We really thought that by adhering to this list of things we needed to avoid that we were living a holy life and this was pleasing to God.

But two very interesting things happened to me when I agreed to become a list keeper and adhere to this religious tradition. And when I say “interesting,” what I really mean is “terrible.”

I was already a born-again believer when I came into the tradition of list keeping, but the list that I adopted and committed to keep actually changed me. BUT NOT FOR THE BETTER.

First of all, the list turned me into someone who was judgmental and unloving towards others. If you weren’t keeping the list of don’ts, then I considered you to be a very inferior Christian.

In a judgmental and unloving attitude, there is very little (if any) grace and mercy. And I watched many people who started out loving God wither and die in this system. Rather than bringing them life, the list would suck the life right out of them.

I considered them to be casualties because they were weak. And I just stepped over the carnage and kept going. A list could not help me love, and in fact removed the power of love from my life.

The second terrible thing the list did to me was to INCREASE the power that the things in the list had in my life.

Before I agreed to abide by the list, I didn’t care one iota about swimming in a swimming pool. It wasn’t even on my radar. I had no desire for it.

But when I subjected myself to the list, suddenly I had a strong desire to swim in a swimming pool! And I felt very deprived by not being able to indulge my desire.

I didn’t know it at the time, but it was the list itself that had produced the desire in me! It actually STRENGTHENED the power of sinful desires in my life!

Now many Christians are taught like I was that they need to be living by a list. They need to be living by the 10 Commandments! And whatever else their church tradition adds to their list.

There’s only one (actually two) problem! A list turns you into someone who is judgmental toward others, and it actually increases your desire to rebel against the things in the list.

Paul says that this is a religious system that he calls living “in the letter.” It is trying to live for God by outwardly circumcising your heart to conform to a list of rules and regulations that we call “The Law.”

And it doesn’t work! Although they tried it for 2000 years, the Jews absolutely failed at it. Their desire wasn’t the problem. But the list increased the power that sin had in their lives. And THAT was a problem that they could not overcome.

The circumcision of our hearts can only be done through the Spirit by the power of God’s grace (a free gift). And this power can only be accessed by our response of faith!

Nobody has ever been able to successfully serve God with a list! But there are still many frustrated and discouraged Christians who are trying.

I was never able to experience the love of God until I threw away the list and accepted God’s grace.

And you won’t be able to either.

But getting rid of the list actually pulled me CLOSER to God and gave me the power to live a life that was even holier than the list!

God likes faith. He doesn’t like lists.