Liberation

I hate legalism. I do not hate rules, I hate the guilt that comes with falling short of the rules. When I say rules I do not mean "don't steal, don't lie, don't speed, etc." When I say rules I am talking of the expectations I put on myself in school, in relationships, in faith, in life. With those expectations come the fear that I will fall short. The largest part of my legalistic mind set is found in the way I handle my faith. Part of me knows that because I grew up in the Christian faith, traditional Baptist, this element of legalism (perfection) is that much more ingrained within me. Being a Christ follower and legalistic doesn't make sense. In legalism there is no freedom, there are only shortcomings and disappointment, because, here's a big secret... nobody is perfect.

I meet so many scared Christians. So many afraid of offending, of doing something wrong, of getting angry, even afraid of sharing the faith because they may mess that "presentation" up. First of all when did sharing the truth of what God has done in my life turn into something I have to "correctly present," secondly, who came up with the protocol on how to tell people about a Savior who wants to give them life more abundant, and thirdly, when did our faith become our prison?

We are indoctrinated with a weak gospel, with a false gospel, when we begin to place rules and regulations on the way we should live out our faith. Everything has to be controlable, understandable, maintainable ... that is not the faith I understand from the Scriptures. The Bible speaks of dangerous faith, wonderful freedom, and life lived. I can remember being taught when I was about 12yrs old how there was a certain way in which I had to pray or else God would not hear me because of my sin. I had to confess all my sin first or else He would not hear me. Because I believed that lie my relationship with God was messed up for many years. With that lie came so many others, namely, "if I fall short of perfection, He will be disappointed in me. If the one who created me is disappointed in me and want's nothing to do with me then my life will be spent desperately trying to hold onto something that doesn't want anything to do with me." (That is soul abuse)

Even now, at age 22, I have to remember that the God who created me, loves me no matter what (Is. 43:4 -- you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you...), therefore I can have no fear in coming before Him (1Jn. 4:18 -- ...perfect love drives out fear), no fear that I have messed up in some way and now He will not listen.

It has taken a while, and I am still learning, but I am beginning to live in the freedom the Bible talks about. God does love humanity (John 3:16), He does love you and me, He does have a plan and a purpose for our lives (1 Cor. 2:9), and He does want desperately to be a part of our lives -- He is our Creator, He did not make a mistake in making any human being (ourselves included), He knows we can be more than we currently are and He is calling us to that, calling us in truth. Get out of the lies, get out of the darkness, and step into the light ... it's liberating.