Next Tuesday is week 2 in our Myth buster Series at the local high school lunch time christian group - and we are investigating the popular myth that "Being good is good enough to get to heaven". I'm looking forward to chatting to the students about this stuff over some pizza!
I think that although this is a popular opinion, less people these days are buying into it, being more interested in spirituality in general, and sure about heaven or God in specificity.
Anyway, my argument is based around two points.
1. We are not good enough at being good
It doesn't seem to matter how hard we try to do the right thing, our past, and our thoughts and actions today all count against us. It's not about how much sin there is in our lives, but rather that there is sin. If sin is present, past or present, that's it we've struck out. Jesus himself teaches us to be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect. I am nowhere near that, which of course leaves me with the age-old problem about what to do with the sin that stands between myself and God.
2. Sometimes, when we think we're good, we miss the point completely.
I really like the story that Jesus says about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. It's basically a story about a religious good guy, and a sinful bad guy. The religious guy thinks he's the bees knees, top bloke, kind, caring and generous, and so he prays and thanks God that he is one of the good guys, and not like this tax collector-bad guy standing nearby. The tax-collector guy (I think), agrees with the religious good guy, and readily admits that he has been pretty bad, and cheated people etc etc, but it's what he does with that understanding that makes all the difference. The sinful bad guy, throws himself at the mercy of God, realising his desperate situation, whereas the religious guys never even realises how desperate his own situation is. And so, The sinful guy goes home at peace with God, justified, while the religious guy remains as self-deluded as ever.
And so the desperate place that we all find ourself in is needing God's forgiveness, which he so readily gives to everyone who would ask for it, which of course accurately reflects his character of love, kindness and justice.
Oh, and don't forget the cost at which that forgiveness came.
The cross of Christ.
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