How to Put Yourself in Bondage
Here’s a great way to place yourself into bondage as a Christian. Create the perfect Christian in your mind. That includes the behavior patterns, and long list of dos and don’ts. Then, go hog wild in trying to live up to that standard. While you’re at it, measure other people by the same standard. That way, you can feel better about yourself when they fail to live up to it as well.
This may sound ridiculous, but you might be surprised how many subconsciously do this very thing. In fact, some churches actually encourage it. How many preach that we’re save by grace through faith, then place numerous religious expectations on their congregants? Not that their intentions are malevolent. In many cases, they are just trying comply with, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” The problem comes when humans try to decide what holy means, versus letting God define it. Ironically, they find freedom in Christ, and then plunge into religious bondage afterward.
How many feel like they are more bound as Christians than when they were in the world? This happens when people create a religious list of rules to follow. Even to the point where they call things sin that are not actually sin. To be clear, the idea of grace is not to see what you can get away with, and still be on “God’s good side.” There is no license to sin (see Romans 6:1-3). Of course, not everything is a good idea, even if it’s not considered sin in God’s eyes.
1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
The moment you begin to live up to some form of perfection, you’ll shift away from faith, and enter into works. Remember, we are complete in Jesus Christ; not relying on our own efforts to live up to some grand lifestyle. It’s not Jesus plus works.
Galatians 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Walk in Freedom
Philippians 3:7-9 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Jesus did not set us free, just for us to put ourselves into religious bondage. The Gospel really is simple. He is our righteous (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), and His righteousness is received by faith (see also Ephesians 2:8-10). Our works are the result of what He did in us. Our side is simple obedience. Believe Him. Allow Holy Spirit to lead us in everything, and let Him do the convicting; instead of us, or other people.
John 16:8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (NASB, see verses 5-11).
If you’re driven by guilt; you’re not being led by Holy Spirit. His conviction leads to repentance, and a change of direction. If He places a check in our heart about something, then we know it is something to avoid. Of course, we must be submitted to Him in order for it to have full affect. Likewise, He will also lead us in the right direction. When we concern ourselves with Him, all those other things fall into place. Especially, if we allow Jesus to live big in us!
