no offense...but you're worthless

It's just not what you read in the newest self-help books.

It's completely contrary to every trend in society. We adjust grading methods to make students feel better about themselves. We say that everyone is special and don't stop to consider that by saying that, we make no one special. (this is well illustrated in the brilliant movie-cartoon: The Incredibles) Why do we do this? What's the deal?

So many of the belief-systems in the world struggle to deal with the condition of humanity. I think this is very interesting. The fact that humans are bent on selfishness is quite possibly the easiest truth to demonstrate! We all hide our wrong and promote our good. Yes, even in churches! We look for the fastest lane in traffic, and the shortest line at the grocery store. We're always looking out for our own best interests!

I love Christianity for many reasons, one of which is it's realness. Jesus wasn't out to flatter humanity. His disposition with humankind is very succinctly described by His half-brother James, who wrote that God "opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

One of Jesus' most striking message to humanity was that we aren't good enough. He raised the 'bar' of morality so high that nobody would be able to say they were good. That is why Jesus was always barking at the Pharisees! He called them white-washed tombs, and made no 'bones' (pardon the pun) about how he felt about their self-righteousness! In sharp contrast, He forgives and welcomes sinners who are repentant and aware of their moral bankruptcy. The Apostle Paul echoes Jesus' message in passages like the third chapter of Romans, where he quotes various passages in the Psalms: "There is none righteous, no, not one... none who seeks after God... they have together become unprofitable (see title of this article)... etc., etc.

As Christians, our confidence is NEVER in ourselves. Not in the past, not now, and not in the future. We were never good enough, we are still not good enough and we will never be good enough! The technical-theological definition of grace is undeserved favour. Take a good guess why it is undeserved. Because we can't earn it, and we don't earn it!

Why are so many Christians BORED with the Christian life? I think we have forgotten just how BIG a deal God's grace is!

May we live in the awe of God's grace to the point where we see for ourselves just how 'amazing' it really is.

In Him,

Dale