Religion & Convenience

We find ourselves situated between two kinds of spiritual pitfalls which endanger true faith; on one side the severe weight of legalism, on the other a form of ease which demands nothing of us, and in both cases our progress is hindered. Since these two extremes exist, we are unable to achieve a hopeful way of life and to reach the highest level of true freedom and joy. The Holy Book states that true joy is found in the good news, that "the power of God saves everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16), and that this, in turn, brings about true liberation.

Pitfall 1: Religion (Man Trying to Reach God)

At its heart, the concept of "religion" is humanity's exhaustive, legalistic effort to win over God by observing and keeping moral rules. It is based on a mistaken assumption that if I improve my behaviour, then God will accept me. The Bible reverses this line of reasoning; in Romans 5:8 it says, "Although we were still sinners, Christ died for us as a demonstration of God's love for us."For example, the Pharisees were very religious and careful about paying their tithes (Matthew 23:23), but Jesus pointed out that they were spiritually dead within. The Law was not intended to save us; it was provided as a mirror which shows us our great need for a Saviour (Galatians 3:24). The gospel is not concerned with people striving up a mountain to get to God by means of legalism; rather, it is about Emmanuel: God with us (Matthew 1:23). Reconciliation is achieved entirely by the blood that Jesus shed, not by our own self-righteous efforts.

Pitfall 2: Convenience (Grace Taken for Granted)

At the other end of the scale is convenience. This happens when we take God's great grace and use it as an excuse for spiritual laziness; we want a Saviour who will rescue us from hell, but not a Lord who tells us how to live. We are practising what theologians famously referred to as "Cheap Grace", which is the offering of forgiveness without asking for repentance and baptism without any church discipline. There will come a time when people will no longer tolerate sound teaching, and, in order to satisfy their own desires, they will gather a large number of teachers to tell them what their ears want to hear.2 Timothy 4:3At present we only include God in our schedules if doing so does not clash with our weekend arrangements, our career goals, or our own sense of comfort. In former times, people will be "people who love pleasure rather than God, having a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:4-5). It is impossible to live in the light if one is still attached to the darkness (1 John 1:6).

A Faith Driven by Gratitude

We are encouraged today to draw away from all traps and pitfalls and to lead a new kind of life; meeting Jesus should transform our hearts, encourage us to give joyfully and to make reparation, and demonstrate that genuine obedience comes from love and gratitude. Obedience is not a way of trying to gain salvation; it is the happy outcome of having received it. We are not aiming at holy living in order that God may love us; we aim at it because He already does love us (1 John 4:19). To step out of these two extremes:

• Give up self-righteousness; you don't need to try to earn what Christ has already paid for in full (Titus 3:5).
• Forsake lukewarmness: Stop offering God your spare time, energy, and concessions (Revelation 3:16).

Commit yourself entirely to proper acts of worship and stand firmly in His grace. We should surrender truly and be changed, since that is true freedom.