Understanding "Christian" attitudes

For once in my life, I would love to be in a church that has people who will live like Christians in the whole meaning of the word...See, since I can remember, there have been people in the churches I've been that simply are at odds with what they "preach"!!! Do you know any of those people? You know, the ones that speak of Christ's grace, yet when they speak about others they spew fire that hurts everyone around!!! The ones who when in front of people seem very kind and generous, smiling at everyone yet when you turn around you hear about how unworthy everyone is and how they are the only ones who are keeping up with the "Christian requirements and lifestyle"...

I would love to be in a church that just loves people and looks for redemption, not through our own ideas and strength, but through the understanding that Christ is the one who can redeem us, each and everyone of us...One that even though there are problems, people help one another and care for the situations that others face without condemning them and leaving them out because, "they are not worthy"...

Of course, that sounds like an utopia, for I know that a church like that in this world will never completely exist. I know that even though there might be some churches that have some of those traits (praise the Lord for you), I can assure you that no church is perfect...The church is full of people and when that happens, you will have problems, for we are not even close to be perfect...

There's people who think and try to be perfect, "just like your Father who is in heaven is perfect" Matt. 5:48, but in retrospect, and linguistically that word for perfection in the greek does not mean what people understand it means. The word in greek is teleo, which in this context means to be complete, to be compassionate, to be mature (according to Verlyn Verbugge in the Dictionary for New Testament Theology), and specifically, it calls us to be just like our Heavenly Father, to care for the ones who have nothing, to help others and to supply needs...

In light of that, the word perfection takes another meaning and leaves assurance that perfection by our own cannot be achieved. Throughout the Bible, we understand that we are sinners, that we cannot do anything apart from Christ and only through Him (Phil. 4:13). We know that everything we have are "filthy rags", and that no matter how hard we try, we will not be perfect... But in all this, I see hope...

No matter how your church is, if its filled with people who throw stones at the first mistake from other people, if you have church members looking at the others specks and forgetting that they have big planks in their lives...if you have "righteous living" people who behind close doors are completely desperate and do crazy things, there is still hope...

I know, I know...I started complaining about that, but after a few moments I once again realize that the only hope for me, for every person in church is not in how we live life, but in who gave His life so that we could have a chance for a different life...there is hope even though our lives are twisted and seem going down, because of One who gave His life so that we could go up when He comes for us...

So, even though I long for a "perfect" church, I am happy and content with what I have and accept the fact that God has given us a purpose wherever we are...the matter is if we take it or we complain and give up on it...

The balance between legalism and grace

What a way to start uh?? But this is simply because I cannot stay quiet at the fact that many of our young adults, young people are disenchanted with church not by the fact that we might have disagreements in theological stuff but many of them are leaving because of dear old "saints" that are hurting them with words and even glances of "righteousness"...

There are many things to talk about in legalism, for it is a lifestyle that runs people's lives like a little general..."You should not listen to that...you should not wear that...you better not do that...you better not even think about saying that out loud..."

I have a problem with that...Do you?? I just can't fathom the fact that no matter what I do I am always not good enough...I fall short....and that actually is true, but it hurts even more when someone is right there to tell you that you failed... The fact is that no matter what I do to try to be good, the Bible tells me that I can't because, "all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23)

So, that is my point...If we cannot be completely good, why are some people so entrenched into the idea that you have to live a certain way to earn "holiness"? The fact is that I also believe that we need to understand what is at stake here...No matter what I do, I am not good enough, but there actually has to be some kind of fruit from our understanding of God's grace...and therein lies the conundrum...

I have had the opportunity to see both sides of the equation (legalism and grace) into action...I know that there is a constant battle to see more people behaving the right way vs. the people who understand that they can't do it by themselves so they let go of everything that tied them down and go the opposite way... I've seen people hurt shooting hurtful words and critiques against the other side...One sees it one way, and the other sees it in another way...

I've seen churches being disrupted and divided by the fights...I've seen christian brothers and sisters fight over simple, banal things like food and dress...I've seen people riled up against each other and I always just shake my head in disbelief...

No, I am not perfect and sometimes I am part of the problem, but I have come to the conclusion that a balance is needed...For example, if the problem with how people dress in church would be as important for salvation as the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, then I would understand the legalistic point of it...But in the big scheme of things, dressing is not an issue of salvation... of course, people could make a case for you know the need to be humble in everything (including the dress) to show that we care for God, but that is not the main issue in salvation...The main issue in salvation is that we are saved by what Christ did and not by how we dress!!!

And some of you can say, "yes, you tell them...grace is what we need"...but also, we have to look at the whole picture in the Bible that also tells me that I have to be careful with what I do, for whatever I do has consequences that can impact my "weaker" brother (see Rom. 14), so that basically I need to be careful with how I dress too, so that I may not harm others who are not as strong in the faith as I am...

This is just a start at understanding how to find a balance...we will probably never find a perfect balance to our actions, but the only thing that we have to keep doing is reading the Word of God and praying that He can give us clarity to find balance...These are simple thoughts, that have crossed my mind lately....