Totally Righteous

I'm tired of serving a God who demands that I act right! I'm tired of always toeing the line just to make sure I don't get struck with a lightening bolt. I'm exhausted from working to keep all kinds of little, silly rules like:
-only listen to Christian music
-no rated R movies
-only certain clothes that are modest and NOT cutting-edge style
-no Harry Potter, Pokemon or anything with Dragons!
And then, when I keep all those rules, I get to look down my nose at everyone who doesn't! I get to mentally gloat every time MY prayer time is longer than yours, MY money is properly budgeted, MY children are quiet and behave like adults, MY lifestyle is conservative and would be approved of by others, I'm not offensive to other people--I'm a good Christian!

I'm tired of all these rules just to be acceptable to God--aren't you?!

What if we were running around, obeying all these nit picky rules, spending our lives policing ourselves and everyone around us (even when they don't ask us to) AND WE MISSED THE POINT!!!

My friends, I think that's exactly what's happening!

  I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous (entirely pleasing to God) through faith in Christ.   Philippians 3:9

That means that once we're in a relationship with Jesus, we don't have to do anything to be acceptable to God! Jesus did it for us on the cross!  When we have to do more than believe, we're saying that what Jesus did isn't enough and that's an insult to His incredible sacrifice FOR us!

  Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.“  John 6:29

All of the rules, all of the judgement, all of the feeling like I-never-measure-up...it's all a waste! And it's the same oppressive Old Testament Law that Jesus originally died to save us from!  Our human nature feels the need to earn our own righteousness, but that's a lie! 

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace.   Romans 6:14

Let this truth sink in! Dare to believe what the Bible says even though this message of freedom isn't always popular among us Christians! If you are doing anything in your life simply because "that's what good Christians do" PLEASE STOP! Ask God to show you the truth! Ask God what He wants of your life and quit following a bunch of RULES!

I end with this writing from the Apostle Paul.  Read this and then go ask God what it means:

You crazy Galatians (insert your name in place of Galatians)! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it's obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the Cross was certainly set before you clearly enough. 

2 Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? 3 Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? 4 Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up! 

Galatians 3:1-4

STOP THE MADNESS--BE FREE!