So I put all those names in the title because usually when God hits me something, He does it over and over (see the Peter connection here?).
Last Saturday, Mike Goldsworthy of Parkcrest was talking about the obstacles the early church put in the way of the new believers. I braced myself for a typical "Isn't the church awful and don't we throw up a lot of obstacles to non-believers?" kind of sermon. But once again, he surprised me and didn't go that route. Instead he talked about the obstacles we throw up in front of ourselves in our journey of faith.
He talked about the idolatry of identity. We want a purpose and significance. But anything other than living a Christ-centered life is sin.
Then he hit me with the obstacle of religion. This is the idea that we can earn our salvation. Now I know I can't earn my salvation, but I definitely struggle with the thought that I can be good enough that God will find me acceptable.
Since I've always lived a "good girl" sort of life, I generally believe I deserve whatever blessings come my way. I've followed the rules and continue to try to follow them. Obviously God owes me, right? Hear how awful that sounds? I'm very close at times to believing that I don't really even need God's grace. After all, I haven't screwed up in any major way. This leads me to such judgementalism where I want to tell other, Stop screwing up. Just do everything right. How hard is that?
But as he was talking I realized that the fact that I have been able to lead a "good girl" life at all is because of His grace. If life is like a race, I was born a step from the finish line and figured I was an Olympian athlete. God gave me every advantage - great family, raised in church, never in poverty, good schools, great influences. I actually had no excuse NOT to live a good life. Now I dare to take credit for what He gave me! Instead of looking down my nose on those struggling in the race, I should be the one helping them along. Just who do I think I am anyway?
Now we are studying Hebrews, a book written to Jewish Christians who were tempted to turn back to the law. Living under grace was too easy. They had to DO something to EARN God's love and acceptance. I identify.
Then Andy Stanley talked about working for the Lord. It's not WHAT we do that brings us significance, it's WHO we are doing it for.
The fact the God loves me and has accepted me no matter what, that it is not dependent on anything I do, and is only dependent on Christ's death is somewhat incomprehensible to me. It can't be ME that He loves, it's the me that follows the rules, right?
Oh, I gotta wrap my mind around this one.
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5 comments:
That sounds like a great message, Michelle. I'm glad you made it to church that night :) I especially love the part about - (He talked about the idolatry of identity. We want a purpose and significance. But anything other than living a Christ-centered life is sin.) I think that hits the nail on the head with so many of us today. We want to make it all about "us." In the world we live in, even as Christians, we still think everything is about us, and its not! I finally finished The Attributes of God by Tozer, and I feel like that was his underlying theme in the whole book. We can do nothing without God, we are nothing without God. We have lost a sense of who God truly is. In all of our "goodness" we have created a watered down version of God, and packaged Him up so nicely we can fit him in our back pocket during the week, pulling him out when we need him, and putting him back when he becomes inconvenient to whatever the circumstances are. ~ I may have strayed off the subject of your original post, but I think you get the picture. It isn't about us, it is about Him!
Hey Michelle. Nice post. I ran across your blog randomly, but I really enjoyed your thoughtful writing. Hope to meet you someday at Parkcrest!
I love when God hits us up side the head. He knows what we need to learn and finds a way to teach us. The hard part is putting it into action.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I think that this is a huge issue for most Christians, only most Christians won't speak it out loud and maybe don't even realize what they are doing. At our book club last night we spent time talking about receiving God's grace and mercy. And although on the surface, feeling that we don't deserve God's grace, isn't the same as what you are expressing. I think it stems from the same place. That place of pride that says I need to be able to do something to earn this gift. Then I won't NEED God so much.
Why is it so hard in our human condition to NEED God? That dang pride.
Michelle: I think about the same things sometimes. Who am I, Who is God. I feel as if, if I do some of the things God says to do in his word, Like if a homeless person comes up to me and asks for change out side of a circle K, If I'm feeling generous I might give him 5 dollars or ten dollars and then feel as if I am in God's will. How can I not be pleasing to God Now ? I have to go back and realize that I can not buy my was into his favor. It is only by his Grace that I am a part of His kingdom in the first place ! I can't just live like I want to live most of the time and then once in a while do something in the name of the Father . If that were true everyone would have a shot at eternal life ! I pray that God shows me the true meaning of being " CHRIST LIKE ." That is my only thing that will get me Through.....Great Post !........
.........Uncle Kent
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