When you become a Christian you have to follow a bunch of boring rules, right? Well… sort of! It’s not so much rules as it is moral boundaries that God sets. These boundaries allow us the freedom to live fully in the beautiful life He has planned for us.

Some people believe they’re being a “good Christian” by following the “Christian rules”. Perhaps they don’t smoke, or they don’t drink. They don’t swear or sleep around. They tick off the rule boxes like that’s the most important thing. But they’re missing the essential part: their heart.

Many people have experienced church hurt because they have not lived up to an arbitrary set of religious rules and been painfully expelled by their community. But Jesus wouldn’t turn a woman away for wearing too short of a skirt, or ban an unmarried pregnant teen from His presence. He would treat them with the exact same love He would treat anyone. And that is what we as Christians should be doing as well.

Your life of faith is less about following supposed “Christian rules” and more about pursuing what is good, so that all people can thrive. Pastor Dave Dummitt teaches from Ephesians 4.