Scary Theology

You know them. They are those words that scare us, that are so big and intimidating we can spend a lifetime avoiding them, or glossing over their implications. They tower over us with their complexity, and their propensity to be misunderstood. They are also some of the most important words. The gold ones, the words that blow our worlds apart when we let them in, when we reflect, when we meditate on their meaning and their ability to show us who we are, and who He is.

One of these words in my life is justification. The big, scary J-word. I think the pastors I grew up under did their best to explain it, but in my infancy and because I was focused on what I could do to be right before God, I didn't hear. I have been in classes, listened to sermons, and had mentors who likely sought to input truth into my dome and enlighten me on the riches of this doctrine, but it is not until very recently that this has come alive in my life.

I am realizing how deep this rabbit hole goes. I am made right because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. I need Him like I need bread, air, and the clothes I wear. I am not right because of anything I do or say. I am right, free, saved because of the free love of God in the person and work of Christ. So much of my life I have tried to save myself with religion, tried to muster up goodness. I have embraced forgiveness, and the love of Jesus even while trying to prove inwardly and outwardly I earn it. This is totally...false. God save me from my religion. May I delve into the riches of the scariest theological truth.