Have you ever heard it taught that God's grace differs from his holiness? I have. It's quite a common idea and taught by many ministers I would consider men and women of integrity. Make no mistake, these are good people, filled with courage and zeal for the Gospel, who love God with a passion and have a strong appreciation of his grace. But often they have a problem; a dark shadow cast over their hearts and obscuring their vision. Indeed, it's a shadow that has probably afflicted all of us at one time or other.

And what is this dreadful thing; this toxic blight; this lethal shortcoming? Is it drink, or lust, or maybe pornography, or homosexual inclinations?

Nope, it's none of those things, but something much darker and far, far deeper seated and ingrained. We've all been there and know it's wrong and hate it. All of us at some time have struggled to rid ourselves of it, while being continually dogged by it, discouraged, depressed and dragged down. Worst of all, it's a problem that seems all but invisible. Indeed, the problem with is problem is that most of us don't even consider it a problem at all: because the problem is religion.

No matter how gifted, irrespective of our zeal for God and our heart for souls, it has surely afflicted us all.

No matter how much we hear the Gospel preached, it comes back to haunt us.

God is good, we're told. God is for you and not against you. We're saved by grace through faith and not by self effort. There's nothing we can do to earn Salvation.

Our doctrine is word perfect and theologically sound. The only problem is that our head knowledge is not shared by our heart. Deep down, we believe that ware not fully forgiven, because we still believe that our righteousness before God still somehow relies on our own performance.

Of course, we never openly advocate self flagellation but enthusiastically endorse its spiritual equivalent, of 'putting in' hours of prayer, Bible study and fasting.

The problem is, if anyone thinks these things can make us more acceptable to God, then we have to be less acceptable if we don't, and that the New Testament calls 'works'.

Now, none of these things is intrinsically wrong. In fact, rightly motivated prayer is a 24-7 deal. It never stops. Likewise, when we realise the true pleasure and benefit of Bible study, it can become a passionate obsession. As for fasting, we should do so whenever the Holy Spirit leads us to do so; whether that prompting be seldom or often.

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