To The “Good Christian”— Stop Finding Worth in Your Goodness

To the one who grew up in a Christian family . . . To the one who memorized chapters of the Bible . . . To the one who wears T-shirts that read “child of the King”.

I am speaking to the one who never rebelled against their parents, never went partying late at night and never shoplifted.

I am speaking to the Christian who grew up with a false front marked “goodness.”

I am speaking to people like myself. People who have been called “good girl” or “good boy” so many times it’s become fixed in their minds.

I am speaking to those who have turned this into their identity. Who have turned their “goodness” into who they are.

I am speaking to today’s Pharisees.

Stop Believing the Lie.

Stop believing you must be “good enough.” That you are “good enough.” Because the truth is, you’re not. You are not good enough. You can’t be good enough.

The truth is that under those false fronts you find a sinful heart. You find selfishness. You find self-righteousness. You find someone who desperately needs Jesus just like anyone else.

Isaiah 64:6 tells us, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.”

Stop believing you’re better than others – you’re not. Stop believing God will love you more if only you measure up to your own definition of “good.” He loves you no matter what. He loves you despite your mistakes and the times you mess up.

Stop believing you’re good enough to get to God on your own–you’re not.

The Only Way You Can Get to God is by Grace.

Yes, yes, I know. I’m talking to those who have had this truth pounded into their minds since they were little kids. But still, I will repeat it again: Stop believing deep down that you can get to God by how good you are. You can’t. We will never be good enough to get to God on our own. We are as broken as every other human.

Ephesians 2:8-9 tell us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

This is a call to all “good” Christians out there.

Pull down your fake front. Tear down your self-righteousness. Stop making your “goodness” your trademark.

I know. It’s nice to let people think that’s who we are. “The good kids.” But even though we might be able to put on a good show, deep down, we’re not. We must stop letting others believe that. We need to be open and vulnerable about our weakness, because it’s only then that Christ can be strong in us.

We Have a New Identity.

When we get saved, God makes us new. He gives us His goodness.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

He gives us a new identity. And that new identity? That new identity is in Christ. He calls us children of God.

But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

He calls us friends.

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

He calls us His. That is our identity.

This identity is so much greater than our self-knit front of “goodness”. I am calling all Christians, who have built on a false identity. Put off your old selves, your worthless identity and receive the identity God gives you. The one found in Christ – in Christ alone.