HOW HARD IS THIS CHRISTIANITY THING?

Lately, I have been considering the Christian life. Not just living out my faith in Christ but looking at what is it about my life that makes it different from those who do not follow Christ.

I would like to say that all those who do not follow Christ are mean spirited, impolite, rotten sorts of people that you would immediately know they are not a Christ follower.

But it’s not true. I hate to say it but I have known some people who profess Christ as their Lord on Sunday and then will cheat the grocery clerk on Monday. And I have known some people who make no bones about their lack of interest in the Son of God who are kind, generous and honest.

Salvation doesn’t make us perfect. We are still sinners saved by grace, but shouldn’t there be a more pronounced gap in the living out of faith and those who live without faith?

I don’t remember who said it (I’m thinking St. Francis of Assisi) that we should always preach the Gospel and if necessary use words that implies most of the times words would just be the frosting on the cake of our testimony of Christ’s saving work in our lives. But I find myself, like so many other Christians, using more words than actions, it seems, as I testify to the work of Christ in my life.

Do we use His Grace as an excuse for bad behavior?

That we can live as we wish, understanding we are sinners and then just ask for forgiveness when the whole thing is said and done, but never realizing we have been a bad example for the One we call Lord? Why is it the world has such a bad attitude about those who call themselves Christians? We’d like to repeat the Scripture where Jesus said just as He was hated we’ll be hated, but is that really it? Most of us don’t give us enough of an example of Christ likeness in our daily lives to be hated by someone who hates Him, I am sad to say. I have to ask myself the question—if I kept my mouth shut, would anyone know I follow Him?

I probably sound harsh. Maybe I am. But I am so tired of Christian ministers of the Gospel, Christian Senators and Governors, Christian businessmen and Athletes, etc. etc. etc. making the news for their moral failures.

Please hear my heart—only through the Grace of God do I make it each day and not fail, but I do make it. Every day is filled with small choices to do the right thing or do the wrong thing, to follow Christ and to die to myself, to follow paths of righteousness or take a more traveled road that leads to destruction and I know there are God fearing Christian people who do it every day, day after day, choosing the right thing, making the Godly choice.

So why is the news filled with those who do not? Why do we all know those who have followed Christ for years and then suddenly are caught in a tangle of sin that destroys their life and the lives of those they love?

A friend of ours tells the story of being on a flight to a ministry conference with a fellow minister who confided in him he was having an affair with his secretary and when he returned he was leaving his wife and children and taking a new ministry assignment with his soon to be ex-secretary and soon to be new wife. He wasn’t telling him to ask for help. He was belligerent in his desire to “finally be happy.” He did and left in his wake a broken-hearted wife, children, and church.

So how hard is this Christian thing anyway? What do we believe? Do we really believe that God has a plan for our lives that is wonderful? Do we believe that even if we make a mistake and go our own way, He can meet us in our Egypt and turn it all too good? Do we really believe that He loves us and wants the best for us—and because He created us only He truly knows what is best?

Or do we see a sour dour God With the Big Hammer, just waiting until we come up short to conk us on the head, making things as hard and difficult as possible as if it were a giant Cosmic joke instead of the God of the Universe who so loves us He sent His only Son to die to save us from ourselves?

So why do I choose myself and my own way knowing His way was made just for my good and His glory?

How hard is it anyway? Since we have been given all we need in Christ it shouldn’t be hard at all. So I am asking myself and asking my readers, what is keeping you from choosing His way each day? If you never spoke the Name of Christ would anyone know you belonged to Him? Please contact me and let’s dialogue about what it is that sets us apart in this world.

Blessings,

Kim

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