Monday, July 29, 2019

Christianity—Man-Made or Spirit-Made?


By Andrea Merrell

He alone makes us adequate ministers who are focused on
an entirely new covenant. Our ministry is not based on the letter of the law but through the power of the Spirit. The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit pours out life.
2 Corinthians 3:6 TPT


The words Christian and Christianity are loosely thrown around these days. Many people who claim to be believers seem to be missing the point.

I grew up in a fairly legalistic environment where I learned all the don’ts—don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t cuss, and go to church on Sunday. I spent too much of my life trying to better myself so God would accept and love me. I thought I had to earn what He had so lovingly given me already. No one ever told me who I could become, only a laundry list of things God “disapproved of.”

I called myself a Christian, but was my relationship with God created and directed by the Spirit or by man? Chris Tiegreen explains it like this:

Man-made Christianity and Spirit-made Christianity can look a lot alike on the surface. Both point toward Jesus, both promise righteousness and peace, and both lead you to the cross where the old self dies. But only one actually follows through on its promises. The religious life—the man-made variety—takes you to the cross and leaves you there. It focuses on what not to do without much emphasis on who you can become.

Finding that true Spirit-made Christian life happens when we break out of the religious box, kick over a few sacred cows, and walk into the freedom Jesus died to give us. That freedom fills us with life instead of draining it out of us. It tells us we are loved and valued. We no longer have to perform or clean up our act to be accepted. We don’t have to redesign the old nature; He gives us a brand new one.

Don’t get tangled up in the traditions and doctrines of men. Find out what God’s Word has to say, and let His Holy Spirit fill you with new life. 

Make sure your Christianity is Spirit-made.                  

(Photo courtesy of Blogpiks.com and Stuart Miles.)


TWEETABLE


 

 


2 comments:

  1. Great devotion, Andrea. I also grew up in a legalistic church with do's and don'ts. Once I learned about God's grace, my life changed completely. Thanks for sharing. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Sheryl. It's hard to overcome all that legalism, but it's not God's way.

    ReplyDelete