Have you ever thought about why we as Christians behave the way we do?

This question drove me to remembering how I used to behave when I first devoted my life to Jesus Christ. I noticed that I immediately began picking up certain Christian behaviors and Christian lingo that really wasn't me. I figured that was how we were supposed to act or talk. Clearly, I had yet to read the Bible to the extent that I have now. What I have realized over the years is that the closer I get to the Father, the more I understand who I really am underneath the images, retoric and perceptions. I'm not just a Christian. I follow Christ, and wherever He goes - I go. I realized that Christianity today has become a legalistic way of forcing people to conform to a list of do's and don'ts. If you don't do this or that then you're a Christian or it's okay to do this or that because you're a Christian. The rest of the world looks at us and laughs. They aren't moved by our self-righteous lists of how good of a person we are.

Where is the true life transformation of Christ in the lives of believers in America? Is that what the world sees, or are they seeing us hiding behind false images of Christianity. It seems that we are known today more by what we are against than what we are for. And it bothers me that those who are really in pursuit of Christ tend to be ostracized from the "American" Christianity because they choose not to conform, but instead, follow Christ. It seems that we've created another social group for people to belong rather than an environment where life transformation can take place; where people can truly find themselves in Christ. I'm guilty of playing the Christian role, and I know that it's a life of misery, bondage and guilt. I'd rather be transformed by Christ and the Word of the Lord than conform to another religious system of regulations... Modern-day Pharisee and Sadducee Christianity.