Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Christian Podcast Central

Home
Evangelical - Sponsored
Confessions Of A Closet Christian 40: Why Do We Think That the Gospel is Obvious?

Confessions Of A Closet Christian 40: Why Do We Think That the Gospel is Obvious?

Last updated on: February 23, 2016 at 10:56 pm by Christian Podcast Central

Confessions Of A Closet Christian 40: Why Do We Think That the Gospel is Obvious? 2016-02-23T22:56:33-08:00 Christian Podcast Central

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Confessions Of A Closet Christian 40: Why Do We Think That the Gospel is Obvious? Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Growing up I had what I’ll call an “of course” attitude. “Of course” I got straight A’s. “Of course” I was captain of the girls’ varsity soccer team. “Of course” I was president of the senior class.

I sound like a tightly wound goodie goodie. I was. But I worked hard for those things, so “of course” there would be a reward. “Of course” I would be compensated.

Sometimes when I think about the fact that I’m a Christian, I think “of course I am,” which is why I get confused when God doesn’t reward me with the equivalent of real life straight As.

Where are my rewards, God? Where’s my Millennial Genius Junior Nobel Peace Prize?

Hellooo, don’t you see what I’m accomplishing down here? Am I going to be the first female president or not?

I think I treat my relationship with God like He owes me.

I mean, yeah, he died for me or whatever. He saved humanity. Of course he did.

And we’re good people. We’re Christians. Of course we are.

And God’s going to bless us. I mean, He has to, right? Of course He does.

But when I stop and look at the gospel – at what Jesus did – when I really see how He gave Himself up fully – like a groom gives himself up for his bride, sacrificing for her and her every need, when I see how Jesus did that for me to the point of suffering crucifixion, death, and hell, I am completely astounded by His loving actions and by my attitude that says, “of course He did that.”

When Jesus died on the cross, I don’t think He was looking down from His slow crucifixion and thinking about how beautiful we are, how deserving we are, or how much we achieved.

I think He saw something sad. Desperate people in the utmost need of a Savior. I think He saw people who owed a great deal of debt and, of course, couldn’t pay it.

So when I consider my “of course” attitude, the attitude that says I’m entitled to, have earned and deserve something, and when I call that attitude, “Christian,” I have to stop and consider what Jesus did and how marvelous it is. I have to realize my attitude that I call “Christian” isn’t Christian at all. I’m just religiously keeping tabs on what God owes me based on what I’ve done.

Because there’s nothing “of course,” typical or throwaway about what Jesus did. He suffered death so that we could live. No one had to do that. He did. We didn’t deserve it. He did it anyway. That isn’t obvious. That’s wonderful. That’s incomprehensible. That’s unmatchable. That’s glorious, mighty, and powerful. That’s God.

When I forget this and when I negate this truth, I foolishly miss out on the profound beauty of the gospel when it says “while we were still sinners” – not while we were accomplished, religious, award-winning, presidential candidates, or even seemingly deserving moralistic “Christians,” but “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

For more engaging and encouraging podcasts and videos, check out the E-Squared Media Network at www.e2medianetwork.com

Uncategorized

christian culture

Christian millennials

millennial generation

millennials

Previous Post

October 14, 2014

The Big Picture Podcast: Faulty Programming?

Next Post

October 15, 2014 Real Stuff My Dad Says 62: Why Shouldn’t We Do It?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Brad Stine Has Issues Christian Podcast Central Classic Podcast Experience God Life Grounded Ouxano Parent Like You Mean It The Protest Show with Thor Ramsey The Summit Lecture Series Uncategorized What You’ve Been Searching For

Select a Month July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz