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When I was a kid, I hated swings. I saw them as pointless. Back and forth. Back and forth. You never really went anywhere. So, I did my best to find some pleasure in playing on swing sets.

Instead of pumping my legs in a rhythmic fashion, I would sit in a seat and twist the swing. Around and around I would go until the seat started to rise due to the tightly-wound nature of the swing itself. Then I would let go.

Around and around and around, I went. When the swing finally stopped spinning, I staggered off the seat and felt like puking. Why is this so fun again? I wondered.

I had distorted the purpose of a swing set and then my stomach felt distorted, too.

I wonder how many times I do that with my faith, with the Holy Gospel. I might conclude that it’s boring or I’m just tired of how simple and sane it is. I want adventure, so I start wondering how I can shake things up a bit, twist the rules, bend the purpose to bring me some glory instead of giving it all to God.

The Apostle Paul had these words for the church in Galatia:

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” – Galatians 1:6-7 (ESV)

Moving something away from its intended purpose rarely, if ever, results in a positive change. Let us hold steadfast to the grace of Christ and resist the urge to distort it for our gain.