Raising The Bar

I have often heard non-church goers say, "I'm just as good as anyone who attends that church."  To begin with, it is unlikely that one really knows all the people well enough to make that judgment. Additionally,mif one were correct, so what?

Churches are filled up with sinners who were saved by grace who are now saints made holy by grace. There aren't any perfect people inside, just forgiven. As John says, "If we claim to be without sin, we have deceived ourselves" (1 Jn 1:8).

The measuring stick or gold stamp dared for righteousness is not found in people like you or me. As Paul puts it, "When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2Cor 10:12).

The bar to which we are called is found in the person of Jesus Christ, who "was tempted in every way as we are, yet was without sin" (Heb 4:15).  We need to raise the bar of righteousness and then make a proper judgment of how we are doing. 

When we judge ourselves against the standard of the life of Christ,MIT becomes obvious that we are lacking and need the encouragement of others striving after the same goal, which is the reason given for church attendance in Hebrews 10:25, "Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together to encourage one another."

You may be just as good as anyone down at the local church but you are not good enough, you need the grace of Jesus Christ anfpd the encouragement of fellow Christians. Jus' Sayn.