Live for Christ, Forsake the World
I look around me, at my own life and the values my family show to the world, and I realized something. This isn't how it is meant to be. We shouldn't be compromising to the world just because the world-system is so endemic, or because other Christians do the same. We are called to be citizens of Heaven, Children of God, in this world but not of this world. Christ has already overcome the world, He has done the hard work for us. Why can we not let go? Yes, it is hard, and it doesn't get easier as time goes on but doesn't Christ give us the strength to go forward and live in the victory He won?
I had actually envisioned this post being much different, and had written much (over 4 paragraphs) but apparently it wasn't exactly what God wanted me to share. Most of what I had previously written (and lost) was a rebuke on the way so-called "carnal" Christians live. 6 days for the world and one day for Christ. Engaging in a host of evil, sinful activities (willingly, knowing it doesn't please God) and letting false teachers appease their conscience with false doctrine. This will probably be similar, hopefully with more love.
Romans 8:7-8 is pretty damning for many of us, especially those who willingly participate in demonic activity for one reason or another. If we are satisfying the flesh/world, we are not under God's rule no matter what silver-tongued pastors might want to tell you.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
To be in enmity with someone, you have "a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism" - according to dictionary.com - toward that person. Its easy enough to see the truth in it, just look at those athiests who loudly decry that there is even a god, much less the God. To be carnal just means to be worldly, concerned with the pleasures of self. How can we be pleasing God when we are just looking out to fill our own desires? Surely we send a confusing message not just to the world but to our kids (if any), too.
On the one hand we are telling them its okay to live like the world 6 days a week, because God will forgive sins (which is only half true, we need to repent - or turn away - from them as well), but on the day we go to church, there is another way we act even though we talk about and love the same things. How can we love what is good when we cannot even admit to ourselves the difference between good and evil? How can we properly tell our kids, in essence, not to drink a beer while holding a beer in one hand? When we tell someone we hate evil and then go off and celebrate demonic "holidays" how serious do you think we are taken? Scripture says a double-minded man is unstable. Perhaps we all - myself included - need to double check our foundations.
I am not particularly proud of myself right now. There are things I have allowed, done, talked about or thought about that are definitely not Godly or Christlike. I am thankful,l though, for the Holy Spirit's guidance and conviction when I am in the wrong. It leads - at least for me - to reflection in Scripture, conversation with God, and me moving out of the way to allow for the change in behavior. It isn't easy though. Such dedication to God comes with persecution. The world does not like to be forsaken and Satan will fight tooth-and-nail to keep me in his system.
Of course I could be just as wrong as anyone. If nothing else, I pray this gets you to thinking about your behavior and what God thinks about it. Pray, reflect, read. Take care and God bless.
I had actually envisioned this post being much different, and had written much (over 4 paragraphs) but apparently it wasn't exactly what God wanted me to share. Most of what I had previously written (and lost) was a rebuke on the way so-called "carnal" Christians live. 6 days for the world and one day for Christ. Engaging in a host of evil, sinful activities (willingly, knowing it doesn't please God) and letting false teachers appease their conscience with false doctrine. This will probably be similar, hopefully with more love.
Romans 8:7-8 is pretty damning for many of us, especially those who willingly participate in demonic activity for one reason or another. If we are satisfying the flesh/world, we are not under God's rule no matter what silver-tongued pastors might want to tell you.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
To be in enmity with someone, you have "a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism" - according to dictionary.com - toward that person. Its easy enough to see the truth in it, just look at those athiests who loudly decry that there is even a god, much less the God. To be carnal just means to be worldly, concerned with the pleasures of self. How can we be pleasing God when we are just looking out to fill our own desires? Surely we send a confusing message not just to the world but to our kids (if any), too.
On the one hand we are telling them its okay to live like the world 6 days a week, because God will forgive sins (which is only half true, we need to repent - or turn away - from them as well), but on the day we go to church, there is another way we act even though we talk about and love the same things. How can we love what is good when we cannot even admit to ourselves the difference between good and evil? How can we properly tell our kids, in essence, not to drink a beer while holding a beer in one hand? When we tell someone we hate evil and then go off and celebrate demonic "holidays" how serious do you think we are taken? Scripture says a double-minded man is unstable. Perhaps we all - myself included - need to double check our foundations.
I am not particularly proud of myself right now. There are things I have allowed, done, talked about or thought about that are definitely not Godly or Christlike. I am thankful,l though, for the Holy Spirit's guidance and conviction when I am in the wrong. It leads - at least for me - to reflection in Scripture, conversation with God, and me moving out of the way to allow for the change in behavior. It isn't easy though. Such dedication to God comes with persecution. The world does not like to be forsaken and Satan will fight tooth-and-nail to keep me in his system.
Of course I could be just as wrong as anyone. If nothing else, I pray this gets you to thinking about your behavior and what God thinks about it. Pray, reflect, read. Take care and God bless.