June 7, 2021 – Click here to listen
I have been witnessing extensively to a fishing buddy of mine who is a non-believer. His concept of Christians is all too common. He thinks most Christians are hypocrites and he dislikes hypocrites immensely. No doubt the reason for his disbelief, in part, is a result of some unfortunate incident in his childhood with someone who purported to be a Christian whose poor non- Christian behavior subsequently let him down.
He mentioned to me that I am an example of a good Christian because I “walk the walk”. I got a good laugh out of that one and replied that he should not make his decision to go with God based on my behavior. I am continually disappointed in myself. I make mistake after mistake and I warned him not to judge Jesus or Christianity by me or any Christian or he will surely be disappointed.
I am one of Christ’s imperfect servants and I sin just like everyone else on the planet, but when I do, I deeply regret it and ask for forgiveness and try not to repeat that behavior.
He jumped on that like a “chicken on a June bug”. His comment was that he felt sorry for me because my “religion’s rules” made someone “like me that leads a good life” go around feeling bad because I broke another “religious rule”.
“Hey pal, don’t feel sorry for me! I need God in my life and I have already seen how miserable I am when He is not!” was my message.
I feel bad when I sin because I let my Father down, but the overwhelming majority of the time I am filled with joy. I told him it is similar to the situation I have with my sons. I love them very much and try to teach them rules of conduct, that if followed, will lead to happiness and success. They want me as their father to be proud of their accomplishments at all times and try to follow them as best they can.
Occasionally they might do something that does not make me proud. They will experience regret and feel bad about disappointing me and not want to repeat it and the majority of the time they don’t. In the same way I feel bad when I let my spiritual Father down. Whether I might do some sin that is mean spirited, use profanity, lose my temper, become impatient with others, or whatever sin I might commit, I feel bad about it because I know I have let my Father down as well as myself and I know from the Bible that all sin ultimately leads to unwanted consequences.
On the bright side though the overwhelming majority of the time I know peace that surpasses human understanding because I ask for forgiveness and know that Christ has forgiven me of my imperfections, and my life is blessed continually by a loving Father.
My heavenly Father gives me loving guidance, (not rules), because He realizes that it is a bad neighborhood in which we live and there are real dangers out there. He knows the consequence of sin and like any loving Father wants to protect me and all of His children from them.
I told my buddy to check out the Ten Commandments and tell me honestly if he felt that the world would be a better place if everyone abided by these “rules”. Call them rules or loving guidance but these Ten Commandments would unequivocally change the world for the better overnight IF we as individuals or a nation would abide by them.
No – Christ and Christianity are not about rules. Christ is about love! He gives us love and the rules and guidelines are there because of His compassion and deep love for us and His Fatherly determination to protect His children.
Romans 10:11
As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who believes in Him will not be disappointed” . . . For anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.