God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man – Lewis, 182
One of the most hurtful things I’ve experienced in my life as a Christian has been people who have said to me, “But I thought you were a Christian!” or “That’s not very Christ-like of you!” As though to be Christian makes me less human or more superhuman.
The day I invited Jesus into my heart, He didn’t move in and do a lobotomy and a personality transplant. Instead, He took the me He had created in the beginning and started buffing and hammering out all the dings I had put in it. And I’ve put A LOT of dings in it! The only thing I have to offer is to get out of His way so that He can do His work of making me new.
This is not destined to be a short process! In the meanwhile, I’m not going to be perfect, so please have some patience with me! Just have hope that in the end, I’m going to be the best Sarah that I can be.
This is part of a regular weekly discussion that my friend and co-facilitator, Jason Stasyszen and I have with several of our blogger friends on Wednesdays. We’re discussing CS Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” and you’re welcome to stick around and comment, whether you’ve read the book or not. Please be sure to stop by Jason’s to read his post and see what the rest of the crowd has to say about this week’s chapter. Enjoy!
About Sarah Salter
I love the Sarah you are. I see Christ’s love through you every day.
Also, judgmental people make me itchy.
Aww, Tim! And that’s why you’re my Favorite Tim! You’ve got one of the biggest hearts I know of and I appreciate and love you for it! 🙂
Not perfect but being perfected as you serve a perfect God.
Someone once said: There will always be naysayers and critics… don’t give up and don’t give in to them… keep the faith, keep on walking, keep on with Jesus.
Oh btw…I did another post on this chapter…
Dusty, you said such a mouthful there! Thank you! It was good to my soul. Also, I read your post today. Good stuff! Challenging! 🙂
Maybe think about it this way… when someone says something like that, at bare minimum, they are acknowledging your faith! You’re right, we can’t be perfect, we’re not magically as sinless as Jesus just because we follow Him. But you know what? It’s great that people recognize us for who we are, and hopefully, God willing, they see the things we do right, too. 😉 One of my favorite quotes is, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” If our hearts are in the right place, we might never know it, but people see them, see us, and more importantly, see what God does in our lives.
Cara, that’s encouraging! I’d never looked at it that way– that they’re acknowledging my faith! Thanks for that! And I think that sometimes, when people point out these frailties of mine, even though it might not be done in the right spirit, it can still be something that causes me to evaluate myself and possibly improve myself. I just have to remember that ultimately, as long as HE is pleased with me, it’s okay if man isn’t pleased with me. One thing I try often to remind myself is what my former pastor’s wife used to tell me all the time: “It’s okay to be where you are, just as long as you don’t stay there!” Thanks, Cara!
Dusty already said what was in my heart, only clearer, so I will leave it at that.
Thank you, Dusty and Sarah, for your constant encouragement!
I’m pretty dinged up myself. It is so very hard for me to “let go and let God” as the saying goes but I do have faith that He has a plan for me to shape me into that “new kind of man”.
I love how Lewis deconstructed this idea of “Christians are nicer people” in the chapter. There’s some faulty logic behind it. It’s not going to stop though. Good news is, neither is His process of restoration and awakening. His love is never giving up on us and that’s a great thing. Thanks Sarah!
Sarah Bee- I’m hugging you in my heart right now!! 🙂
Jason- You’re right. This was a great topic for Lewis to discuss. Christians aren’t always nicer. At the same time, I see it as a challenge to try to meet the expectation so that unbelievers won’t find me to be a speed bump or a road block on their way to Jesus. It’s too big of a task for me, though. Which is where I become VERY grateful for His strength, His goodness, His mercy, and His grace. Thanks, Jason! 🙂
The amazing thing to me is how faithful he’s been, how he continues to stick around, no matter how much I screw up. He just keeps working at it.
Glynn- Amen! I’d give up on everyone if I were Him. Which is one reason why it’s good that I’m not! 🙂
it’s so easy to place expectations on people because of our thoughts about how things should be.
i do this.
and i agree, it is very hurtful.
sometimes i place this expectation on myself.
and it is just as hurtful…
and so i must be patient with God and the changes that He is making in me.
Love you Sarah! And I always love your words and the honesty behind them. ?
I think our “dings” give us character, personally. 😉 I am imperfectly perfect–as we all are–and if we were all “perfect”, by the world’s definition, we wouldn’t need God anyway, would we?
I have to look at those imperfections as God’s opportunity to continue to work in me in order to move me closer to Him.
Our role as Christians is to come along side people in their weakness and hold them up. Love them in their imperfection as Jesus does us. Again, enough with the judgment already! That is not our job, people! We need patience with ourselves and with others. This walk with our Creator is a marathon, not a sprint.
I read your post a couple of times and enjoyed it, as always.
I come from a family of car & racing fanatics, so the image that immediately jumped to mind was God as an auto mechanic/repair person, particularly of God holding the buffing instrument and working away at the dings, smoothing them out, and then shining them up.
We often get discouraged and depressed by the things we do to create more dings & dents in ourselves, but the heavenly auto shop is always open & the head mechanic is always ready to lend a helping hand & touch up with the buffing pad. The trick in all of this, however, is remembering that the shop is always open; too often we think the shop must always be dark.
Your post will help me to remember the shop is always open & the head mechanic is standing there ready, able, and happy to motion us into place for another touch up.
I usually stay silent on your posts. It’s just what I do, but I can’t stay silent on this one.
I know there are people out there who wish to do us harm in the name of “being a friend.” I have many of these people in my life. As I’ve told you before, you cannot let these people get into your heard and break down your heart.
You, and other friends, have made me look different at the “churched’-folk, you know that. For the most part, all i’ve ever know from the “churched” is fear, derision, and divisiveness. You’ve helped me to see past that.
Those who wish you use their “Christ love” to punish you, are misusing a weapon they don’t understand, I think you, do.
I *pink-fuzzy-heart* you.