INTRODUCTION (The actual intro)

Below is the actual introduction to the book.

As a boy I can’t forget the memories of having to endure
discussions about church topics that were considered
controversial. Adults sat around for hours dissecting and
disagreeing about the way certain things were done.

I remember one incident that took place after a prayer service
at my parent’s house. There had been a powerful prayer time
that lasted past midnight and then as people readied to head
home, a discussion about communion arose.

I observed from the shadows as the heated discussion about
“how to administer communion” ensued. I have to admit that
tuning in to the debate could be compared to the excitement
of watching a thriller.

Some were unhappy with the fact that our local church had
changed its practice of administering communion from large
glasses, to individual cups.

I sat in silence and shock as some
took shots at the Pastor and church leadership for allowing
such a change to take place. I could not understand how these
people could on the one hand stand so firmly for something
and on the other hand possess so much hatred toward God’s
representatives in the church.

This book addresses the effects of legalism as I encountered
them. Even though this is a topic I have refl ected on often, my
goal is to discuss it in light of God’s Word. My experiences are
only a contemporary picture of biblical principles.

I grew up in a family and attended churches that had
members on opposing sides of controversial issues that they
debated regularly. I remember listening to discussions and
arguments on topics such as music, dress, jewelry, makeup,
birth control, entertainment, head covering, women’s clothing,
communion, food in church, and many others.

Individuals stressed that their music style, dress code and
entertainment was God’s will for everyone, and the only road
to obedience.

Practices like the ones mentioned above, rather than
helping Christians become united in serving God, have often
contributed to much division and legalistic behavior in our
congregations.

The crusades were a time when people killed
in the name of God, but I have sadly found out that the
crusades continue today. People battle to force others into
certain practices even if those practices are not at the core of
our faith.

I titled this book The Christian Behind Closed Doors because as
believers we tend to hide behind certain practices. The “closed
doors” in the title stand for at least two things.

First, the doors stand as a “cover” for ungodly living. Some
Christians cover their faults with religion; their inner life is
hidden behind a heavy door of religious practices, not allowing
anyone to see that they are in actuality spiritually bankrupt.
Someone upset about the way communion is administered
has deeper issues. Their tantrum is only a “cover” for the true
state of his heart, which may be far from God.

Second, the doors stand as a “barrier” between our savior
and us. Ironically, the things we think are getting us the edge
in better knowing Jesus, are actually pushing us farther from
Him. This often gives birth to salvation by works; Thinking
that what I do for God, not His sacrifice, will ultimately get
me saved. The people arguing about communion thought
they were doing God a favor by preserving a holy practice,
not realizing that their practice became a “barrier” between
them and Jesus.

My hope is to challenge every Christian into evaluating his
practices. Is it possible that some of our practices and some of
our attitudes will be separating us from our Jesus and causing
us to cover rather than change our faults?

Look at each chapter of this book as a journey away from
legalistic attitudes and practices, toward God-centeredness.
Below is a description of each chapter’s journey.

Chapter One: From Deception to Acknowledgment
Chapter Two: From Burden to Joy
Chapter Three: From Exterior to Interior
Chapter Four From Traditions to Commands
Chapter Five: From Performance to Obedience
Chapter Six: From Sunday to Everyday
Chapter Seven: From Methods to Principles
Chapter Eight: From Selfi shness to Sacrifice
Chapter Nine: From Man Favor to God Favor
Chapter Ten: From Disputes to Acceptance
Chapter Eleven: From Then to Now
Chapter Twelve: From Desperation to TransformATION

Though some chapters address similar principles, each has
its uniqueness. Various principles are examined from different
perspectives, many sprinkled with real life experiences.

Even hough in the book I use examples and stories that deal
with the upbringing and environment I was raised in, this does
not mean that you can’t take the elements and apply them to
your family or church setting, even if that is different than the
one I was brought up in.

My desire is for every believer to get to the place where,
through God’s grace, he will have the power to destroy the
doors that are separating him from Jesus.

I would like to see every believer move from the negative
characteristics that legalism brings into our life to the positive
characteristics that will help us live God-centered lives. Let’s
move from being a Christian behind closed doors to being a
Christian that lives a life in intimacy with Christ.