I can honestly say I believe most Christians are just not happy. Sure. They'll pretend they are. They'll tell you they are.... but if they truly be honest, they're just not happy. I think it might be good if we discuss the why's and how's of living a fulfilling Christian life.
First, its okay to "fight" about it. Which is one thing that attracted me to the FFF forums so many years ago. The idea that I can argue for the Truth without fearing the "wrath" of influential people targeting you.
So lets "fight it out"....
1. Most Christian have unrealistic expectations of what it is to lead a Christian life.
I've got both bad and good news for you.... and both come out of the same fact. No matter how hard you try, you're going to fail. That is good in the fact, failure teaches us and success often leads to pride. It is bad because can make the mistake of accepting failure as if we can never succeed. I'm not a prosperity preacher nor am I'm a pessimistic. I try to be a realist. It is by God's supernatural power that we only have the ability to be pleasing to Him. Yet, we have this power/treasure in weak vessels. That the praise might be of God and not of us.
I'm reminded of the story of Peter questioning the Lord of how many times he should forgive his brother if he sinned against him in a day..... People often see Luke 17 and Matthew 18 being the same story. I believe Luke 17 produced the discussion Peter had with Jesus recorded in Matthew 18. Peter was wanting to please Jesus by following what Jesus had taught, but his natural inclination to sin was hung up on the # 7.
Luk 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (70 being the numbered disciples. So if every single brother sinned against him 7 times in one day... he was to forgive.)
I know. Most people don't believe they sin 7 times in a day much less 7 times toward a single person. However, that isn't remotely true. Fact is, what we see as sin is NOT often sin.... and what we we often dismiss as being trivial is grievous and detrimental in our lives. The story of the "Unforgiving Servant" that follows Matt 18:22 shows that is difficult for us to really see our own attitude toward sin in our own lives. We have a set of rules for ourselves and a much harsher set of rules for OTHERS.
IF you would stop thinking about yourself for a few moments, you would realize just how many times we sin against those we love in a single day. Harsh words. Lack of concern. Meaningless empty chatter that distracts the mind. Temporal affections hiding eternal needs. Discontentment. Emotionless.... and the list goes on and on. Man made double standards start with US. We are willing participates and often don't even realize it.
Christians are the best in THIS world at pretending. We actually believe that "looking good" to others based on societal norms is what sells the message of God to humanity. There is this pretense that only righteously clean people can sell the message of God. When nothing could be further from the Truth. What sells the message of God is our LOVE for Him and our LOVE for one another.
YOU needs to go way. YOU needs to become JESUS and HIS Sheep. If you really want to be happy.....You need to throw away the social gospel message of "Christianity is all about what God has done for YOU"..... While it begins there, babies think about themselves. Adults in Jesus Christ know its ALL about OTHERS. Even if you can't physically do much, you can LOVE beyond yourself.
Here are few other points. Low on time at the moment....
2. Most Christians focus on things that will NEVER, significantly, satisfy them.
3. Most Christians have no problem lying by pretending they're something, they're not.
4. Most Christians refuse to put forth the effort required to please God. I said please God. Not please men. In fact, most had rather please a man than please God. Its easier.....
5. Some Christian take pleasure in being alone. "The martyr syndrome".....
First, its okay to "fight" about it. Which is one thing that attracted me to the FFF forums so many years ago. The idea that I can argue for the Truth without fearing the "wrath" of influential people targeting you.
So lets "fight it out"....
1. Most Christian have unrealistic expectations of what it is to lead a Christian life.
I've got both bad and good news for you.... and both come out of the same fact. No matter how hard you try, you're going to fail. That is good in the fact, failure teaches us and success often leads to pride. It is bad because can make the mistake of accepting failure as if we can never succeed. I'm not a prosperity preacher nor am I'm a pessimistic. I try to be a realist. It is by God's supernatural power that we only have the ability to be pleasing to Him. Yet, we have this power/treasure in weak vessels. That the praise might be of God and not of us.
I'm reminded of the story of Peter questioning the Lord of how many times he should forgive his brother if he sinned against him in a day..... People often see Luke 17 and Matthew 18 being the same story. I believe Luke 17 produced the discussion Peter had with Jesus recorded in Matthew 18. Peter was wanting to please Jesus by following what Jesus had taught, but his natural inclination to sin was hung up on the # 7.
Luk 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (70 being the numbered disciples. So if every single brother sinned against him 7 times in one day... he was to forgive.)
I know. Most people don't believe they sin 7 times in a day much less 7 times toward a single person. However, that isn't remotely true. Fact is, what we see as sin is NOT often sin.... and what we we often dismiss as being trivial is grievous and detrimental in our lives. The story of the "Unforgiving Servant" that follows Matt 18:22 shows that is difficult for us to really see our own attitude toward sin in our own lives. We have a set of rules for ourselves and a much harsher set of rules for OTHERS.
IF you would stop thinking about yourself for a few moments, you would realize just how many times we sin against those we love in a single day. Harsh words. Lack of concern. Meaningless empty chatter that distracts the mind. Temporal affections hiding eternal needs. Discontentment. Emotionless.... and the list goes on and on. Man made double standards start with US. We are willing participates and often don't even realize it.
Christians are the best in THIS world at pretending. We actually believe that "looking good" to others based on societal norms is what sells the message of God to humanity. There is this pretense that only righteously clean people can sell the message of God. When nothing could be further from the Truth. What sells the message of God is our LOVE for Him and our LOVE for one another.
YOU needs to go way. YOU needs to become JESUS and HIS Sheep. If you really want to be happy.....You need to throw away the social gospel message of "Christianity is all about what God has done for YOU"..... While it begins there, babies think about themselves. Adults in Jesus Christ know its ALL about OTHERS. Even if you can't physically do much, you can LOVE beyond yourself.
Here are few other points. Low on time at the moment....
2. Most Christians focus on things that will NEVER, significantly, satisfy them.
3. Most Christians have no problem lying by pretending they're something, they're not.
4. Most Christians refuse to put forth the effort required to please God. I said please God. Not please men. In fact, most had rather please a man than please God. Its easier.....
5. Some Christian take pleasure in being alone. "The martyr syndrome".....
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