Those Beepy Things at Wal-Mart
Posted by Chris
I just got finished going to Wal-Mart to pick up some supplies. We are having a few people from our community group coming over for dinner tonight and to hang out. As I was leaving the store, getting ready to walk through those electronic "gate keeper" devices (the ones set to go off if you try to leave the store without paying for something) - and I held my breath.
Why? I don't know why. Honestly, it happens almost every time I walk through those things. What makes it even more humorous is the fact that the sum total of what was in my bags was little more than a few bananas, hamburger patties, and carpet cleaning solution - nothing that would have even set the alarms off! :-)
It's the same kind of mentality that I have when I am driving down the road and I pass a police officer. It doesn't matter how fast I am going - I could be driving 20 miles an hour in a 40 miles an hour zone - I always look down at my speedometer. There is a bit of apprehension whenever I see that because I am worried that I am doing something wrong.
There's something inside of us - this natural mentality that believes that innately we're no good. Even when we try hard, we're no good. And we beat ourselves up. It can build up and become weights of guilt in our lives, if we're not careful.
Now, if you really are speeding, or shoplifting, that apprehension and fear is well-founded. What I'm talking about is the 'pins and needles' feeling we have many times, that God is some form of "Big Brother" (or "Big Father") looking over our shoulders to see what we're doing wrong.
It's simply untrue and an unhealthy way to look at a Father who loves us - a Father who looks down at us, and doesn't see our sin - but the sacrifice of our Savior instead.
Why? I don't know why. Honestly, it happens almost every time I walk through those things. What makes it even more humorous is the fact that the sum total of what was in my bags was little more than a few bananas, hamburger patties, and carpet cleaning solution - nothing that would have even set the alarms off! :-)
It's the same kind of mentality that I have when I am driving down the road and I pass a police officer. It doesn't matter how fast I am going - I could be driving 20 miles an hour in a 40 miles an hour zone - I always look down at my speedometer. There is a bit of apprehension whenever I see that because I am worried that I am doing something wrong.
There's something inside of us - this natural mentality that believes that innately we're no good. Even when we try hard, we're no good. And we beat ourselves up. It can build up and become weights of guilt in our lives, if we're not careful.
Now, if you really are speeding, or shoplifting, that apprehension and fear is well-founded. What I'm talking about is the 'pins and needles' feeling we have many times, that God is some form of "Big Brother" (or "Big Father") looking over our shoulders to see what we're doing wrong.
It's simply untrue and an unhealthy way to look at a Father who loves us - a Father who looks down at us, and doesn't see our sin - but the sacrifice of our Savior instead.
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