What is a delusion anyway?

Editor’s note: This is a reprinted column from Jack Purcell’s “On the Journey” archives. It originally appeared in The Star in 2013.

The dictionary defines delusion as a false belief held despite invalidating evidence. It goes on to say that it is the result of self-deception. 

Delusion is often found among those who have a mental illness. In the event you are feeling off the hook in this regard, think again. It is certainly not limited to the folks in the psychiatrist's office. 

In fact it is quite common among us "normal" folks. With only a few questions you can discover delusion is rock solid in the Christian community.

Let's deal with one delusion that is so prevalent that it has taken on a life of its own among the followers of Jesus. Many Christians still cling to the false belief that if they live a good life they will eventually become holy and righteous. That of course depends on many things, influenced by the teaching they have been subjected to. 

Dallas Willard died last week. He will be missed. One of my favorite quotes from him is, "Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning." All of our efforts to earn righteousness turn out to be self-righteousness.

The Apostle Paul said to the Philippians in chapter 3 verse 9, "That I may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." (NAS)

He told the believers in Ephesus in chapter 1 verse 4 "... He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love."

One more Scripture to beat back the delusion is found in 2 Corinthians 3:5. "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God."

Let's make this as clear as possible. Why do so many people have a hard time accepting what the Bible says about them - people who would insist that they believe the Bible? It is a common delusion. 

For them behavior trumps the Bible. We all know ourselves well enough to recognize sin or self-serving flesh. We look at that and it does not look like righteousness or holiness to us and therefore we are neither of those things in our own eyes.

Pay close attention to this next statement because it is the answer to getting beyond this kind of delusion. God does not see us through our limited vision. He is looking at us from the eyes of a loving God who sent his Son, Jesus The Christ, to pay for our unrighteousness. He did away with the Law that said we could earn it and replaced it with Grace that declared our earning days are over.

So if you are in the habit of trying to earn God's favor by living a good life, lay down the delusion and pick up the truth, that you have Christ living in you. Your bad behavior is not what defines you. If our Holy God calls you righteous, will you continue to argue with him? 

Your ability to think, feel and choose are being transformed by God so your behavior ultimately will match your true identity which is already complete in Christ.