In our society we love catchy phrases. Slogans really stick with us. Do you know the product that goes with these slogans?
“Softens hands while you do dishes.”
“I’m lovin’ it!”
“Good to the last drop.”
Answers: (Palmolive, McDonald’s, Maxwell House)
These are all great marketing slogans and we remember them well! Then there are slogans or phrases passed down from our families:
“Nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
“Cuter than a bug in a rug.”
“Runnin’ like a chicken with its head cut off.”
We love these, and then we have “Christian mottos.”
“Actions speak louder than words.”
“WWJD.”
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
Now, we have shared some mottos and Christian slogans. The thing with these mottos is that sometimes we make “Holy Cows” out of them. These sayings and slogans in themselves are not bad, and were often created by good hearted people to encourage and remind themselves of God. But sometimes what can happen is we put these “Holy Cows” above God’s word. We take a slogan, such as “cleanliness is next to godliness,” and use it in our lives as though it’s God’s word. It is a “Holy Cow” because it becomes holier than God and His Word.
Here is Shea’s “Holy Cow” that needed sacrificing: “cleanliness is next to godliness.”
I am not a dirty person, but I am not quick to dust, vacuum, or clean a toilet. It gets done but not quickly or consistently. When I began to stay home with my children, I thought it was my responsibility to take care of the house and manage things well. My plan was to keep my house CLEAN all the time. After all, “cleanliness is next to godliness.”
As my days went by, the task of cleaning began to feel daunting and almost impossible. I added to my motto by telling myself that I should do these things as “unto the Lord” and “in my weakness, Christ makes me strong.”
In my inability to clean my house the way I thought it should be—perfect—I began to berate myself with words. I told myself I was lazy. I told myself I was a failure. Why couldn’t I do such simple tasks? I’m just a dirty person. I was really tearing myself down. I was condemning myself.
Now, the scriptures say, “There is now therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ.” It also says that “if the son has set you free, then you are free indeed.”
I felt neither free nor in Christ. I felt only failure and bondage. I felt I could not be close to God because I wasn’t able to clean my house. Now that just sounds silly, but I had taken that slogan and created a Holy Cow. I had created bondage for myself that God never intended. Never mind that the slogan isn’t even in scripture.
When Christ speaks about being clean he is warning the Pharisees in Matthew 23. He admonishes them saying, “You whitewash the tombs, but inside were dried, unclean bones,” and,“You clean the outside of the cup, but inside is extortion and self-indulgence.”
So, as I took this motto and thought it was good and helpful, for me, it changed into something else. I set up rules and expectations that God never intended for me <click to tweet>. This is where Christ intervenes for me and allows me to see the reality of His Word.
What thoughts, rules, or mottos do you say to yourself that keep you in bondage or condemnation? Think about what you are thinking about and let God show you what Holy Cow you need to sacrifice.
______________________________
More about Susan Milligan and Shea Wood:
Susan and Shea, founders of Lock & Key Ministries, have a heart for the lost and empowering the believer to reach their God-given potential by sharing the transformative power of God’s love. The two address tough topics such as life after abortion, forgiveness, pornography of beauty, and emotional healing from sexual abuse. Their greatest desire is to see people embrace God’s great work of grace in order to produce complete healing mind, body and soul. Susan and Shea continually unlock truths about repentance and restoration through candid and at times, animated teachings. Both are passionate about writing what God has revealed through their own life experiences, individually and together. They are licensed ministers through Church for All Nations located in Central Arkansas and have appeared on national television and radio. Both are writers for WHOA Magazine for Women, a national syndicated faith-based magazine. Susan Milligan holds a B.S. in marketing, and Shea Wood holds a B.A. in middle school education. Within scripture are stories of God’s people living in community and ministering two by two (Mark 6:6-7). Embracing God’s orchestration of their partnership in healing, Susan and Shea have been given the privilege of seeing the miraculous transformation of those to whom they have ministered. They long to see other believers embrace that passion of community as well, and its role in the healing of God’s people. Authors’ website: www.lockandkeyministries.org
More about Moving Him In (Deep River Books, 2012):
Do you have a nagging sense that, while everything appears fine on the surface, something deep inside is not fine? In John 5:6, Jesus asked a diseased man, “Would you like to get well?”
If you can relate to the profiles of the Perfectionist, the Martyr, the People Pleaser, the Caretaker, the Martha Complex, the Stuffer or the Fixer, this book is for you. As it turns out, you don’t need to work harder to be a better Christian – it’s as simple as fully recognizing your identity in Christ and inviting Him in to do some supernatural housecleaning!
God longs to heal your hurts, habits and hangups and to clear away the muck you’ve grown far too comfortable with. Because chances are, that muck is obscuring your view of God’s true nature, compromising the transformative power of His love, and holding you back from the joy of authentic community.
In Moving Him In, Susan Milligan and Shea Wood (Lock & Key Ministries) provide 12 tangible keys to open the way for Christ to occupy first place in your own heart. Included in each chapter are life-application questions to help you get un-stuck. No matter where you call home, you’ll find comfort, healing, freedom, steadfast love, and a sparkling river of living water when you invite Christ to make your heart His dwelling place.
Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram. Or perhaps this post spoke to you? Tweet about it!
Leave a Reply