# Dependence 
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> "As Christians we want to be the forgivers of sins, the lover of men, new incarnations of Christ, saviours rather than saved; secure in our own possession of the true religion, rather than dependent upon a Lord who possesses us, chooses us, forgives us. If we do not try to have God under our control then, at least we try to give ourselves the assurance that we are on His side facing the rest of the world; not with that world facing Him in inifinite dependence, with no security save in Him." [^1]

It is a subtle deception that leads the believer to accept he is somehow less dependent upon the grace of God than those he considers to live in opposition to Him. That fine misconception to fill the heart of the believer with the notion that he might stand with Christ facing a world which stands in opposition. That somehow the sin that abounds within the believer is less provocative, less offensive to the God whose name alone was so revered his own people took offense in it's use.

Are we not his workmanship created for good works? One might ask the same question of Oppenheimer's work. But are we not now Holy and blameless a qualification that surely qualifies us to stand with Christ[^2]? None may stand. Does our death-anxiety so rule our heads that we are willing to dispense with the need for the grace of God?

Is it not the very essence of godlessness to live without God? To ignore him and seek to be ones own source and beginning? To live without being indebted and in need of forgiveness? It's easy to forget such was a gift of *grace*[^3].

My son is yet to learn the hard lesson that provoking his brother to anger does not justify his behaviour in the eyes of his father. So too perhaps the believer that stands in opposition to culture and adopts the angelic countenance of the contemporary martyr whilst repeatedly prodding culture in the axioms. Nevertheless it is far easier to display ones morale outrage towards others than contend with the reality of one's own deficiencies. I have more than enough of my own with which to contend.

[^1]: Niebuhr, H (1951) *Christ & Culture*. New York: HarperCollins;
[^2]: [Eph 2:10](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&version=ESV), [Heb 10:10-12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2010%3A10-12&version=ESV);
[^3]: [Col 1:22-23](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1&version=ESV), [Rom 7:6](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7&version=ESV), [3:24](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203&version=ESV);