I was going to right a different blog tonight, but this is on my heart and this is suppose to be more about my journey, so this is where I am at right now and this is what's on my mind.
ABC. When I was young, I was taught the ABC's of becoming a Christian. Admit. Believe. Confess. Of course I've grown and realize a lot of things now, even about this formula. This is taught in every church I had ever went to, and is works based. It was taught to me at VBS, and I was given pamphlets to share with my friends and school. But this is wrong. It's death and religion. The ABC formula about getting to Heaven states three simple things
1. You have to admit.
2. You have to believe.
3. You have to confess.
Read it again. This is a formula about what YOU have to do. It's a man centered formula about getting into Heaven on what YOU do. These things are part of the Kingdom, but they are not how you enter it. These things are religion. Religion is a man based system of reaching something that is already available for us all. I would have never thought that these things were demonic, but now that I am older, having put childish things away, I see now that this is bondage. It uproots hidden theology in our own hearts. It exposes the fact that we are unaware of what has already been given to us and are still trying to earn it. I am not saying that those who taught me this are demonic. They were all amazing people that I love and cherish and will see in Heaven. But this is misguided to say the least.
The "formula" to entering into Heaven, if there were to be such a thing, is by God. It's not by doing anything. Works will not at all change your salvation. I'm not saying that you never have to admit, believe, or confess, I'm just saying those things are not our entry way into Heaven, which I think most people who read this blog would agree with me. I believe that those things are a product of a relationship, and not the foundation of it.
The way the "ABC formula" is laid out is that our efforts are the foundation, but it's not at all. To form a relationship with God, our works of admitting, believing and confessing are the tools that form our bond. But God's love is the foundation. Anyone who knows me knows this is a soap box of mine, and I could talk about the light and love of God for hours and days even, but that's not the point of what I'm saying here. What I'm saying here is that the foundation is not by our own works of admitting, believing, or confessing. If we believe, it's only because He is known, and if we admit, it's only because He has drawn is to, and if we confess, it's only because He has shined His light in our darkness so that we may see.
I posted about how demonic so many of the things I grew up being taught were, and a woman asked, "what things are demonic" I replied that the works based message was one of the main issues, which has worked it's way into every area of my life, including my relationship with this particular woman. What's ironic is that this person, who claimed that there was no works based mentality, did not want to be a part of my life due to my works. How she viewed me was based on my actions. Works based theology is poison. It poisons our view of God, and it overflows into every area of our lives. We hold others up to same strict standard that we apply to ourselves. We feel the need the work and perform in church, in hopes of a better reward.
This propaganda traps people into unhealthy relationships in churches that need to leave, but are in a co dependent state with the congregation where they need each other in unhealthy ways that we were not meant to need each other. We begin to fill voids that we can't.
This is just a little post about a much bigger issue, which I plan on dissecting and throwing out into this blog into smaller portions. The place where I am at right now is un rooting all of this. I have spent my whole life earning a reward that is already mine. I have labored in my brothers vineyard and Papa is calling me to a place of rest. Rest. I really don't know what that looks like, but I look forward to finding out.
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