Tried & Tested

Roadworthiness

There’s a word to think about – Roadworthiness. It is a government required test applied to all automobiles from 2 to 18 wheelers. It is required at two years or older in the USA and at three years or older here in the UK. I suspect it is very similar in most European countries. The test involves checking that all lights, brakes, and other bits and pieces work as designed to do so. It also checks exhaust emissions for excessive output. If the car fails, it must be rectified and retested quickly in order to continue its life outside the scrap yard. If caught driving an untested or failed car, the fines are heavy and, here in the UK, the car can be taken away and crushed.

Thank God such ‘roadworthiness’ tests are not required for Christians.

I mean, can you just imagine it. Is your prayer life up to scratch? No? – Failed. Is your Bible study all that it should be? No? – Failed. How about your attitudes, or your words, or your actions? Not good enough? – Failed. Then there’s your giving – tithing? Gifts? Time? Not enough? – Failed.

I think we are very fortunate indeed that God does not test us on any of these things – not annually; not ever. He mentions them to us, of course, through His Word, our pastor, friend, or Holy Spirit, but there is no compulsion to rectify anything. You see, unlike other faiths or religions, Christianity is a choice. We are allowed to say ‘NO’ to God. That is unthinkable to many religions – heresy, or apostasy, or blasphemy even.

If, after a period of self examination, we find we are in deficit of acceptable standards of Christian behaviour, even then we have an option to repent and turn from our lax ways – or we can simply ignore the deficit and carry on as before. I am not saying there is no law of reciprocity here, just that we have those options.

Backsliding has always been a popular sport for Christians, but then, so has judgementalism and condemnation, so has legalism and religion. All are sins and need repentance – a giving up and turning away from them. The Bible says to confess our sins to one another – James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Let us give Glory to God and grateful thanks for our freedoms to choose what to believe – and for His mercy even as we practice our faith somewhat ingloriously.