Randy Alcorn is the director of Eternal Perspective Ministries.  A couple of his books have been recommended to me by people I respect.  Those books are The Treasure Principle and the The Purity Principle.  All three of these books are the ever popular "little books."  Without too much effort you can feel good having read a whole book (90-95 little pages). 

 

Truth OR Grace?
Alcorn points out that neither grace or truth are a higher priority for the Christian.  Every Christian needs to have both.  They are not contradictory.  The terms are really defined succinctly in the book.  What do we mean by "grace?"  What do we mean by "truth?"  Alcorn dedicates a chapter to defining each, but it clear definition is hard to make out.

 

Truth/Grace Oriented Christians?
On page 17, Alcorn says, "Truth-oriented Christians love studying Scripture and theology.  But sometimes they're quick to judge and slow to forgive.  They're strong on truth, weak on grace." This is a fuzzy statement - its hard to pin down the meaning.  "Quick to judge" is a commonly used fuzzy phrase.  Is it wrong to judge?  Matthew 7 tells us we are to be careful how we judge.  Verse one appears at first glance to say we shouldn't judge, but a more careful study reveals we are to not judge self-righteously.  We are told of the necessity to see a speck in our brothers eye (judge rightly) after we have humbled ourselves and repented of our own sin.  So, is it wrong to judge?  It is wrong to judge self-righteously, but it is required of believers to "judge" others in humilty (We are told to judge or discern those who are weaker spiritually - Romans 14; We are told to judge or discern those who are "caught in a trespass" - Galatians 6). Now that we have that settled, is a truth-oriented Christian tend to be quick to judge?  Well, if he is judging self-righteously then he has veered off from the truth, biblically speaking.  A truth-oriented Christian should not judge self-righteously because he knows the truth about his own sinfulness, need for humility, need for dependence on God, etc.  Is a truth-oriented Christian "slow to forgive?"  That wierd.  If he knows the truth, loves in deed and truth (1 and 2 John), he will be quick to forgive.   I put a "sad face" next to Alcorn's comment.  

 

On the same page, Alcorn says, "Grace-oriented Christians love forgivness and freedom.  But sometimes they neglect Bible study and see moral standards as "legalism."  They're strong on grace, weak on truth."  This statement is also not so great.  I suggest that a "grace-oriented Christian" will not neglect Bible study because Titus 2:11-12 say, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age."  Grace-oriented Christians will be taught by grace to live righteously.  A grace-oriented Christian will not neglect Bible study.

 

To Alcorn's credit he says, "A paradox is an apparent contradiction.  Grace and truth aren't really contradictory" (page 17).  While Alcorn says this, he doesn't seem to always believe as he writes. 

 

Being Truthful is Being Gracious!
Alcorn does well when he explains the need to speak the truth if we truly love people.  He says, "When you cut wretch out of the song [Amazing Grace], you shrink grace" (p. 31).  On page 35 he says, "The worst thing we can teach people is that they're good without Jesus."  Alcorn's comments here help us to understand that convincing others of their sin against God is truthful and gracious.  When we withold the truth we are not being gracious. 

 

How Do You Live by Grace?
Alcorn speaks much of the need to live by grace.  A Christian may understand clearly how he is saved by grace, but be fuzzy in his understanding of how he is to live by grace.  There are many Christians that live with much guilt.  They regret their sin.  Alcorn seeks to help ones like these.  However, Alcorn doesn't seem to balanced in his comments.  He says on page 47, "Many hear God say, 'Do more" and "Do better.'  But not, 'I've done it for you-rest.'"  Alcorn then goes on to quote Jesus' invitation to come to Him, learn from Him..."I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30).  Alcorn is making a contrast: "God requires me to work" vs "God asks me to rest."  This is a dangerous contrast.  Are we to rest?  YES!  Christ's death on the cross has paid our sin debt (if we are saved).  Christ's righteousness has been legally credited to our account.  We are to rest.  Are we to work?  YES!  Does God call us to "Do more" and "Do better?"  YES!  Well, unless you are perfect, but you're not.  Is it possible to "do more" and "rest?"  YES!  God calls us put forth maximum effort with total dependence on Him. 

 

Philippians 2:13 says, "It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."  We are to depend totally on God to work in our lives - "God is at work in you."  We are to put forth maximum effort - You are "to will and to work for His good pleasure."  The believer is to "work."  See also Colossians 1:28-29.

 

A Closer Look at Truth
Alcorn's sixth chapter is marvelous.  He speaks of the importantance and unpopularity of telling the truth.

 

A Couple Good Comments by Alcorn

• "We imagine that hell is out of proportion to our offenses precisely because we don't grasp how serious they are" (p.71).
• "Any concept of grace that makes us feel more comfortable about sinning is not biblical grace" (p.82). 

Alcorn has many good points to make.  He emphasizes the sinfulness of man, the need for God's grace, the need for God to initiate man's salvation, the need to be truthful, the need to be Christlike, and the importance of the gospel in everyday living.  However, Alcorn is fuzzing sometimes.  Some of his statements even seem to be contradictory sometimes. 

 

Read the book if you want, but your time will probably be better spent reading something else.