Christianity has become so misunderstood. We’ve started seeing it as a
list rules to follow instead of a vibrant, healing, redeeming,
life-giving relationship with our Creator. In fact, I rarely like to use
the word “can’t” and “Christian” in the same sentence, because I
believe the essence of our faith is about freedom and the fact that we
…”CAN do all things through Christ. ” (Philippians 4:13).
For
all our freedoms in Christ, I’m deeply concerned that many of us have
lost sight of the essence of Christianity. While it was never intended
to be a set of rules to follow, we’ve adopted some destructive attitudes
and behaviors that are undermining the foundation on which our faith
should be built. This list below isn’t a call to any form of legalism or
any attempt to earn God’s unmerited grace, but rather, a simple
reminder about what it means to live in the freedom and grace our Savior
gave His life to make possible for us.
This list is
not comprehensive, but all of these are important. When you blow it in
any of these areas (as most of us do daily) remember that God’s grace is
bigger than our biggest sins! Embrace His grace and move forward in a
better direction.
A Christian should NEVER…
1. Hold a grudge.
As
I read the Bible, one of the most sobering realities is that while
God’s grace to us is limitless, He gives it to us in the same measure we
give it to others. In other words, we CAN’T receive God’s grace unless
we’re willing to also forgive the people who have wronged us.
Augustine said, “Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and then
hoping the other person dies! ” Jesus Himself teaches this important
truth in many places including his famous Parable of the Unforgiving
Debtor. As a Christian, we have to receive God’s forgiveness and we have
to share forgiveness with others. It’s that simple.
“Make
allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians
3:13)
“Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how
often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No,
not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” (Matthew
18:21-22)
2. Devalue or mistreat children.
We
live in a culture that seems to value pets more than kids. We live in a
world where more children than ever are being exploited through sexual
slavery, human trafficking and other horrific abuses and Christians
should be on the front lines in rescuing and protecting these kids, but
too often, the plight of orphans and abused children is treated like an
inconvenient distraction in modern churches.
There
are also millions of Christians who support abortion rights which is
the most dehumanizing practice of our time. It isn’t a political issue,
but a moral travesty.
3. Misuse sex (or misuse another person for our own gratification).
Our
culture is the most sexually exploited and exploitive culture in the
history of the world. We’re so saturated with sexually-exploitive images
that we don’t even think of it as strange anymore than a fish in the
ocean doesn’t realize he’s wet…it’s just the only world he knows. As
Christians, we are called to a high standard. We shouldn’t be having sex
outside of marriage or looking at porn
4. Be anxious, worried or afraid.
This
one doesn’t seem possible on the surface, but God is always calling us
to do things that don’t seem possible. On nearly every page of
scripture, He is telling us to stop worrying or to trust Him. He clearly
wants us to understand that He is bigger than whatever we’re worrying
about. When we choose to go through life preoccupied by fear or doubt,
we are allowing worry to occupy the part of our heart where faith should
live.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about
everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can
understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in
Christ Jesus. ” (Philippians 4:6-7)
“This is my command—be strong and
courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is
with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
“Therefore I tell
you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about
your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body
more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or
reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying
add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27)
Feel free to add yours
Happy Sunday
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