiveness, and the need to criticize others. The Christian’s identity is not based on the need to be perceived as a good person, but of God’s valuing of you in Christ.
Religion and the gospel also lead to divergent ways of handling troubles and suffering. Moralistic religion leads its participants to the conviction that if they live an upstanding life, then God (and others) owe them respect and favor. They believe they deserve a decent, happy life. If, however, life begins to go wrong, moralists will experience debilitating anger. Either they will be furious with God (or “the universe”) because they feel that since they live a better life than others, they should have a better life. Or else they will be deeply angry at themselves, unable to shake the feeling that they have not lived as they should or kept up to standards. The gospel, however, makes it possible for someone to escape the spiral of bitterness, self-recrimination, and despair when life goes wrong. They know that the basic premise of religion—that if you live a good life, things will go well for you—is wrong. Jesus was the most morally upright person who ever lived, yet he had a life filled with the experience of poverty, rejection, injustice, and even torture. ~Timothy Keller, The Reason for God (New York, NY 10014, Penguin Books, 2008) 187-89 (The continuation of the above has been published in zionwisdom previously at ‘The Threat of Grace’)
