Imperfect and Authentic Christianity
This post may be an unpopular opinion, but I’ve come to the conclusion that I may never be the “perfect” Christian. Before some of you jump off the deep end, let me clarify: I don’t mean I won’t continue walking with God or striving for godliness and righteousness. I will keep working to improve each day with God, but I’ll never achieve perfection myself.
Recently, I came across a quote that said, “You can’t force godliness; only God can make you godly.” That statement made me question whether I was trying to force my godliness. I found myself constantly pondering whether I had truly sought God regarding my spiritual journey or if I had been playing a role. Have I done God’s will in my life? What do my fruits show? Am I genuinely following Jesus, or just adhering to a script created by someone else? I kept asking myself these questions and realized that I was striving for acceptance and comfort, rather than authentic Christianity.
Many of us think we are Christians because we attend church every Sunday, participate in Bible study, dress the part, and act the part. Yet, we often see ourselves as superior to those who don’t. James 1:27 states, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” I know there was a time when I believed I should only surround myself with the holiest of holies. But Jesus himself did not come for the righteous. So why should I?
I’m not suggesting you cut off your Christian friends or stop going to church. What I mean is that we shouldn’t isolate ourselves from those who aren’t believers. I know some TikTok preachers may label those outside the faith as a plague and advise cutting ties with anyone who doesn’t follow Jesus. But if you do that, where is your ministry? Who can you bring closer to Jesus if you only befriend those who are already near him? Be real!
This is what I mean by perfection: we don’t all need to have the perfect friend group or church. It’s not about being picture-perfect for Jesus. I cannot perfect myself; that’s God’s work. But I can strive each day to grow closer to Him. I can place my faith in His grace to make me righteous, but never in myself and what I can accomplish. Always in Him.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. As always, please leave a comment or DM me on Instagram @trininthesun!
