"Err on the side of the Gospel"

Permit me some more "cliche' busting" (as Petersen called it)....

We often hear in Lutheran circles that people should "err on the side of the Gospel". A couple of things are troubling about this little aphorism.

People often mispronounce the word "err". It isn't really supposed to sound like "air" but instead like, "ur".

But here's my main point:

I believe this soundbyte is used, quite often, as a smokescreen for anti-nomianism. When someone says "err on the side of the Gospel", they are often simply trying to minimize the Law.

Whether this is because we are uncomfortable applying the Law in today's ever-more-"tolerant" world, or because we are uncomfortable being accused by the Law ourselves.... either way, when we minimize the Law, the Gospel also loses.

Perhaps a better approach than "Err on the side of the Gospel" is, "Don't Err."

In other words, keep the Law and the Gospel in proper balance and distinction. Use the Law when it is needed and called for. Use the Gospel appropriately too.

Will we still err? Sure. Is there a proper way to understand "erring on the side of the Gospel"? I'm not so sure. I suppose it's better than "erring on the side of the Law". But our goal should never be to err, but to apply God's Word rightly in all cases.