A List of Do's and Don'ts Is Not a Spiritual Check Up

Jamie Bird
May 6
4 min read

I tend to fall into the same rut that many other Christians I know also stumble into. Maybe you do, too. I deduce my Christian journey into a checklist of things that are “good” and “bad.” It goes something like this:

Went to church this week. Check.✅
Skipped Bible reading. Guilt. ❎
Spent some time volunteering. ✅ Great. I’m on track again…

Everybody's list may look a bit different but they are always similar. I’ve even attended churches that encourage their members to follow lists. One particular church had their own motto “Three to Thrive.” This catchy little alliterated mantra let everyone know that they should attend church 3 times a week if they wanted to “thrive” in their Christian life. And those who didn’t? It stands to reason that they were not committed or dedicated - and everyone knew it. While I certainly think it’s great to spend plenty of time with the church, this is an unhealthy culture, and far from the freedom that Galatians talks about.

Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

So what exactly is this bondage? In context, Paul the apostle is talking about circumcision. He is making the point that Christians don’t need to follow the Jewish law to be saved. We can’t earn salvation - it is a gift paid for by Jesus Himself. (If you’d like to follow along on the Bible Explained Podcast, you can hear the first episode of Galatians here.)

Many might argue that absolute freedom will allow people to live any way they want - but Paul goes farther to explain that when a person lives in freedom, they don’t just use it for themselves, but to benefit others. Living in true freedom is living in the Spirit of God.

Paul explains that people who live in the Spirit will not fulfill obviously sinful desires of the flesh.

Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. Galatians 5:19-21

These things are all overtly fleshly and things that should not have a place in a Christian’s life - and if these sins are celebrated or tolerated in their life, it’s a good indication that person is not following God or walking in the Spirit at all.

We are also given another list of things that obviously show that a person is walking in the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-24

*Listen to today's TBE episode discussing Galatians 5 and the fruits of the spirit.

At the beginning of the blog, I said that I commonly fall into reducing my Christian life into a list - and now I am showing you two important lists from Galatians. But there is a big difference in the content of my own lists that I give to myself and these lists given by God.

My lists focus on what I do. The focus is on me and my good-standing with God according to my own standards, how I was raised, and the church I attend.

The Biblical lists focus on who I am. They cut straight to the heart of the matter, and show what my natural tendencies actually are (fleshly desires), and how God and ONLY God by His power can work in my heart and life.

I might be proud of myself that I sacrificed my time to attend church. But I can hide hatred and jealousy all while going to church. I can feel good about myself for giving a nice tithe, but have lustfulness in my heart and outbursts of anger that only my closest family sees.

On the other hand, when I stop focusing on all “I do” for God, I can be honest and vulnerable - self aware of my own sin, and thankful when I see the Spirit of God working in my life.

Sometimes people want great and powerful workings of the Spirit - experiences, visions, and dreams - but we forget the fruit that is necessary and miraculous in our lives.

It is NOT in my nature to have peace or patience. Sure, I can muster up a little of that by myself when things are going my way. But what about when difficulties come? When there is pain, suffering, and grief? It isn’t natural - it is a fruit that only comes from God’s Spirit.

And I think that is where we get mixed up in our own lists - It does help us when we read the Bible, spend time with other believers, and DO things that require faith. But those things aren’t the ultimate test of our character or spiritual growth.

As I reflect on the list of fleshly desires and fruits of the Spirit, I see that I fall short. I remember the last time I had an outburst of anger. Recently. I know the idolatry and lustfulness of my own heart. But I despise those things. I realize that I need grace, and I am humbled by the times when I did respond in love or patience.

My dependance on God and His Spirit is strengthened, and I am refocused on who He is - and how He is working in my life.