Ephesians 2: 4 - 9 NKJV
There was a question which was raised by a popular christian author this week. Do we, as christians, need to work our hardest to live better lives? When I say this, I mean better christian lives in the eyes of God. Do we, as Gods children, need to continually strive for that perfect standard in order to see ourselves as transformed by Him? Well, if that is our goal, then we will certainly fail each and every time. In fact, we are setting ourselves up to fail when we do this. The author goes on to say that when we fail in our quest to be better, more righteous and more holy that we find ourselves in a never ending cycle of failure, guilt, repentance, performance and once again...failure. It's as if we have gotten it into our heads that we need to perform at our best in order for our heavenly Father to accept us. Well, this may work with human parents, but we have zero need to perform for our Lords acceptance. The apostle Paul tells us this in Ephesians 2. It is by HIS grace that we have been saved {Ephesians 2:8}. Yet, we are told each day that we are but sinners saved byb grace and in constant need of repentance, performance...yada yada yada. When we feel that we have failed to achieve these unattainable standards we've set for ourselves, it is then that the guilt and shame overcomes us and the cycle continues. Maybe if I pray harder, be more righteous and tithe more then, certainly then, God will accept me into His graces! So, what part of being saved by His grace are we not understanding? Our own salvation has nothing to do with our own efforts. I believe that there is a good reason for this, for if we were able to save ourselves, who would get the glory? That's right, our favorite person...ourselves. Suddenly God would take a back seat replaced by our own pride and glory. No, I like things the way they are.
1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
Romans 8: 1 - 3 NKJV
When I say that I prefer things the way they are I'm not refering to that same old cycle so many christians all too often get stuck in. That same tired cycle of guilt, shame and performance. No, I like things the way they REALLY are. That my heavenly Father would love me so much that He would ensure my salvation {John 3:16-17}. That Christ Jesus Himself would live through me {Galations 2:20}. This is the reality of our salvation. Now, at the risk of being critical, it is the institutional church which has created those standards of holy performance which we all too often fall into. This is not from God, but from man. Is it our Lords intention that we should feel guilt and shame in our attempts to seek Him? I would say no. If, then, it is not our loving heavenly Father who ultimately brings that guilt and shame upon us, who is it? The answer may be in the pulpits of our churches. I would suggest that, as christians, that we have forgotten who it is that we are. We are loved and cherished children of God not deserving of the guilt and shame layed upon us by those around us. We are vessels of the Spirit of Christ Jesus who is in each of us. That, my friends, is nothing to be ashamed of.
"I don't need to punish people for sin. Sin is it's own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it."
William Paul Young, The Shack
~Scott~
2 comments:
Good stuff. But, how are we reformed through shame?
Guilt, shame and condemnation DO NOT bring reformation. Only when we realize who we truly are does that come :)
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