I'm not good enough yet to be a Christian

Based in part on the Sermon by Doctor O Thomas of CrossRoads SDA Church

“It's a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you're ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.”

Actor, Hugh Laurie

There’s a misconception amongst my peers that they have too many vices to lead a morally upright life. They feel a calling or desire to be a better version of themselves but they fear taking the first step because of peer pressure or they find it too difficult because they simply enjoy indulging in their vices and are convinced that they’ll never be able to give them up. For many, the feeling is more blatant, they desire a closer walk with God and see the joy, moral fortitude, trustworthiness and hope obtained by those that do…but they feel as if ‘working’ to achieve that level of discipline just isn’t for them.

Too often many who aren’t too familiar with what the Bible teaches feel as if perfection is what is necessary to be saved (the goal is the pursuit of perfection, not the act of). They hear ‘fire and brimstone’ preachers in the streets of major downtown areas telling them that what they are doing will condemn them to hell and they must live a certain way and do certain things to make it heaven…or else. A text that perpetuates this is Matthew 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Thought processes based on this can keep the deeply religious from enjoying life because they realize they are sinning all the time. Their peers see this and decide religion isn’t for them because of all the guilt and fear these feelings cause.

It’s unfortunate that people will take a specific verse out of context to support their argument, if we look at the text that led to Matthew 5:48, we’ll find it says:

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Matthew 5:43-48

So if you rewind a few versus, Jesus isn’t talking about spreading fear, or judgement or hate. He’s talking about perfect love. Perfect love is loving those you don’t know, loving your enemy and sacrificing for others. Loving everyone is the way your heavenly Father loves. So the text that is referenced in a call to be a perfect person isn’t about being a perfect person at all. You’ll also notice this isn’t something you are expected to work towards; it’s set in the present tense. This is something you can start doing right now. But even having perfect love is not something that can be maintained, however the pursuit of perfection, although it will never be achieved in our earthly state, is what brings us closer to our heavenly father. This is a goal to strive for, not a minimum standard to get into heaven.

So for those of you who are concerned about changing your lifestyle, avoiding your vices, having to find different friends etc. Let it be known that salvation is about ‘accepting’ something not ‘doing’ something:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-0

You don’t have to do, work towards, wrestle in your mind with anything. All you have to do is accept God to begin making the changes and living the life that you already feel part of you envying. When you accept God, he will lead you where you need to go and your life will begin to reflect your faith. In the words of Dr. O Thomas ‘you can’t clean a fish before you catch it’.

Those who have changed haven’t done so because of some amazing will power, or because they are better than you. The change began to happen due to acceptance. Over time, your true friends will still be with you and you will weed out those who were never truly loyal to you.

Jesus didn’t wait until you stopped sinning to die for your sins, it happened already. So whatever epiphany, life changing event or sudden increase in will power you are waiting for to find inner peace, purpose and meaning in life may or may not ever come. But a Bible, a Bible Study or a Church group that comes recommended is within reach for many of us. So what is Jesus’s expectation when you come to him? He doesn’t expect you to be any more knowledgeable, experienced or diciplined then little children, but he wants you to trust and come to him without any claim of superiority like they would.

“And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3, Jesus is teaching the disciples in Capernaum and they ask him ‘who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven’ verse 1.

And to those who add or manipulate versus from the Bible or believe that it can be interpreted however one chooses:

“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”

Deuteronomy 4:2, Moses speaking to the Israelites in regards to God’s commands.