3 Lies We Believe About Our Faith

"All too often what passes for Christianity
is not true Christianity at all.
It is an impostor.
And the sad thing is that
most people don't know the difference."
~J. David Hoke~

Lie 1: My youth pastor/leader is my connection to God.
We have access to God only through Jesus Christ! Today, Christ is our High Priest. By His death on the cross, He made a complete sacrifice for our sin and invites us to come directly into God's presence through our relationship with Him. "There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all" (1 Tim. 2:5-6).

You need the church, and the church needs you. You can't blame your youth pastor for choices and decisions that you made to disconnect from the body of Christ. Know that God's family works best together rather than apart. Satan hates the church...thus all of his attacks to the church. Why wouldn't he want to destroy the best place for you to grow, serve, and be discipled?

Jesus loves the church and gave Himself for it. While it is sometimes tempting to cut yourself off from it, remember that this is the body of Christ. We don't have the option to 'drop out' of church.

Lie 2: Everyone at church is judging me.
The Bible tells us not to judge by outward appearances (Jn. 7:24) and that a judgmental spirit causes a more sever judgment on ourselves (Matt. 7:1-2). We are to show honor and deference to others, even to those who may be judging us; show humility rather than pride.

Most of the time, we are not really being judged, but rather, afraid that we are being judged. James 5:16 tells us to "Confess...sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. Our fear of being judged can never be an excuse to hide sin. Use these past sins by confessing them to the others, praying for each other, and encouraging each other.

Lie 3: Of course I'm a Christian, ...

• I go to church all the time
• My parents are Christians
• I grew up in church
• I went forward at an awesome youth rally
• My mom told me I prayed to receive Christ when I was 3

There is nothing we can do to earn our relationship with God. True conversion requires faith in Christ as Savior and Lord and will be accompanied by a growing love for God, a growing hatred for sin, and a growing desire to obey God's Word. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Cor. 5:17). 1 John walks us through some of the characteristics of a Christian:

• They obey God's commands
• They act like Jesus
• They don't hold grudges (No mean girls!)
• They don't have to see/have every new thing the world offers
• They don't wander from their faith

If you are a child of God, there will be evidence that you are a new person, including the power to overcome sin and to obey God. Is there fruit in your life that shows that God is at work?