A great list.
As of late, I have been trying to evaluate the messages I have received most of my life. A lot of which "outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Matthew 23:28).
I am a recovering Pharisee. Someone who, while thinking I was doing good, was actually distorting what God "actually" said. How does this happen? When you (in general) take something simple from God's word and add, expound and reinterpret for everyone else. It applies to many things. And it applies not just to holding others to that standard, but it exists when you are holding yourself to this standard.
There are too many examples to list. In fact, I'd rather not list them because it WILL step on toes and I do not want to get hate mail. But ask yourself: is there something in your life that you so cling to, a practice, conviction, or "rule of life" that, by it's definition, as you have defined it, is NOT found explicitly in the Word of God? Then please, dear friend, consider that it may be your truth, but not Gods.
1 comment:
Rachel, I grew up a Pharisee. I don't want my children to be Pharisees, but like you, I struggle with it on a daily basis--holding myself to a standard (wife, mom, homemaker, friend, daughter, sister, church member and the list goes on and on and on) that is not given in God's Word. This is partly why schedules don't work for me: I end up living in defeat every moment of the day!
I think it is Jerry Bridges that said something to the effect of Christians all being "recovering legalists." It is in our sin nature to think that there is something we can do to redeem ourselves.
Thanks for the reminder, and I wish you had listed things. I can always stand to have my thinking challenged. (But I understand--the internet is not a very safe place to state some thoughts, is it?:)
Here's to running to God, instead of the rules we've made!
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