Of course, there are Christians who subscribe to the motto "fake it until you make it" No one here, I'm sure.
"Fake it until I make it" is not so much a motto of some who are not on this forum as it is a defense mechanism, survival mode if you will, for those who know they have continuing sin issues and cannot trust the Assembly in confession because of the time limits that will most surely be imposed on them to stop their sin ... no one here, of course, but that certainly is a common malady. In my avocation, that of pastoral counselor, those who respond to the newspaper ad and come for help are (in 90% of the cases) those who do not trust the members of their own churches !!!!
And I am NOT correcting Caroline, here. Just adding a thought -- a very sad reality. This is why I despise legalism. It not only killed brothers like the apostle Paul, but it makes impossible demands of "Spirit-induced righteousness" (I speak of the activity, not the unmerited blessing) on those who are not there yet AND it insures that "honesty in confession" has its limits. Most pastors I know have, at one time or another, advised a younger member NOT to confess to the larger church, knowing how much heart ache this advice avoids for the younger member.
Your post was very good and something that truly benefited me. Thank you Caroline.
Jd
