Monday, October 20, 2008

False humility = bondage, fear slavery, guilt and condemnation

Slowly but surely I have been transcribing "Victory over condemnation", as I mentioned a few posts back. As I listen to it I reflect back on many many things in my past church experience with regards to how I was under condemnation far more than I ever realized. I wondered as I typed if many Christians even know they are under it! I wondered to myself if they listened to this message would they even realize what guilt really really is like. When I was in the "ministry of death" (sorry, sounds harsh, but it's true!), I thought it was godly to draw out my faults and shortcomings to truly see them and then work on them. Or at least I was told that was godly. I remember a particular time, when I was in a care group meeting and we were required to go through the book, "War of Words." Now, if you haven't read this book, DON'T. It will not lead you into the truth of Jesus. It will only show you how you fall short in your flesh to live up to a standard that you cannot.(guilt, guilt, guilt and more guilt!) So, that said, I remember this particular meeting we were told to split up, men with men, and women with women. We were given an assignment to pick 3 areas in our spouse that needed the most improvement in their words toward us. So, we had to sit there for the duration and focus on our spouse's shortcomings and ponder them. Then we had to submit the list to them, so they could then see where they needed to improve. ( I almost feel like I remember that we had to talk about the lists out loud in the group, can you believe that?) Boy were there a lot of somber souls walking out of that meeting that night. Not to mention, we were not encouraged to share their strengths or how God was transforming our spouse at all!! No one pointed to the finished work of the cross! (You know the work that satisfied God!! - if he's satisfied, why aren't we?)
Okay, so what's my point in sharing this tale. Well, this exercise was viewed as godly, and if we were truly humble we would except our spouses critique with openness and "humbly" go and seek the Lord for change. Now this may possibly "sound" godly, but it is the farthest thing from it!! I know when I received my list I wanted to cry. I was horrified that that was how my husband viewed me, and he now was given "permission" to bring it to me and ultimately believe that I should and would want to change in those areas. That is pressure, guilt, and sin focused and it negates what Christ did at the cross! 
So I was left with my failures to stew over. Did this cause me to look at Christ and his finished work? Did this cause me to see myself as God already sees me, as he sees Christ, perfectly righteous? Does this list empower me to be transformed? No, No and No! Even if I did take that list and try and change, would it be done in faith or in fear. Wouldn't I be striving by my own efforts, instead of being transformed by the renewing of my mind?
The Gospel is so simple. It's all been done!! We are winners, not sinners! Freedom in Christ is not us going on and on about how we need to be better in any given area of our life. That is bondage. When we begin to believe the truth about who we are, perfect forever, then we will begin to be transformed. It is by renewing our mind, and by thinking on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely or admirable. Is it admirable to point out each others weaknesses? Are our faults lovely? Are we believing the truth when we feel the need to rip each other to shreds and pick out sin, sin, sin? This is a recipe for some serious condemnation, especially when we can now rest in the truth, that He remembers our sins NO MORE!
What happened in that care group may have been meant to be a good thing (and I do not blame or condemn anyone for it. I am simply pointing out an actual situation to make a point.) But it was far from good, it was demonic, very harmful and very dangerous. God has declared to his people there is therefore now, no condemnation. NONE! It's time for the body of Christ to stop putting condemnation on the body of Christ! And start to rest in the utterly FINISHED, FINISHED work that Jesus did at Calvary!!!!

 

11 comments:

Jamie said...

My mind boggles...

What ever happened to regarding no one after the flesh?

We need a measuring stick bonfire! The only "stick" that measures us is the cross. We didn't measure up! That's why WE DIED THERE AND WE NO LONGER LIVE BUT CHRIST LIVES IN US!! As if He wasn't enough!

People are living under such a powerful deception; it's sad.

Jordy's Thoughts said...

Whenever I read your posts a smile creeps up and takes over my face. I love your passion. I love your appetite for God's love. The thing is Lydia, there are more churches out there telling us whats wrong with us. So many highlight our ungratefulness, self centeredness, lack of committment to GOD. When I read your posts i just think about God loving me unconditionally. Now it may last only a split second but something about your posts makes me hunger for GOD.


Romans 8:1- we have all heard it. But are we living like there is no condemnation over us? I would say no and i speak for a lot of other people besides myself. Lydia, I want to know how long you have been saved? Could you answer that for me. I want to see how long it took you to get to the place you're at.



One more thing, I keep hearing this voice of "You either choose me or them." I'm haviing a hard time letting Jesus be JEsus in my life. Do you think the voice is of Him or not? I just wonder cause whenever i obeyed Jesus in the past, it was a small gentle voice inside of me. Now i feel its demanding and i just keep getting further from submitting.

Free Spirit said...

Wow!!
Remind me to NEVER attend a meeting like that.
Jeepers! I'm creeped out by that. It sounds like a good recipe for a divorce.
So glad Papa has given you freedom and grace to walk in and to see His truth!

lydia said...

Jordy ~ You are so LOVED!! I pray that smile sticks around longer and longer, until you have what I call permagrin!! That's the ticket, when you are left smiling and hungering for God, then you know you have heard truth and have been built up and encouraged in the Lord! That is how it should be!!
Well, the truth is, I have believed in Jesus since I was a child. I knew the basic gospel that Jesus died for my sins, but that was it. I never knew the whole gospel of pure grace until a little over a year ago! We all are on a journey and God is moving and seeking to draw our hearts fully to him - so it's different for everyone!! We have a choice to believe him or not, that's it, only believe!!
If you feel like the words you are hearing make you feel guilty or condemned because somehow you have failed, then I'd say it's not God! The enemy likes to play the "impressionist" game, he likes to pretend to sound like God, but he will always accuse you and point you away from God and to yourself or your failures!

Much love, grace and peace to you!

lydia said...

RJW
Amen!!!

I like that, "a measuring stick bonfire...." Hect, I already burned all my books from then........!!

Free Spirit,
I sure wish I had picked up on the ICK factor and ran far away back then, alas........thankfully, God found me in my pit and pulled me out for good! Yes, I am glad he found me and brought me into his loving arms!!

silent wings said...

That was powerful Lydia...and a dose of true conviction! :)

jul said...

Love it Lydia, as usual! I just wrote a post along the same lines kind of and even recommended Victory Over Condemnation! When you're done transcribing I'll have to link to my post.

Matthew Campbell said...

You're right. Setting our mind on our sins and failures is not setting our mind on lovely things. Christ is lovely. Let's just at Him. :)

lydia said...

Jul ~ guess I better get cracking with the transcribing.....I am a bit slow!!

Matt (can I call you Matty!! that would be a term of endearment, a big sisterly name for ya!)

It's like we all need to lay on the beach of our lives and bask in the brightness and warmth of His LOVE!

lydia said...

Cirra ~ Glad it spoke to ya!!

Bino M. said...

How beautiful it would be if the church shows us what is right with us because of the finished work of Christ instead of always pointing to what is wrong with us.

Law always point it's finger to us and thus produce self-centerdness, self-condemnation and self-pity. Grace always point us to Jesus, His finished work on the cross.

Your story reminded me of my past church experiences. We have had similar 'exercises' to figure out what is 'wrong' with us. I feel sick of thinking about it all.