We believe that every follower of Jesus should be living a Christ-like character. In Immanuel we call this “G.R.A.C.E. Based Character”. It is based upon an acronym for the word G.R.A.C.E. developed by Pastor Brian N. Smilde.God not gods
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory.” (Psalm 115:1)
G.R.A.C.E. Based Character is first of all centered in God. Human life becomes so easily centered in other gods like money, the corporate ladder, friends, sports, television, and etc. Christ-followers intentionally re-orient their lives to be centered in God.
Release not Revenge
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
G.R.A.C.E. Based Character forgives people instead of holding onto grudges. Christ-followers show G.R.A.C.E. to people who hurt them but releasing or forgiving them. Christ-followers let go of the human urge to get revenge.
Accept not Approve
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable
matters.” (Romans 14:1)
G.R.A.C.E. Based Character accepts people even if they believe/think/behave differently. Christ-followers show G.R.A.C.E. by letting go of the judgmental urge to approve of people before accepting them. Jesus has accepted us with all of our sin and idiosyncrasies. We show that we are following Jesus when we accept people as they are.
Connect not Criticize
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)
G.R.A.C.E. Based Character connects with people who do things differently. Christ-followers show G.R.A.C.E. by giving the benefit of the doubt to people instead of criticizing people. Criticism, by definition, has an inclination to find fault. Christ-followers are not inclined to find fault in others; rather they are inclined to appreciate others as men and women created in the image of God.
Everybody not Exclusive
When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:16-17)
G.R.A.C.E. Based Character is shown to everybody not just our exclusive group of people who are just like us. It is easy to show G.R.A.C.E. to people who act, speak, or think like we do. Jesus showed G.R.A.C.E. to everybody (including tax collectors and prostitutes). Christ-followers do what Jesus did: show G.R.A.C.E. to everybody.
