Sometimes, summer can be a time of complete boredom, with nothing to do except to play on your computers the games you’ve already mastered. However, there are summers where you’ll find so many different, unexpected moments that you’re not sure how to juggle them all at once. I guess you can say I’ve had a mix in both of these categories. Perhaps I can give an example?
My boredom I would quench normally by either reading a book, writing music, watching movies, writing in general, cleaning, or the typical ‘I-have-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-be-on-facebook’. Of course, there are other activities I would make up as well, but of which I cannot name at this point in time.
When I am doing something in particular, I find myself in so many different worlds. Yes, I say worlds because each person’s mind contains a particular reality that they live in. Even I live in a different world….sometimes ‘worlds’, but that would be too much to explain at the moment.
One thing I have noticed a lot over my past school year, and quite vividly this summer is the diversity amongst Christians. When I talk to different church people, I’m amazed at the words that come out of their mouth. I can also become irritated when they become repetitive in the reasons for their problems, and how they have been taught in the Word.
Then, I had a friend of mine tell me some amazing stuff about God, and what the gospel is really saying; and sadly, so many churches are missing it. I won’t go into the giant detail of it all, for it would take pages to write. However, I can tell you the one thing I have noticed a great deal over this summer: we try too much.
Let me explain. How many times have you heard people in church saying, “We’re not perfect.” “I try to be good.” or “Beware your sinful flesh.”? I think we’ve all heard these close to a hundred times. It gets tiresome, exhausting, and just plain annoying. We are constantly pushing ourselves down, telling each other what’s right and wrong, and making a giant effort to do the ‘right thing’. Are we mad? Have we not heard the gospel message over a thousand times? Are we still blind?
Christ paid the ultimate price on the cross. On that cross, He set us free. Free. FREE! He said that the old flesh no longer had dominion over us, that we are not chained to sin anymore. We’ve got the Holy Spirit inside of us, living in us. We are a new creation, because our old selves got crucified to that cross. Now, can you see where those previous comments clash this statement? By saying all the above, we’re almost screaming out, “Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t enough!” We say that we’re saved through God’s grace, but what do we keep doing? We keep trying to justify ourselves, and be good. We’re trying. As far as I’m concerned, there is nowhere in the Bible that is says Christ’s death demanded a price from us, that He needed us to beat ourselves into being good. That horrible death on the cross was a gracious gift, the gift of freedom. That way, we wouldn’t have to try and be good anymore. Trying was back then; now, we are free!
There is so much more I could say on this matter, but I’ll hold my tongue till another time. Basically, this summer, I have seen many different struggles that people are in, mainly that they are trying too hard, when the truth is they don’t have to. I believe that’s why I have been so upset over churches I go to, and my college. I keep seeing the same burdens, and the same beatings. Now, I realize their burdens are not mine to bear. With all the different opinions in the church, I tended to take it all on myself; but I now understand that I shouldn’t carry all that on my back. If people disagree with me and my ways, that’s their own problem. It’s true; I’m growing tired of the church; but I’m starting to think that it’s the church buildings that are the issue.
