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My little brother is really an amazing dude. Right now he
writes for the Dallas Morning News as what is called a “Student Voice.” Recently he wrote an article about iPhone
apps that was very relatable on a social level.
Which, got me thinking… the concept could totally relate on a spiritual
level as well!
Almost everyone has an iPhone these days (except for those weird android lovers). There are apps for everything from games to a flashlight for your phone to easy access to your banking to photo editing. It’s amazing to have access to pretty much everything right there in the palm of your hand. Some apps are tricky, though.
For instance, I want to play Scribblenauts, which is like the best game ever! So I look it up and… lucky me! It’s a free game! I start playing it and, of course, the addict in me kicks in and I spend hours upon hours determined to beat the game. Then… finally, banners wave, confetti flies, and I do my victory dance. As the confetti clears, I read the words, “To complete the game buy the full version for only $1.99!”
What?! NO! I thought this was a free game?! That’s not fair! What a clever trick it is, enticing me with its claim that it costs me nothing and then after I’m caught up in the game… BOOM! Pay up!
We do that a lot of times within the church as well. Before you’re a Christian you are lured in with promises of acceptance and reassurances that Jesus loves everyone. Then the moment you get caught up in the game it’s time to pay up. It’s almost as if as soon as you come up from the water you are met with a list of do’s and don’ts, rules to becoming a better Christian.
People like me are confused, but… I thought Jesus loved everyone even in my sin? We are met with answers like “Well, yes but God isn’t happy with you if you’re sinning! Yes, but, it makes God sad when we sin! Yes, but, your fellowship with God will suffer!” Yes, but… NO!
Jesus brought freedom, not just from death but from law. Freedom from ever having to be or do ANYTHING to get from God. We are measured by Christ’s ability within us not our ability to do for Christ. My favorite verse in the entire Bible says that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! You know what makes that verse ever more life changing?
If we have accepted Christ then we are one with His Spirit, fused together, permanently bonded as ONE. That means our spirit and His Spirit are one, and where His Spirit is… there is FREEDOM! In a world ever progressing in ways to put us in bondage, let us not bring that into our relationship with Christ.
When He says something is free there is no extra $1.99 payment at the end of the game. If you feel yourself weighed down by the false freedom found within the church walls, don’t worry, God has an app for that. It’s called grace.
Almost everyone has an iPhone these days (except for those weird android lovers). There are apps for everything from games to a flashlight for your phone to easy access to your banking to photo editing. It’s amazing to have access to pretty much everything right there in the palm of your hand. Some apps are tricky, though.
For instance, I want to play Scribblenauts, which is like the best game ever! So I look it up and… lucky me! It’s a free game! I start playing it and, of course, the addict in me kicks in and I spend hours upon hours determined to beat the game. Then… finally, banners wave, confetti flies, and I do my victory dance. As the confetti clears, I read the words, “To complete the game buy the full version for only $1.99!”
What?! NO! I thought this was a free game?! That’s not fair! What a clever trick it is, enticing me with its claim that it costs me nothing and then after I’m caught up in the game… BOOM! Pay up!
We do that a lot of times within the church as well. Before you’re a Christian you are lured in with promises of acceptance and reassurances that Jesus loves everyone. Then the moment you get caught up in the game it’s time to pay up. It’s almost as if as soon as you come up from the water you are met with a list of do’s and don’ts, rules to becoming a better Christian.
People like me are confused, but… I thought Jesus loved everyone even in my sin? We are met with answers like “Well, yes but God isn’t happy with you if you’re sinning! Yes, but, it makes God sad when we sin! Yes, but, your fellowship with God will suffer!” Yes, but… NO!
Jesus brought freedom, not just from death but from law. Freedom from ever having to be or do ANYTHING to get from God. We are measured by Christ’s ability within us not our ability to do for Christ. My favorite verse in the entire Bible says that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! You know what makes that verse ever more life changing?
If we have accepted Christ then we are one with His Spirit, fused together, permanently bonded as ONE. That means our spirit and His Spirit are one, and where His Spirit is… there is FREEDOM! In a world ever progressing in ways to put us in bondage, let us not bring that into our relationship with Christ.
When He says something is free there is no extra $1.99 payment at the end of the game. If you feel yourself weighed down by the false freedom found within the church walls, don’t worry, God has an app for that. It’s called grace.
*2 Corinthians 3:17
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