Why Religious Change Doesn't Work

I like posting sections from books, sermons, or anything else on here because there are so many wise people out there that can say things so much better than I could.

Here is JD. Greear's very wise words on why religious change doesn't work in his wonderful book Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary.

Why Religious Change Doesn't Work

1.) Religious activities fail to address the "root" idolatries that drive our sin.

 At its root, our sins are driven by the fact that we desire something more than we desire God. Religious change targets the acts of sin without addressing the idolatry that prompted the sin in the first place.

 Let me give you an example: Tim Keller tells of a notoriously sexually promiscuous kid he knew in college. The young man's sexual prowess was about more than lust, however. Gaining "notches on his bed post" was a source of identity to him -- it proved he was a man and gave him a sense of power over women. During his junior year this guy got involved with a campus ministry and "got saved." He quickly got "on fire for Jesus" and gave an inspiring, bold testimony of his new commitment. However, Keller says, he was not a very enjoyable person. He had to win every conversation and he wanted you to recognize his opinions were insightful. The guy had all the external signs of love for Jesus, but he had simply traded sex for religion as the outer manifestation of his true desire. What he really wanted -- his "root idol" -- was power over others.  

True worship is obedience to God for no other reason than that you delight in God. There is an eternal difference in serving God to get something from Him and serving Him to get more of Him. Getting religiously active in a church does not necessarily mean you have become a true worshiper of God. You may have simply discovered religion to be a more convenient means to other cherished idols like respect, pride, success, a good family, or prosperity. 

 2.) When our acceptance is based on our performance, we show 2 root sins in our heart: pride and fear.

Everyone on this planet senses that we are not acceptable as we are (which is true), so we all feel driven to do something to make ourselves more acceptable to God. But whatever we think makes us better than others, we feel proud about, and that leads us to more sin with pride. Pride gives rise to violence, impatience, intolerance, judgmentalism, and many other vices. Of course, on the other hand, when we don't feel like we measure up to others, we despair and our fear of rejection grows.  Our despair creates a void that we often turn toward drugs, alcohol, relationships, and work to fill. 

While performance-based acceptance thrusts us into a cycle of pride and despair, acceptance by God's grace produces exactly the opposite. We are complete in Him. We are even free to let others see our faults, because we know we we already have the absolute approval of the only One whose opinion really matters anyway. We are not afraid to lose all we have, because in Him we have all that we need.

 3.) The insecurity of always wondering if we've done enough to be accepted causes resentment of God, not love for Him.

When I first became a believer, I constantly felt guilty about things I needed to do better to become a good Christian. Despite my fervency, my love for God was not growing. True love for God cannot grow when we are unsure about His feelings for us. 

When our salvation depends upon our righteous behavior, our righteousness will be driven by a desire to elevate ourselves. This is not love for God; its love for ourselves and self protection. The gospel turns religion upside down. The gospel assures us of God's love and acceptance, given to us as a gift earned by Christ's worthiness, not ours. The gospel reawakens us to the beauty of God and overwhelms us with mercy. Our behavior changes because we change. Until that happens, all religious changes will be superficial and about us.