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Something we don’t talk about enough #GrowingUpEvangelical is the weight of personal responsibility placed on us from such an early age. From the moment we could talk we were taught that whatever we couldn’t do right, whatever we weren’t good at, it was the fault of-
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-our own personal sin. And that’s why we needed to ask Jesus in our hearts. From that day forward there’s no reason to look for extenuating circumstances. Only excuses for why we don’t want to admit to, and confess to, our sins.
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Now an adult might see this “sin” as an external cause depending on the brand of xianity they’re converted into. But not a child. A child hears “you can’t help but be bad, that’s why you need to be saved.” They internalize this labeling system which morphs as they grow up.
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As they get older, they have a tendency to wear this weight of personal responsibility like a heavy chain lain on their shoulders. That sin their born with is now a still small voice in their ear saying “you’ll never be enough.”
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Your circumstances don’t define you, your sinful nature does. This can go several directions into adulthood. Some end up believing they truly need Jesus to be a good, moral human.
But others... others have a hard time asking for help...
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But others... others have a hard time asking for help...
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Others continue to always think no matter their circumstances, they just can’t seem to pray hard enough or sing loud enough or be spiritual enough to see their life change how they’ve been told it should.
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And this leads me to my final point. For some, it never occurs to them to look to science for help. It never occurs to them that their brain might work differently than some, and perhaps it’s not their fault.
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And when that thread starts to unravel, we begin to question why we were told we were sinners at all. Why would anyone force a child to feel ashamed of who they are, how they were made? These are questions I struggle with anytime someone expects a child to behave-
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-in a certain way to make adults feel comfortable. Life is hard enough, the rate at which our brains develop cannot possibly the fault of the child whose body that brain resides in. So how on earth can we tell them they’re sinful, and force them to carry the weight of that?
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Just know, if you grew up fearful, obedient at all costs, or ashamed of being disobedient, or forced to give others grace without allowing it for yourself because “sin” - I SEE YOU. You are are not alone. And it’s not your fault. And we’re gonna be ok.
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