Mary Poppins faith

Today: Galatians 1-3

"You're like Mary Poppins," she said, "Practically perfect--in every way."

Believe it or not, I've had a few different people say this to me. It's flattering and was intended to be a nice compliment. But I know I'm actually far from perfect...in every way.

However, some people (including some Christians) actually subscribe to what I'll call "Mary Poppins faith"--they believe that if you're good enough, "almost perfect" enough, you can earn your way to heaven or earn some special position as one of God's favorites.

You may laugh at my description, but I'm actually serious. Most religions in the world are based on Mary Poppins-style beliefs that good works get us in to heaven as insiders with God.

And some Christians take certain Scriptures (like "Be perfect as I am perfect") to the extreme. For example, I remember my college campus nurse discussing the fact that eating disorders often impact Christian young women more than those who don't claim to know God. And from my experience living on a small campus, each year, I knew of at least one girl in my dorm (each dorm had approx. 18 girls) with a current or past eating disorder. That's heartbreaking...

There's a lot of pressure in our society to be perfect.

In most work environments, things are very competitive. Employees are expected to juggle A LOT of plates--what happens when one breaks?

I may even sound controversial here, but even at churches, some people aim to be perfect--they really want to be the blonde, size 2 supervolunteer who helps with the childrens' ministry, sings on the worship team, holds a fabulous job, and has the "perfect" marriage and family. That's not realistic. And...shocker...it may not be God's plan for everyone, either.

The more important point? "Mary Poppins faith" isn't really faith at all. The truth is that we receive an invitation to heaven through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior. (That means first admitting that we're imperfect people in need of a Savior!) And God's love is unchanging. Despite your flaws or successes--He will never love you more or less than He always has. God is love.

Take a look at what Paul wrote to the Galatians in today's passage:

What actually took place is this:

I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God,

and it didn't work.

So I quit being a "law man"

so that I could be God's man.

Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it.

I identified myself completely with him.

Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ.

My ego is no longer central.

It is no longer important

that I appear righteous

before you or have your good opinion,

and I am no longer driven to impress God.

Christ lives in me.

The life you see me living is not "mine,"

but it is lived by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me

and gave himself for me.

I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back

to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion

would be an abandonment

of everything personal and free in my relationship with God?

I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace.

If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping,

then Christ died unnecessarily.

Tomorrow: Galatians 4-6