Whack-a-Mole Theology

I have two sons who love to go to the arcade. I don’t enjoy video games that much, but there are two attractions that draw me to the arcade. They are Skeeball and Whack-a-mole.

Few things are more satisfying amid the cacophony of sound and flashing arcade lights than taking a giant hammer and beating that pesky mole to smithereens. (Admit it, you just imagined yourself gleefully smacking the laughing mole, didn’t you?)

Before I came to salvation in Christ and during my early years as a believer, I had a view of God’s character that was very much like my favored arcade game. I pictured myself in a giant whack-a-mole game with God.

I call it Whack-a-mole Theology. I developed the view of God that he sat on his high, lofty throne in the sky waiting for me to mess up so he could whack me over the head (punish me).

Instead of having a healthy fear of God, I was afraid of him. There is a big difference between the two perspectives. Consistent, in-depth Bible study was the key to correcting my understanding of God’s character. As I studied, I found several blind spots in my theology.

Resting in Christ’s Finished Work

I wasn’t serving God from a place of rest in the finished work of Christ’s active and passive obedience. On the contrary, I was still trying to earn my salvation. No longer does any further work need to be done to offer salvation to me or any other sinner. And because of His satisfactory atonement and perfectly sinless life, our consciences are cleansed from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14).

My conscience is clear because of the finished work of Christ. Christ died once for all (Hebrews 9:12, 28). More than anything else, I needed to learn how to “rest from [my] works as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:10-11).

Lavish Grace

A careful study of Ephesians 1 and 2 taught me Whose I am. Through Christ’s blood, I have redemption–forgiveness of my trespasses–according to the richness of God’s grace that he lavished on me (Ephesians 1:8).

The Greek word used for “lavished” means God’s grace is overflowing on me. I could not get more grace than he has already bestowed on me. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that I am saved by this same grace – not by works. God chose me before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him (Ephesians 1:4).

He created me in Christ for good works – not because of my works (Ephesians 2:10). There is absolutely nothing I can do to earn a higher position with God than I already hold because I am a blood-bought child. Christ’s propitiatory sacrifice is enough (Romans 3:25-26).

Too Much Emphasis Placed on Personal Responsibility

At a young age, my environment placed a heavy weight on a Christian’s personal responsibility. Bible study and sermon application were reduced to a mere set of rules to follow. In my understanding, the Gospel was nothing more than a list of do’s and don’ts. I came to the conclusion that my righteousness (or unrighteousness) was solely my responsibility. This is a very human-centric understanding of the Gospel. 

When Christ redeems us, every piece of salvation is given to us as a grace gift; this includes justification — the declaration that we are no longer considered guilty of our sins, sanctification — the good work done by God in and through us to make us more Christlike, and glorification — the final consummation of our salvation in which we are made fully righteous and are given a complete revelation and reflection of Christ who redeemed us. Every part of salvation—including sanctification—is monergistic meaning God does it ALL. Friends, I can’t even get obedience right apart from the Holy Spirit-wrought work within me. To reduce my sanctification to a list of do’s and don’ts is, frankly, blasphemous, because legalism takes credit for work done solely by God in us. 

The motivation for our obedience should be the living hope we have in Christ (1 Peter 1:3). Our living hope should create in us a purifying hope (1 John 3:3) that compels us to respond with obedience out of the gratitude we hold for being given such a high position as the children of God (1 John 3:1-2).

No More Whack-a-Mole Theology

Correcting each of these blind spots in my understanding of God’s character helps me to grasp my true freedom in Christ and enables me to stop enslaving myself (Galatians 5:1). I no longer walk through life waiting for a divine hammer to pummel me.

Instead, I gratefully bow my knees before my Father who loves me and gave his son as a sacrifice in my place. The Lord doesn’t desire to whack his chosen ones. Through Christ’s perfectly sinless life, atoning sacrifice, and victorious resurrection, God has already delivered us from the enslavement that frustratingly attracts, yet proves to be mere entrapment. Now, we need only walk in joyous responsive service to the finished work he has completed for us. Grateful people are motivated by thanksgiving, not coercion. God doesn’t coerce his beloved saints because coercion flies in the face of his gracious, compassionate character. Instead, his lavish grace compels us to respond in grateful submission to his sovereign will.

Friend, are you like I was? Do you live afraid of God, rather than in reverent fear of Him? God gave his son as a satisfactory atonement for all your sins – the past, present, and future. Because of Calvary, those who have placed faith in Christ need no longer fear condemnation and punishment. Instead, you are declared righteous through the precious blood of Christ.

I can’t help but think of my Savior’s words in Matthew 11 as I write. I will leave them here for you as a benediction:

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. – Matthew 11:18-30

Rest in the Savior’s work, beloved. It’s time to unplug the game.