Urban Reformation

I’ve been blessed and yes challenged in some areas in our pastor’s latest wed. evening series on Christian Liberty.  It seems like a lot of the people I’ve met in “Reformed” circles and possibly even our own pastor love the doctrine of “Christian Liberty” because at some point or in some way in their life they have been exposed to legalism.  Legalism does kill and it’s one sure way of demonstrating a Pharisaical self-righteousness that holds the head of those who perform outwardly in higher regard than those who hide their sins inwardly.  I wasn’t able to hear the whole series I think one night they weren’t able to record, and I was out many of the nights doing outreach.  However one thing that I notice is that the heart of legalism, and of law making for instance is bound up in the motive.

I have had my run-in’s with people who will be shiny on the outside, and their motives are hidden within.  I have been scarred by just such an experience, even though it was God’s plan and ultimately for His Glory, as I’m sure many people have been scarred in their own experiences.

It kind of reminds me of Eddie Haskel, looks polished on the outside but inside he was always waiting to put one over on the adults or lead others into some type of rebellion.  I’ve seen this in children when I was growing up, I’ve seen it in unsaved adults at work, and I’ve seen it in professing Christians in a church plant.

Our flesh motives promote both licentious behavior and legalism and a step off into either side is the pit.  They both cause pain and suffering circumstantially and both lead to the abyss.

The only pure and good motive is Jesus Christ.  He should be our only motivation…  Contemplating on Christian liberty, we are free in so many ways but it really depends upon the motive of our hearts if we are truly legalistic or truly free.

If the fruit of our lives demonstrate that we are still bound by motives of works righteousness, or  we bound by the feeding of our carnal desires of license in justifying a Godless lifestyle, then we can rest assured that our “motives” are not Christ.  The tricky part is when they look righteous on the outside i.e. legalism and are rotten inside.

If you are saved the Holy Spirit will convict, but I come from a background where most people in church are apathetic and licentious.  There is little standard or reason to follow as they see it, and anyone who professes Christ may live a normal uneventful non spiritually challenged life, and few are convicted or see anything wrong with such a lack of holiness, or an abundance of worldliness…. all under the auspice of Christian Liberty.

This has me adding the ‘shoulds’ and the ‘ought tos’ in more conversations than I should or ought.  But am I being legalistic when I say to my brother, “You ought to be in church, because it’s a detriment to your spiritual growth?”

I mean the Sabbath is freedom to strive to enter the sabbath rest in Christ yet, is there truth in the statement, “that he should attend church?”  I know others who have said “You ought to be in Church every Sunday” and their intent is to follow the law.

It’s nearly the same statement but the “motive” is the difference.

This study has helped me to try to examine my motives, and seek purify them with the word.  Hebrews 4:12 “…discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The last thing I want to be is an Eddie Haskel, and although there is some Eddie in everyone I pray constantly that God keeps us all from self-deception!  That we may see our true heart motives and repent when we need and when we ought!

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