You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics — in physical laws — every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “as you reap, so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff…
I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep s—. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity…
I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. I love the idea that God says: Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness, and there’s a mortality as part of your very sinful nature, and, let’s face it, you’re not living a very good life, are you? There are consequences to actions. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled… It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.
-Bono
9 comments on “Grace”
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brad says:
I love this. I’ve read this book several times over as it has been challenging for me as a guy who never really “got” Bono at all. I love the phrase that “love interrupts”. I feel there is song there somewhere but haven’t been able to find it yet. I desperately need love to interrupt my life more and more.
Jessica says:
Look, you cretins, … 🙂
Melissa Jones says:
You’ve gotta say it in an Irish brogue. ;p
Jessica says:
*Ahem*
“Luke, ya crretins, … “
Mary Ostyn (Owlhaven) says:
This made me happy to read. Praying more people will see truth by hearing his honest thoughts.
Mary
Zoë says:
My husband and I were discussing U2 yesterday. Great minds and all that, huh?
It’s funny because I had been thinking lately that there were very few public figures, be they celebrities or politicians, who openly practice Christianity (in this neck of the woods) and that the overwhelming culture in the UK is more and more one of aggressive atheism, a la Richard Dawkins. But God has shown me men and women this past week, who openly live their faith, and that they are respected for themselves. Meaning, I suppose, that this aggressive atheism, which states that any believer must be a sandwich short of a picnic and/or brainwashed, and can’t understand logic or science if it’s waved in their face, is not winning, despite their near-fascist insistence that it is.
Slightly off topic, sorry. But in conclusion ‘go Bono!’
Jerry says:
Thank you Shaun for eliciting Zoe’s comment. I continue to struggle between faith and reason as if they are separated entities. I sit a the slope of Mars hill hanging on to the brain the Lord gave me while receiving and responding to an interrupting Love.
I can’t really sing that “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” and yet the continued pursuit of what I have found stretches the edge of reason and nudges me toward the Song of Songs.
Kristal M says:
Whew! You had me there for a second there Shaun. I thought it was YOU using the “S” word! 🙂
Bill says:
I didn’t know of Bono’s faith! Praise God! I know that’s a short statement but there are two important things I would like to add… God did not ignore our sins and be unjust. He punished them fully on his Son, Jesus! … We need to speak the truth and love like Jesus so many come to repentance because the result of not doing so is eternal punishment!