Thursday, October 27, 2005
A Bad Word
A Bad Word by Rick Holland
Conversations are windows into people’s theology. If you listen closely enough to what people say, you can discover what they believe about God, His Son, and His Word. Oh yeah, the same works for you too!
There is one word in the vocabulary of most Christians that both reveals wrong theological thinking and causes theological confusion. My guess is that you have used or thought about this word many times.
It is a word that nullifies grace. It erodes that power of the gospel. It exasperates the soul. It exalts fleshly effort. It destroys assurance of salvation. It mocks the death of Christ.
What word has such power?
“Enough.”
See if these phrases sound familiar…
“I don’t pray enough.”
“I don’t read my Bible enough.”
“I don’t evangelize enough.”
“I don’t go to church enough.”
“I don’t love God enough.”
“I don’t try enough.”
“I don’t repent enough.”
“I don’t care enough.”
“I don’t obey enough.”
“I don’t love others enough.”
“I don’t worship enough.”
… and on and on…
Yes, these statements are true of all of us. And we are right to desire greater commitment to the Savior. But there is a hidden danger in the word “enough” if we are not careful.
When do we really do what we are supposed to “enough?” You see, it is all too easy for us to think of God with a measuring tape to see if javelin of our effort is thrown far enough to be accepted. But the truth is we can NEVER do enough. But praise God that there was indeed a spear-sharp javelin that satisfied God. Piercing nails that held the sinless Lamb of God on the cross, that was “enough” for God.
Be careful. Don’t think that there is anything within our power to do enough to please God. He has been pleased already by the life and death of His Son, Jesus Christ. When Christ is treasured as “enough” for God, obedience and commitment become joyful worship.
Jesus is enough for God. And Jesus is enough for us.
Conversations are windows into people’s theology. If you listen closely enough to what people say, you can discover what they believe about God, His Son, and His Word. Oh yeah, the same works for you too!
There is one word in the vocabulary of most Christians that both reveals wrong theological thinking and causes theological confusion. My guess is that you have used or thought about this word many times.
It is a word that nullifies grace. It erodes that power of the gospel. It exasperates the soul. It exalts fleshly effort. It destroys assurance of salvation. It mocks the death of Christ.
What word has such power?
“Enough.”
See if these phrases sound familiar…
“I don’t pray enough.”
“I don’t read my Bible enough.”
“I don’t evangelize enough.”
“I don’t go to church enough.”
“I don’t love God enough.”
“I don’t try enough.”
“I don’t repent enough.”
“I don’t care enough.”
“I don’t obey enough.”
“I don’t love others enough.”
“I don’t worship enough.”
… and on and on…
Yes, these statements are true of all of us. And we are right to desire greater commitment to the Savior. But there is a hidden danger in the word “enough” if we are not careful.
When do we really do what we are supposed to “enough?” You see, it is all too easy for us to think of God with a measuring tape to see if javelin of our effort is thrown far enough to be accepted. But the truth is we can NEVER do enough. But praise God that there was indeed a spear-sharp javelin that satisfied God. Piercing nails that held the sinless Lamb of God on the cross, that was “enough” for God.
Be careful. Don’t think that there is anything within our power to do enough to please God. He has been pleased already by the life and death of His Son, Jesus Christ. When Christ is treasured as “enough” for God, obedience and commitment become joyful worship.
Jesus is enough for God. And Jesus is enough for us.
