When I first encountered the concept of "scandalous grace" through Dr. Callahan's powerful Peek A Boo, I see you sermon, it struck a chord deep within me. Her sermon was on how just because you don’t have the capacity to see something doesn’t mean that its not there, that even when we don’t see, Jesus sees.  In her biblical exegesis she expounded upon how blessings emerged form location and position not anticipated. How both Lazurus and Jesus’ resurrections were scandalous, because God’s vision is undeterred. That Nathanial misses Jesus, but Jesus still sees Nathaniel. 

That night while reflecting on her sermon and a current life situation, it hit me.  The idea that God's grace can appear scandalous to our human understanding—that it defies our expectations and shatters our preconceptions—felt revolutionary. Curious about how this concept might resonate with others, I asked my closest friends what comes to mind when they hear the phrase "scandalous grace."

One friend immediately connected with biblical examples, mentioning "the story of Rahab and the woman with the issue of blood." Both stories represent God's grace extending to those society had marginalized—a prostitute who became part of Jesus's lineage and a woman considered ritually unclean who was healed through faith. 

Another described it simply as grace that is  "out of normal grace"—grace that exceeds what we consider typical or deserved.  A thoughtful reflection came from another friend on the "disbelief that God's love and grace are truly universal." They noted how people are likely to judge are "actually recipients of grace, forgiveness, and a good life from God." This response highlights how God's grace often flows precisely where we least expect it.

One response painted a vivid picture of church culture with a "gossip mill" example: "Girl, you'll never believe what happened at church today and who got saved." This insight reveals how we sometimes treat God's transformative work in unexpected lives as juicy gossip rather than celebrating divine grace.

Another friend distilled the concept down to its essential elements: "Repent & forgiveness." These simple words encapsulate the transformative journey that scandalous grace initiates.

Lastly, one friend referenced "Reckless Love Song" by Israel Haughton,  noting how God "comes to us, even in situations when we are not sure what to do (toxic)." They emphasized that God "still loves you for who you are" and keeps "continuing to show up." They traced the theological progression from "prevenient grace" to "sanctifying grace" to "justification"—mapping the journey of scandalous grace in our lives.

What makes grace truly scandalous is how it defies human expectations, societal and cultural standards, and respectability politics. Even when we miss God's work because it doesn't fit our expectations, God still sees us and extends us grace. In the same way as Believers of Jesus we should extend this same scandalous grace to others. 

This is the essence of scandalous grace—a divine unconditional love that sees beyond our limitations, forgives us of our past, defies human expectations, and transforms lives in ways we could never imagine. 

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What does scandalous grace mean to you? Who in your life can you extend scandalous grace to? What does that look like? An apology, changed behavior, financial or physical blessing?