Keep Moving Forward in the Grace of God
People sometimes talk as if you can't be saved unless you are a horror first. To go along with this people can act as if those who have been Christians since they were little are fakers who are looking down on everyone. As a result it seems that people praise the experience of the super sinner turned christian and push aside or worse try to find the flaws of the Christians who grew up avoiding sin. This is the backdrop for several disastrous thought processes that travel through the people of God. Here is my list of disasters and lies:
1. Holiness is fake and perfect is impossible : This is a flat out lie. God said to be holy as he is holy (1 Peter 1:16) therefore holiness must exist and be obtainable. Holy is not arrogant, and stiff is not holy. It is not stuck up for a person to want to please God with every part of their being, and to choose God over everything else including trends and popularity. In stead of making fun of these people, trying to find their flaws, or trying to pull them down why don't we strive to be holy as God is holy. Let us not forget also that God said that he wrote the Bible so that we might be perfect.(2Timothy 3:17) That means that perfection is possible too. In man's eyes we will never be perfect, but God sees us differently. we can be perfect because he said we could. just be careful not to let yourself or someone else set the standard because God already has.
2.You can't minister to anyone if you haven't done what they do or been where they are : God said if I be lifted up from the earth I'll draw all men unto me. (John 12:32) We can't save anyone only God can. God draws people, and we are simply suppose to be obedient to him. God will draw from our experiences if he sees fit, but it isn't necessary because it isn't about who we are or were. The gospel is about who God is. A side note to this is that you can not minister to someone when you don't respect them. People can tell when you care about them and it makes a difference in how they react to you. (Colossians 4:5-6)
3. We are only human : We are human, but God already knew that when he told us what to do. (Ephesians 2:10) If God created us then he knows what we can and can not do. He said he wouldn't put more on us than we can bear therefore he knows what we can bear. Our humanity is not an excuse to be disobedient to God's word. We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us.(Philippians 4:13)
4. If the good christian girl or boy makes a mistake than they might as well quit trying and admit that they aren't what they said they were: This one is one of the worst ways of thinking that I have seen coming from people. It is a way for non Christians and backsliders to point the accusing finger and justify themselves for the decisions they make. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), even the ones who are trying to obey him. This is why God sent Jesus. We can ask forgiveness and get put back on the right path. God said if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us.(1John 1:9) Christians shouldn't be throwing past sins in each other's faces nor discouraging each other. We are suppose to love each other (1 John 4:11). We will make mistakes, but we have to get up ask God to restore us and keep moving forward.
The Bible says that the race is not given to the swift or the battle to the strong (Ecclesiastes 9:11) but he that endures to the end shall be saved (Mathew 10:22 & Mathew 24:13). I believe this is the solution to the problem of judging other people's Christianity. You can come in strong and not win. You can come in fast and not win. However, if you endure and keep pressing for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14) than you will be saved. Lets all strive to be enduring Christians. I myself was a young christian raised in the church, and when I found myself in the grips of sin I thought it was over for me. I messed up and thought there was no hope for my ministry or my future. I know that some people would like to think that this is the case with me and a lot of other women and men of God who got hung up on sin, but God says otherwise. If we ask forgiveness than we are forgiven, and God can make us holy again. Once we choose to turn away from our sin God can still use us for his glory.
1. Holiness is fake and perfect is impossible : This is a flat out lie. God said to be holy as he is holy (1 Peter 1:16) therefore holiness must exist and be obtainable. Holy is not arrogant, and stiff is not holy. It is not stuck up for a person to want to please God with every part of their being, and to choose God over everything else including trends and popularity. In stead of making fun of these people, trying to find their flaws, or trying to pull them down why don't we strive to be holy as God is holy. Let us not forget also that God said that he wrote the Bible so that we might be perfect.(2Timothy 3:17) That means that perfection is possible too. In man's eyes we will never be perfect, but God sees us differently. we can be perfect because he said we could. just be careful not to let yourself or someone else set the standard because God already has.
2.You can't minister to anyone if you haven't done what they do or been where they are : God said if I be lifted up from the earth I'll draw all men unto me. (John 12:32) We can't save anyone only God can. God draws people, and we are simply suppose to be obedient to him. God will draw from our experiences if he sees fit, but it isn't necessary because it isn't about who we are or were. The gospel is about who God is. A side note to this is that you can not minister to someone when you don't respect them. People can tell when you care about them and it makes a difference in how they react to you. (Colossians 4:5-6)
3. We are only human : We are human, but God already knew that when he told us what to do. (Ephesians 2:10) If God created us then he knows what we can and can not do. He said he wouldn't put more on us than we can bear therefore he knows what we can bear. Our humanity is not an excuse to be disobedient to God's word. We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us.(Philippians 4:13)
4. If the good christian girl or boy makes a mistake than they might as well quit trying and admit that they aren't what they said they were: This one is one of the worst ways of thinking that I have seen coming from people. It is a way for non Christians and backsliders to point the accusing finger and justify themselves for the decisions they make. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), even the ones who are trying to obey him. This is why God sent Jesus. We can ask forgiveness and get put back on the right path. God said if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us.(1John 1:9) Christians shouldn't be throwing past sins in each other's faces nor discouraging each other. We are suppose to love each other (1 John 4:11). We will make mistakes, but we have to get up ask God to restore us and keep moving forward.
The Bible says that the race is not given to the swift or the battle to the strong (Ecclesiastes 9:11) but he that endures to the end shall be saved (Mathew 10:22 & Mathew 24:13). I believe this is the solution to the problem of judging other people's Christianity. You can come in strong and not win. You can come in fast and not win. However, if you endure and keep pressing for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14) than you will be saved. Lets all strive to be enduring Christians. I myself was a young christian raised in the church, and when I found myself in the grips of sin I thought it was over for me. I messed up and thought there was no hope for my ministry or my future. I know that some people would like to think that this is the case with me and a lot of other women and men of God who got hung up on sin, but God says otherwise. If we ask forgiveness than we are forgiven, and God can make us holy again. Once we choose to turn away from our sin God can still use us for his glory.
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