:minimalist
Sunday, January 02, 2005
So, I've been thinking about "falling away from faith" recently.
Whoa, that sounds wrong. Let me rephrase.
So recently I've been thinking about why people "fall away from faith." I guess the closest analogy I can draw is that it's similar to people who return things to the store. Granted, salvation isn't exactly the same as buying a pair of shoes from Target. But the basic idea is, you return it because it's not what you expected - maybe the size is off or you realized that you don't really need this or... or... or...
In other words, the problem is that people aren't correctly understanding what Christianity is about. So... walking with Christ is NOT about... everything going your way, never encountering problems, always knowing what's going on, always knowing what's the right thing to do, always being happy... it's not about feeling good and spiritual highs, not about going to church and doing "Christian things."
So what is it about?
It's about getting your priorities straight.
"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:31-33
It's about worship.
"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe." Hebrews 12:28
It's about forgiveness.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Romans 5:8-10
It's about being made clean.
"But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
It's about security.
"For He Himself has said, I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU." Hebrews 13:5b
It's about suffering
"For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Philippians 1:29
It's about denying yourself.
"And He was saying to them all, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.'" Luke 9:23
It's about humility.
"Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." James 4:10
It's about freedom from sin.
"...knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin." Romans 6:6
It's about being in this world but not of this world.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2
It's about love.
"Let all that you do be done in love." I Corinthians 16:14
It's about God.
"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things." Acts 17:24-25
"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace." II Timothy 1:8-9
Walking with Christ is about worshipping God - and it's necessary simply because that is what we were created to do. And no matter who you are, until you come to a point where you acknowledge that, you're going to feel like something is missing.
"But what does it say? 'THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART'--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Romans 10:8-10
so I can stand on mountains bananna 8:51 PM |