Y'all. I'm disappointed. I really try not to have high expectations of other people, but I do have higher expectations of people who call themselves "Christian." I guess I shouldn't, because of the whole sinful nature thing.
People are always going to be disappointing; they'll never live up to the standards that I think they should strive for. Except for the grace of Christ. See, I really do believe that most of the time, most Christians can behave better when they are striving to live in Christ. And it disappoints me when they don't, because to me, it means they are not striving to live in Christ.
Do you not know that grace means that you are free to live life abundantly in Christ? You no longer need legalism or religiosity to find a place in God's family. Now, as Paul says in Romans, we are not free to continue to sin. Our goal as Christians is to become more like Christ. Just like anything else worth attaining, reaching that goal requires work and discipline. And I know that sometimes it's easy to get side-tracked in our journey toward Christ-likeness.
But, c'mon people! Let go of the legalism!! We are not bound to a list of rules and certain behaviors. I don't have to wash my hands a certain way before coming to the Lord's table on Sunday. I do not have to say my prayers a particular way or with special words or gestures.
What God desires is a heart that seeks Him! It's about the heart, folks. And you don't know my heart, so you cannot judge by my action whether I am seeking Christ or not. (Hopefully, you see the fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life as I seek after God.) But I also don't know your heart.
However, when I see other Christians acting legalistic, I get disappointed, because their actions tell me that they don't "get" what being a Christian is all about. Life is Christ is about grace, not legalism.
I know I'll continue to be disappointed in people. And I know that I will also disappoint other people. I just had to get this off my chest today.
Hi Heather. Amen to people disappointing one another. Welcome to the human condition, right? Just know that if you see someone walking in legalism, they just don't understand -- yet. Pray for them and try not to take it to heart if they judge you for being so free.
ReplyDelete(Much easier said than done. I'm talking to myself here.)
Bless you! Enjoy your freedom Sister!
Beth
I'm the same way sometimes. I just want to yell "Don't You Get It!" but I know that won't help anything.
ReplyDeletei totally hear ya. the amazing thing is that they would forfeit the grace of Christ. yikes.
ReplyDeleteMy husband always says, "They're members of the family, we have to love them anyway." It's a good reminder, but it's hard to do.
ReplyDeleteI'm new to being a Christ Follower, and I still sin daily, but never in a legalistic way 'cause I'm still learning what that means!
My step-daughter-in-law said to me out of the blue a few months back that she didn't believe in Saturday church, "If you can't go on Sunday, then Jesus is just not important to you." Such an unbending thought to share. It made me sad, because church is whenever people come together in His name, reading this blog today was a little church for me.
Thank you!