This re-post has been edited from the original.This lesson I'm learning about the inability to manage my sin is powerful.
It is confusing as well. Paul in Colossians 2 says human regulations have an appearance of wisdom "with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." 2:23
Does "self-imposed" mean I'm making myself worship or does it mean I worship myself? What do you think?
I have long understood this model of religion. I grew up in the Bible belt and the typical church wants it members to behave a certain way not be a certain kind of person. If you cuss, smoke, drink, fornicate, or run at church you may go straight to hell if Jesus comes back and catches you. No wonder we are leaving the church in droves after high school, what a happy message.
Think about it this way. Why do we need grace? Because we fall short of God's glory, right? Right. Well if I fall short of God's glory (which I do) then I don't just need grace once, I need it continually. Because the falling, it keeps happening.
Read the book Bo's Cafe, its a great story about how we can't fix ourselves.
http://www.boscafe.com/site/Behavior modification does hold some value, yes I understand that. But we have to understand it is a tool not the goal. I have to learn this lesson over and over again. Remember if you could fix yourself then you wouldn't need Jesus and his work on the Cross.
1 comment:
I wonder if real life change, or self-control and improvement, comes only when we don't impose religion or worship into our life. Perhaps Paul is saying that to practice some religious worship thinking it will make you better like medicine curing a cold, then we lose the concept of what a life truly changed is. Saying Christian phrases at the right time, or praying as much as the guy next to me, or lifting my hands in the air with the right tune does not eliminate sin; genuine, conscious reflection may be a better step towards life change. Maybe when Christians start to be honest about how we "worship" and why we do, we could see some people experience valuable self-control.
Post a Comment