Outlaw Church

Introduction: What is a bad habit? The definition I found is this: a bad habit is a negative behavior pattern. Most people, when thinking about Christians, think they’re pretty much good people. I can only think of a handful of people who claim to be a follower of Jesus who have been labeled as ‘bad people’ or ‘evil’. Most of them are either considered cult leaders, televangelists, or extremists. The average Christian doesn’t fall into those categories, so don’t worry. However, nobody is perfect and only one person who lived was: Jesus. Since we’ll never achieve perfection, the closest thing in our grasp is salvation. This series is going to focus on the good and bad of Christianity and expose some of our bad habits.

Biblically, a bad habit is a besetting Sin. It is a particular sin that keep harassing or continues to trouble a man. Paul said in Romans chapter 7 that anytime he desired to do something good, he discovered he couldn't do it, but saw himself doing the evil or the things he did not desire.
That brings me to my very first point:

1. Every Christian has a bad habit

Really? Yes. Christians suffer the same habits, temptations, and pitfalls as anyone else. Did you know a lot of ministry leaders as well as Christians suffer from addictions such as pornography, sex, alcohol, prescription medications, and illegal drugs. Why? Because they can’t seem to allow Jesus to take over. They feel they can ditch the bad habits themselves. Then, shame and guilt creep in and before they know it, they can’t ask for help because the enemy is using their faith against them.

Now, let me say this first and foremost: I am not disparaging addicts or those struggling. I am simply stating the fact that a lot of Christians struggle with addiction and sin. These things lead to a lack of faith, leaving the church or neglecting God altogether.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

The funny thing about that verse is that a lot of people get it confused. Most people say that God will never put anything on you that you can’t handle but that isn’t in the Bible. The true meaning is that God will never let anyone be tempted beyond what they can bear.

What does this mean? God won’t allow people to be tempted? Absolutely not. But, this is how He allows us to grow- through temptation. Ever hear “I prayed for patience…” or “I prayed for God to help me be strong…”. The problem when we pray these things is our lack of understanding how God truly answers those prayers. When we pray for patience, He allows us to be in situations that test our patience. It’s our response that strengthens our patience, courage, or whatever we ask God to provide us.

Do we ever pray for God to deliver us from our bad habits as Christians? Are we recognizing our bad habits as things God can take from us or that we can rid ourselves? The thing is, if we’re not recognizing our sin or bad habits and giving it to God, we’re going to relapse. We might be fine for a while, but we’ll never beat it without God.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 (NIV)

We can’t hide our sin from God. We can hide it from one another, but God knows. He’s just waiting for us to confess and give it to Him so He can help us through. That brings me to my second point:

2. We need to understand our sin.

We can’t carry our burdens alone. If we do, we can’t do it long before they ultimately weigh us down.

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:17 (NIV)

We want what we want and it always doesn’t line up with God’s plan for us. He wants us pure, serving Him, and being aligned with His will. When we think we can beat things ourselves, that’s when we take God out of the equation.

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5: 19-24

There’s a lot in there to digest. How can we ever measure up?

Here’s the thing, we’re not always going to measure up. A lot of churches and Christians put unobtainable expectations on people. Let me give you an example:

In a lot of churches, after you go there a while, you see cliques, circles, and people associating with one another and not really including newcomers. It can be like high school in some situations. You have the segregated Sunday (cliques, groups, circles). People tend to go to churches with communities that aesthetically please them. However there is so much to learn from those who don’t share our same race, denomination, and socioeconomic status.

Then, you have Christians who complain constantly about this or that in the church. “I can’t believe they said that…” or “Can you believe she wore those jeans?” or one of my favorites “They wore a hat in church!”
Let’s be honest. Who decided wearing a hat in church is bad? Did Jesus say it? Did Jesus tell Matthew that his cap was disrespectful? I don’t think so.

Now, with that said, we do need to be reverent and respectful to things that are holy. I have a Bible and though it’s a book made of paper, it’s God’s Word. I don’t go setting stuff on top of it, burying it in a pile of books. I don’t toss it around with reckless abandon. No, I show God’s Word reverence.
See the difference? We take our hat off when we pray but wearing one in church is not a sin to my knowledge. I don’t think setting a plate of food on the Bible is a sin, but I think it’s disrespectful.

There are so many rules out there made up by man that they end up becoming tradition and then people judge others based on those and not the Word of God.

Christians tend to superficially judge based on what they grew up with or heard a pastor say from the pulpit instead of walking with the words of Jesus. Jesus got upset when people were disrespecting the temple. People were turning God’s house of prayer into a marketplace and scamming people. He got upset at that disrespect.

See the difference? There’s a big difference between irreverence, sin, and disrespect.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Galations 5:18 (NASB)

When we allow the Spirit to guide us, direct us, we become Outlaws. We’re not under the laws of man, but we’re under the grace of God. We need to obey the laws of the land, but when it comes to God, we need to ignore the rules man set forth.

So, you may ask… how do I know if I’m sinning or have a bad habit?

3. Listen to the Spirit

When you accept Jesus as your savior, the Holy Spirit begins speaking to you. Some people call it a conscience, but it’s so much more.

Picture this: someone who does not grow up in church. They don’t know Jesus. They only know what society tells them is right or wrong. They don’t have the same ethics or spiritual guidance, but they do have a general concept of right and wrong.

Now, let’s dig a little deeper. When the Spirit prompts you, it’s a feeling, a whisper. God speaks to us that way. Ever thought of something suddenly and it’s like a revelation falls on your head? That’s how the Spirit guides us sometimes. Some people get hit a little harder out of stubbornness, like myself, and others not so much.

The point is, when you listen to the Spirit, you’ll know what is leading to sin and bad habit.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (NASB)

So, I’m going to cover one that most Christians seem to debate. Cussing, using profanity, swearing, cursing… whatever you want to call it. Some Christians think it’s ok to say cuss words and some don’t. I’m going to give you the Biblical explanation:

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Colossians 3:8 (ESV)

I’m going to put it this way. If the secular world has warning and ratings on movies, music, and games- thus recognizing bad language as something unwholesome, Christians should too.

We need to be the higher standard, not judgmental jerks. But, we also need to listen to the Spirit when prompted and be the example of Jesus He wants us to be. What if a non-believer or someone hurt by church or Christians saw you behaving in a way that didn’t glorify Jesus? What are they going to think?

New believers think that this behavior might be okay or a non-believer may think that you’re a typical Christian, just like all the one’s who spread judgment and hypocrisy. Is that the testimony we’re giving? Is that the testimony of Jesus?

So, what causes us to be the typical Christians people look at with such hatred, aggravation, and ill-will?

When we have lack of devotions, lack of prayer, laziness, poor stewardship, grumbling and complaining, being judgmental, overcomplicating the love of Jesus, posting garbage on social media- we become those Christians who cause others to stumble.

What kind of Christian are you? What is your testimony? Are you glorifying Jesus?