How Good is Good Enough?
It’s a question made popular by Andy Stanley via book and CD. I’m not sure if they still do anymore, but North Point use to give out the sermon to any new visitors to their church. It’s a great question and I think a great way to introduce the reality of sin to the unbeliever. My mother for example believes that she’s a good person and has never been to jail, so she’s got a free pass to heaven, that she’s “good enough.” That’s not quite what the Bible says, so questions that prompt her to realize that she has broken some of the 10 commandments and has definitely at times fallen short of God’s standards is a good way to hopefully communicate to her the need for a savior.
However, few Christians start to ponder or recognize the significance of this question after they are saved.
The lessons I’m learning from 180 Degrees Ministries are definitely challenging a lot of beliefs I have just accepted as true because of my upbringing in a christian school or church attendance. Words like “sinner” and “mature christian” won’t ever have the same meaning for me as they did just a year ago. And as the debate ensued in class over what is needed to experience freedom or be a “good” christian, the question, “How good is good enough” kept popping up in my mind, but for a completely different reason than in the past.
As a christian of 15+ years, and years of Awanas and christian schooling before then, my mind has Romans 3:23 engraved in it somewhere. It is the answer to the question. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”…nobody is good enough. But that’s not the whole truth. I’m still adjusting to the idea myself, but the fact is, if you are born again, YOU are good enough! Why doesn’t anybody ever memorize the rest of the passage? It wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s that it ever occurred to me (via Steve Austin) that Romans 3:23 doesn’t have a period in it. It doesn’t even begin with a capital letter for pete’s sake! It’s a freakin’ fragment that doesn’t deserve being treated like a sentence.
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
How good is good enough before I can have a deeper relationship with God?
How good is good enough before I can stop thinking of myself as nothing more than a porn addict and failure?
How long after I sin until the confidence in knowing that I’m still a Christian return?
How perfect do I need to be before I return to ministry?
How good is good enough?
I, Daniel George Koster, am good enough. God has already given me everything I need for life and godliness. As in now, already happened, what am I waiting for?
I can’t deny my past. I have made poor choices and have hurt a lot of people. I’ve pretty much destroyed my whole family. But as I continue to post my thoughts here on what the Bible is telling me or return to the original purpose behind ReinforcingTheChurch.com, I’m not going to keep apologizing for it. I am sorry. I am repentant. I don’t know whether or not I’ll succumb to the temptation of pornography again in the future. But I’m learning to find my identity in how God sees me, in light of Christ’s redemption. So I’m not going to add a disclaimer to every post.
I am good enough for a second chance.
[...] Hope has started to trickle back into my heart and I’m warming up to the idea of putting some more time into this site and its original purpose. If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask for your encouragement and prayers. Not sure if the comments are still as valuable when I directly solicit them, but if you’ve read Chapter 1 to what I hope will someday be the “Reinforcing the Church” volunteer guide, I’d like to hear your feedback. Do you like my writing style? Does the content stand out from the myriad of other resources already available (ie, is it worth another resource on the market)? Would you like me to continue posting? [...]
Survey Says? « Reinforcing The Church said this on March 9, 2009 at 12:34
Someone explained somewhere (can’t remember…a book or tv) that God made it impossible to render out his biblical principles for a purpose. He never intended for us to be able to meet perfection without dependence on him. Thus, with God, all things are possible. For some reason this turned on a light bulb for me.
Remember, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. People invovled with sexual sin always feel icky b/c of what is stuck in their head. Even more reason to overcome this addiction. Remember, Christ doesn’t say “If you survive…” but “If you overcome…” Be an overcomer.
Former Wife of a "Christian" Sex Addict said this on July 15, 2009 at 21:53
Personally, I think Christ has a special place in his heart for sex addicts. He is honored when they choose him despite the overwhelming sensation the flesh is experiencing. And he’s there, Dan, to meet you the rest of the way. Just take that leap of faith. Don’t feel bad for how you “feel”. It’s not your fault you’re a sexual person. So don’t let the devil make you feel ashamed about that. Okay?
Former Wife of a "Christian" Sex Addict said this on July 15, 2009 at 21:57