“No man is so foolish but he may sometimes give another good counsel, and no man so wise that he may not easily err if he takes no other counsel than his own. He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.” ~ Hunter S. Thompson
“If your preaching of the Gospel doesn’t provoke the charge from some of antinomianism you’re not preaching the Gospel.” ~ Martyn Lloyd Jones
I think it is safe to say that no 20th century writer was as self indulgent as Hunter S. Thompson. I first became aware of Thompson through his articles in sports magazines and also through Garry Trudeau’s “Doonesbury” comic strip and the character Duke who was a thinly veiled caricature of Thompson. Thompson was a journalist, author and hedonist who was fueled by sex, drugs and insanity and he covered events ranging from the Kentucky Derby to the 1972 Presidential Campaign. He most notably wrote for Rolling Stone and Sports Illustrated, and his articles and own books chronicled his drug-fueled self destruction. His most “notable” book was aptly titled “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” which chronicled his pursuit of the American Dream through illegal narcotics.
Thompson is credited with coining the term “gonzo journalism” which is a style of reporting that the journalist becomes a central part of the story on which they are reporting, and involve themselves in the action, rather than simply serving as a detached observer. They insert themselves into the story to such a degree that they become the central figures rather on whom or what they are reporting on. It has been said of the gonzo style that the best fiction is far more true than any kind of journalism. It is based more on style over fact and it is journalism without any claims of objectivity.
At times I wonder if followers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ have unwittingly torn a page out of a Hunter Thompson book. Rather than fully embrace the grace of the Gospel we settle for a poor facsimile of grace, and our life’s story could be titled “Fear and Self-Loathing; Gonzo Grace on the Trail of Life”. We readily accept only a portion of the grace in which we stand and spend the rest of our Christian existence trying to earn the balance. In the words of Tim Keller; “Without the Gospel we hate ourselves instead of our sin. Without the Gospel we’re motivated through all sorts of awful fear and pride to a change and it doesn’t really change our hearts; it just restrains our hearts.”
Something that has struck me about not only myself but also my fellow Gospel believing friends and acquaintances is that we seem to be afraid of grace. Grace or God’s unmerited favor is truly shocking and scandalous, and conservative evangelicals and fundamentalist Christians seem to live in fear of accepting it or applying it to it’s fullest extent. At times it seems we would rather live in perpetual fear of disappointing or offending God (or the subculture), rather than joyfully accepting Sonship and fellowship with God. Without a doubt Sonship carries with it both obligations AND freedom. Sadly we settle for some obligations that are purely personal applications and preferences rather than biblical injunctions. I will freely admit there are some activities and venues that I avoid purely as capitulation to the subculture rather than out of deep conviction and this can lead to a form of gonzo grace.
Or maybe we chose to skulk around like some self flagellating monk with a hang dog look on our face chanting; “we’re not worthy.” Here is a news flash; no we are not worthy, but God in His infinite and unchanging mercy and love offers it freely anyway. He is not expecting us to live perpetually in sack cloth and ashes or to be constantly looking over our shoulder like someone in the witness protection program. Do we really embrace verses like John 8:36? John boldly tells us “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” Do we live like it? What about the words of Paul? In 2 Timothy 1:7 he states; “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” and then in verse 9 when he declares; “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”
One would almost get the impression that we don’t want to accept the gift of grace that God so freely offers and we fight with Him over it. It is like two people sitting in the most expensive restaurant on the planet; one the penniless pauper and the other the richest individual in all the universe. We are the honored guests and we want to tell the chef how to prepare the meal. Then the check comes to the table and we reach for it arguing about who is going to pick up the tab. The great problem is that God has already picked up the tab in the form of His Son Jesus Christ and the atoning work of the Cross. We cannot even cover the tip with our works or attempts at goodness, let alone pick up the check. But we still seem to insist that we can pay something; anything to contribute to the cost of grace. So we want to sneak into the restaurant and set the table, clear after the meal and maybe even wash the dishes. How is that graciously accepting the banquet set before us? It is an affront to the Founder of the feast!
The beauty of grace is that we no longer need to live in fear or self-loathing. God’s love is fixed on us and there is absolutely nothing we can do to make Him love us MORE or less. Through Christ’s sacrifice and through no merit of our own, we who were dead in our trespasses and sin have been forgiven! He has cancelled the record of debt that stood against us with all of it’s legal demand for justice, (Colossians 2:13-14). As Tim Keller has stated; “The Gospel of justifying faith means that while Christians are, in themselves still sinful and sinning, yet in Christ, in God’s sight, they are accepted and righteous. So we can say that we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope—at the very same time. This creates a radical new dynamic for personal growth. It means that the more you see your own flaws and sins, the more precious, electrifying and amazing God’s grace appears to you. But on the other hand, the more aware you are of God’s grace and acceptance in Christ, the more able you are to drop your denials and self-defenses and admit the true dimensions and character of your sin.”
We have been freed through Christ from the idols of sin, so why trade it for the idol of empty religion? We often fall into the trap of thinking grace is not enough to keep us in check spiritually and that the indwelling Holy Spirit needs our help. We must have lists, rules, structure and organization lest antinomianism (lawlessness) will run rampant in the church. After all, without us God’s plans and will be thwarted! We must insert ourselves into the mix and become central to the work of sanctification; at least where others and their choices are concerned. How utterly arrogant and self righteous beings we are! If God’s grace and mercy are not enough for us and they do not lead us to obedience and a pursuit of holiness than I honestly have no answers for you. None at all…
Don’t settle for gonzo grace; attempting to insert ourselves in the work of salvation and making it about us and our deeds, merits and conformity to a religious subculture rather than Christ, the central element of the Gospel and all of history. The beauty of the Gospel is that if you are in Christ you are free indeed! Live like it!
“If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations-- "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" (referring to things that all perish as they are used)--according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” ~ Colossians 2:20-23
