Christianity as a Scapegoat?

Go to any Christian, or church, and ask them what the biggest difference between chsitianity and anyother religion is, and they will say something along the lines of forgiveness.
yay for forgiveness... without it we would all be doomed, right? we all sin, and hurt God, but thanks to Jesus we're forgiven. huraah! so, whats the catch? why isnt everyone signing up to be christians now?
well, i had a conversation with a friend on saturday night and he expressed his disapointment (ok, so thats not the right word... cant think of it atm) in christians who do anything (ie, lots of sin) and get away with it becuase of the ol' we're forgiven thing. and i must agree with him! christianity shouldnt be a scapegoat, but so often it is.
often we forget that God is a holy God. sure singing about Jesus being our best friend/ boy friend is great and all, but it doesnt do much for his Divinity and holiness. and its becuase of Gods holiness that we, too are called to live a life of holiness. yeah, yeah, yeah. i know. that isnt going to happen anytime soon (well it might for you, but probably wont for me) becuase we all sin continuasly even when we dont know about it. but what im trying to get at here is that we are called to be different. God wants us to be more like him, and we should always strive to do so, to be more holy.
but unfortunatly i know christians who continue to sin because they want to have fun. they know they will be forgiven, they only need to ask for it and everything will be fine and dandy again. but included in that forgiveness is a call for us to repent. does anyone know what repentance is? no takers? repentance is turning completely away from the sin you are doing, and travelling in the opposite direction. doing a 180* as such.
i dont know how to resolve this issue, or if it is even an issue that needs me to resolve it. all i know that this is not what i, as a christian, want to be known as. yes Gods grace, mercy and forgivness are all exelent things. but we shouldnt abuse them, or take it for granted that we are saved. all i can do is try to live my life the way God wants me to, so that i please him. i know that i will continue to sin, thats just a fact of life, but that doesnt mean that im not trying not to.


just a few thoughts.
written sunday morning, during my churches very short sermon.

10:20 pm | Permalink