You ought to.” “You need to.” “You’ve got to.”

You ought to.” “You need to.” “You’ve got to.” “You’re supposed to.” “You better.” Do these sorts of exhortations sound familiar? Perhaps you have heard admonitions such as these from the pulpit, from books, or from Christian friends. Indeed, maybe you, like many others, were raised on them. They are usually spoken with the best of intentions. But do they actually work in changing people for the better? Have they ever helped you grow spiritually in the long run? 

What statements such as these have in common is the…