[NathanATX]

I was at a Unity class last night and the topic of sin came up.

The teacher said that sin is "missing the mark." Which I agree with. It isn't a inherent evil, a "sin nature". It doesn't separate us from God. It's just missing the mark of being who God is calling us to be.

And then the topic of Grace came up. I grew up with the idea that Grace is "unmerited favor." Example: While I was yet a depraved sinner, Christ died for me... Or when miracles & blessings happen, it is the undeserved grace of God. I know I don't believe in "being" a sinner. And I don't have a solid handle on the meaning of seeming miracles & suprise blessings.

So I'm confused.

If we believe that we are inherently good and thus deserving & worthy of God's love... then how does Grace fit in the picture? You can't have "unmerited favor" if you do merit the favor. He brought up some examples of how he miraculously avoided tragedy in the Vietnam War, but the offset to that is... if that was God's Grace for you, where was God's Grace for the person who got killed? Where is God's Grace for the innocent?

That understanding of Grace seems to be VERY tied up in the limiting, negative view of Sin. And thus in the idea of God being a partial, favorites-playing, moody being in the sky... which I absolutely don't believe God is.

So what is this thing we call Grace? And how does it fit with who we see God to be?