Daily PresenceSample

It was about 8 years ago when someone told me: “How can you do that? Are you even a Christian?” Those words still echo in my brain, yet the answer still remains the same… She was questioning my Christianity (and salvation) based on my actions. The issue at hand was why I was buying clothes from brands that were not environmentally aware, socially conscious, and not exploitative of their employees. My lack of compassion and motivation to adjust my shopping habits apparently directly negatively influenced my status as a follower of Jesus. Now, I agree that I should be more compassionate towards certain issues, but that conclusive statement is theologically incorrect.

I find the third chapter of Romans beautifully written. Paul compares or rather speaks to the Jews in Rome about their Jewishness still requiring faith for righteousness. He talks about how our ability to follow the law is not a reflection of who God is, but rather who God is reflects on us despite our failures. In fact, Paul says we have all failed, and in verse 5 he corrects people’s conclusions that they can freely sin and not be judged because ‘our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly’ and ‘our falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and glory.’

How is that so? How are our failures somehow increasing God’s glory? “Let God be true and every human a liar.” Christianity is not based on what you do, but on what Christ did, therefore our failures are testimonies that it is indeed by faith and not by works. That God is bigger than our failures. That somehow our poor choices do not reflect negatively on God, but rather God redeems them. It is paradoxical by nature.

Christianity is not about your righteousness or integrity, but it is about Christ. This does not mean you should fail on purpose and Paul makes that very clear, but rather it means that we do not have to put up a front when we do fail thinking it will somehow make us look like better Christians. It means that we can be honest, transparent, and vulnerable without it somehow affecting our testimony or witness. This is because it wasn’t our testimony, to begin with. The good news we carry is not about us, but about Jesus Christ only. And yes, inner transformation and holiness are a part of it, but they come as a result of faith, not works.