It’s hard work to be a Christian, or is it?

I have heard this more than once. Yes there is work to it and at times it is difficult but that is not what faith is about.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8,9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Our faith is one based on the grace of God that unmerited favor that you have heard talked about. The idea is that God simply loves us. There is nothing we can do to earn his love He just does!

I have been reading a book titled “Pinocchio vs. the real boy” the book is a challenge to youth leaders or people working with youth that kids are looking for real and authentic people of faith.

You might ask, “What does that have to do with Christianity being hard?” It has a lot to do with it. Often our version of Christianity has rules that are extra-biblical and have little to nothing to do with real faith. The denomination I grew up in, going to the movies, a dance, women wearing pants, men not wearing a sport jacket all were virtually next to a sin or were considered a sin. Certain styles of music were considered a sin. However it was perfectly OK to be a glutton, to lie if it was a benefit to you, to gossip and to flirt with another persons spouse. It was all about the outward appearance and not the heart.

Hypocrisy is not about being imperfect. All of us are imperfect; none of us will ever achieve perfection in this life. I know it is easy to feel condemned by our imperfections. The truth is recognizing and acknowledging our imperfection is a way to freedom and becoming real. Each one of us, every day, is in need of the Father’s love and grace.

The more we make it into work the harder it becomes to rely on His love and grace. It becomes work when we feign perfection, when we are afraid to acknowledge our weakness and allow the Lord’s grace to cover us. It becomes work when we become afraid of losing God’s love or favor. It becomes work when we are more concerned about what others think about us than how God feels about us.

Real is about working to become all that God has called us to be and recognizing, in the process, we will make mistakes. Real is giving those mistakes, sins, failures to God knowing that He love us enough to keep encouraging us on.

Real is looking at people and things through God’s eyes. Not judging someone by our cultural standard of measurement but by God’s standard of love. Reality through God’s eyes is based on His character. His character is truth, love, joy, peace, patience and so much more.

Real is living God’s heartbeat! God’s heartbeat is loving people and drawing them to His truth and His freedom. We will never compromise who He is or who you are in Him.

Our relationship can be work at times but it is a work done out of love not fear. It is a relationship based on what is true, not a false need for perfection. It is a relationship based on our recognition of God’s love for each of us and those around us. This type of relationship takes our faith from work to freedom.

Our faith can be a struggle we are battling so many things. It is meant to be a struggle with a smile. A life based on real authentic relationship with Jesus, that changes the lives of others.