Trying to live without Jesus

Trying to live without Jesus: That's the sort of thing you'd expect your average street level member of society to do, but I think it's actually pretty common amongst Christians as well. Now I'm not sure whether they do it because they're trying to look good before their peers, or whether they do it because they think it's 'not encouraging' to talk about their sins and failures, but the number of Christians I know who spend their time pretending they've got their lives together, when they patently haven't, means I have to stop and reflect on this.

Why is it that Christians seem afraid to admit that they're sinners, or that they're struggling with things, or that they don't love as they should, or care as they should? Because the underlying implication of such a stance is that you tell yourself and the world that you need Jesus less than you really do. And if you actually manage to convince yourself that you are humble and gentle and genuine and true, when I strongly suspect you're not, then you're convincing yourself that you don't much need Jesus, and could probably do without him, or if you do need him he's only for the rough edges, basically your heart is one of gold...

How can anyone ever have a heart consumed by worship, adoration, gratitude towards their Lord Jesus when they've convinced themselves that they don't really need him? How can churches be filled with unconditional adoration of Jesus when they're consumed by the studious avoiding of any obvious implication that they need the salvation he offers?

It seems to me that until truth reigns among God's people, worship will be a scarce and fragile thing. Until we grasp just how much we need Jesus, and cease to fear the censure of others so as to live for Christ's glory alone, we will never be true to ourselves, true to each other, or true to God.

This is my plea to Christians: be honest about your brokenness. Jesus came as the Gentle Messiah to bind up the broken hearted and gather those who wander in darkness. If that's you, be honest about it, it's his opinion that matters anyway.

doug.