Cheap Grace

"Oh!" the hushed word that begins a psalm, the exclamation at the end of a profound statement, the word which can express the depths of anguish as well as the heights of joy, and what my heart said after I heard Dr. Steven Olford (yes, he's British) give a lecture on "Expository Evangelism" last night. He spoke of the horrors of "cheap grace" and the dangers of dry Christian "existence". I have not written here in a few days because I have been incredibly busy but in a wonderful way. At night, I swam in the pool near our room and met a great Russian guy named Andre (don't ask me to spell his last name) who told me many things about the ever-changing church of Russia. I also met a brilliant man from London, and another young man from Nigeria who wore his native garb to one of the lectures! In any case, it is incredible here. So many people from so many different walks of life, and yet all are here for one purpose: to learn more of the Bible. Reverent worship, passionate words, and exhilarating messages. I pray to forever keep the quiet fire that has been sparked in my soul from only an hour of this man's teaching. This is what an army private described as repentance in one of Dr. Olford's stories, "Alright, I'm on my way to hell, I'm rebelling against God, and then a voice from heaven cries out 'Halt! Right about turn, forward, MARCH!' I hope we all shall have the humility to do just that.