>
Many Christians have the idea that the height of godliness is always to be telling people how bad they are doing. Many have the idea that in order to be ‘authentic’ you need to make sure everyone knows how poorly you pray, how proud you really are, how unloving you really are, how selfish they would find you if they got to know you better.
Basically we need to go through life saying, “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Rom 7:19 which is misapplied to the believer I might add, but that’s another blog post). Many have this idea and so, just as grey has become the new black, sinfulness has become the new holiness. I mean it. Try telling people how well you are doing and neglect to add a few, “but I’m so wicked’s” and you will come off proud in this sub-culture of ours.
The problem is that if you tell people how well you are doing spiritually you might actually be more like Paul than the person who is always sounding so Romans 7. Let’s listen for a moment to that arrogant apostle who didn’t know how to fit into our new ‘sinfulness is holiness’ sub culture.
– “For God is my witness whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers” (Rom 1:9) No ifs, ands, or buts Paul just tells us he was faithful from the spirit in prayer. If you don’t believe him you can ask God his witness. Wow!