* ALL Questions about the Christian Life *

[Patriot]

Why is obedience to God important?​

Answer

Obedience to God proves our love for Him (1 John 5:2-3), demonstrates our faithfulness to Him (1 John 2:3-6), glorifies Him in the world (1 Peter 2:12), and opens avenues of blessing for us (John 13:17).

Faith is necessary to please God (Hebrews 11:6), and if our faith is genuine and true, we will live a lifestyle characterized by righteousness, modeling the example set for us by Jesus Christ. We obey His commands, not because we have to, but because we want to, because we love Him. We are enabled to obey because, once we believe in Christ and are saved, we are remade. We are not the same people we once were. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

When we obey the Lord, we can live a life of joy, without shame, rooted deeply in the Lord and confident in our eternal hope. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). Our obedience is actually part of our assurance that we truly know God (1 John 2:3).

When God’s children obey their Heavenly Father, He is glorified. Jesus told us that the plan is for others to “see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Of course, performing “good deeds” requires obedience to the One who calls us to good deeds. A Christian’s testimony of holiness is a strong witness that God is at work in the world.

“Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him” (Psalm 128:1). The Bible often tells us that God blesses and rewards obedience. James 1:22-25 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. . . . Whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” See also Psalm 119:1-2.

God is gracious. If we haven’t been living for Him, if we haven’t been following His commandments, if we’ve been living in and for the world, we can be transformed by the blood of Jesus Christ. We can ask God for forgiveness, and He will give it. And He will choose to forget the sin, just as if we had never committed it in the first place. God is glorified when He extends forgiveness, because it is written, “I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. . . . Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:16-17).

For Further Study​

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

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[Patriot]

What does it mean to truly follow Christ?​

Answer

In the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), Jesus’ command to "follow me" appears repeatedly (e.g., Matthew 8:22; 9:9, Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27; John 1:43). In many cases, Jesus was calling the twelve men who would become His disciples (Matthew 10:3–4). But other times, He was speaking to anyone who wanted what He had to offer (John 3:16; Mark 8:34).

In Matthew 10:34–39, Jesus stated clearly what it means to follow Him. He said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."

Jesus’ bringing a “sword” and turning family members against each other can seem a little harsh after words like "whosoever believes on Him shall not perish" (John 3:16). But Jesus never softened the truth, and the truth is that following Him leads to difficult choices. Sometimes turning back may seem very appealing. When Jesus’ teaching went from the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–11) to the coming cross, many who had followed him turned away (John 6:66). Even the disciples decided that following Jesus was too difficult the night He was arrested. Every one of them deserted Him (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). On that night, following Christ meant possible arrest and execution. Rather than risk his own life, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69–75).

To truly follow Christ means He has become everything to us. Everyone follows something: friends, popular culture, family, selfish desires, or God. We can only follow one thing at a time (Matthew 6:24). God states we are to have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7; Mark 12:30). To truly follow Christ means we do not follow anything else. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." There is no such thing as a "halfway disciple." As the disciples demonstrated, no one can follow Christ by the strength of his own willpower. The Pharisees were good examples of those who were trying to obey God in their own strength. Their self-effort led only to arrogance and distortion of the whole purpose of God’s Law (Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:24).

Jesus gave His disciples the secret to faithfully following Him, but they did not recognize it at the time. He said, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing" (John 6:63). And "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them” (verse 65). The disciples had walked with Jesus for three years, learning, observing, and participating in His miracles. Yet, even they could not follow Him faithfully in their own strength. They needed a Helper.

Jesus promised many times that, once He had ascended to the Father, He would send a "Helper" to them—the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26). In fact, He told them that it was for their good that He was going away so that the Holy Spirit could come (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit indwells the heart of every believer (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:16; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20). Jesus warned His followers that they were not to begin testifying of Him "until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4). When the Holy Spirit came upon those first believers at Pentecost, they suddenly had all the power they needed to follow Christ, even to the death, if needed (Acts 2:1–4; 4:31; 7:59-60).

Following Jesus means striving to be like Him. He always obeyed His Father, so that’s what we strive to do (John 8:29; 15:10). To truly follow Christ means to make Him the Boss. That’s what it means to make Jesus Lord of our lives (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 2 Corinthians 4:5). Every decision and dream is filtered through His Word with the goal of glorifying Him in everything (1 Corinthians 10:31). We are not saved by the things we do for Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9) but by what He has done for us. Because of His grace, we want to please Him in everything. All this is accomplished as we allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control of every area of our lives (Ephesians 5:18). He explains the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 2:14), empowers us with spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), comforts us (John 14:16), and guides us (John 14:26). To follow Christ means we apply the truths we learn from His Word and live as if Jesus walked beside us in person.

For Further Study​

Getting Over Yourself: Trading Believe-in-Yourself Religion for Christ-Centered Christianity by Dean Inserra

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

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[RiverOL]

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-13

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5

I often feel like the world holds its breath on Christmas Eve. For weeks, we’ve listened to advertisements telling us to get ready for the holiday. Perhaps we’ve done our share of bustling about with our own preparations and parties. But now the holiday is upon us, and most of the preparing is done. Candlelight services held in many churches on this evening add to that sense of stillness and wonder.

The gospel account of John opens with a sense of quiet stillness and wonder. The eternal God, Creator of heaven and earth, is about to draw near. Is the world ready? The text offers an invitation to all who would receive him and believe: God’s light and life are here. Amid the darkness and confusion that often cloud our everyday living, a true light shines, enabling us to see clearly where life should lead.

But there is also a warning. It’s possible to be so busy bustling about that we miss the wonder of Christ’s birth. So it’s absolutely necessary to stop in wonder and amazement in order to hear the message God wants to communicate to us: sinful humanity can again become part of God’s family.

As our busy lives quiet down somewhat tonight, let’s remember that God has made everything ready. Christ has come. God’s light is here. Do you see it?

Word of God, in this quiet moment, let us be still and know that you are the Lord our God, holy and true. Renew in us a sense of wonder that you have come to save us and make us a part of your family. Amen.

 

[Patriot]

How can I tap into the wisdom of God?​

Answer

All that God deemed essential knowledge for His children is found in His Word—the Bible. Beyond that, all truth is God’s. God has, however, revealed His truth to all humans in the things created (Romans 1:20) called general revelation, and in His written Word called special revelation (1 Corinthians 2:6–10).

There is a difference between “earthly wisdom” and the “wisdom that comes from above” (James 3:14–18). To tap into God’s wisdom, we must, first of all, desire it and ask God for it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). The next verse specifies that we must “ask in faith, nothing wavering” (verse 6).

We acknowledge that true wisdom comes from God and that Jesus Christ is the embodiment of that wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30). To trust in Christ and yield to His Holy Spirit is to walk in wisdom; as Christians, “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Love of God, the greatest commandment, is also required. “As it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10; cf. Isaiah 64:4).

To have knowledge is to have understanding or information about something. To have wisdom is to have the ability to apply knowledge to everyday life. It is in the reading and understanding of God’s Word that we obtain knowledge, and meditating upon that knowledge brings wisdom. The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119, which is all about gaining understanding and wisdom from God’s Word. Just a few verses are “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long” (verse 97). “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (verse 105). “I will meditate on your precepts, and have respect to your ways. I will delight myself in your statutes: I will not forget your word” (verses 15–16). The word meditate is used five times in Psalm 119 and in various forms another fifteen times in the book of Psalms. Meditation is required to fully consider how to apply God’s Word in everyday life.

The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom. In that book, Wisdom calls for a hearing: “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings” (Proverbs 1:22–23). The promise of Wisdom is that those who desire God’s truth can have it, but it requires giving up the world’s foolish mockery of the truth. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

To have the “fear of the LORD” is to have an awed respect of who God is and a reverential trust in His Word and His character, and to live accordingly. When one is walking in the fear of the Lord, he or she is relying on God’s wisdom in the matters of everyday life and making whatever changes need to be made in light of God’s Word.

Those who have God’s wisdom will show it in how they live: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13).

In summary, to tap into God’s wisdom, we must diligently study God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15), meditate on the Word, pray for wisdom, seek it with all our hearts, and walk in the Spirit. God desires to give His wisdom to His children. Are we willing to be led by that wisdom?

For Further Study​

The Owner's Manual for Christians: The Essential Guide for a God-Honoring Life by Charles Swindoll

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

Should I share my Christian faith with someone of the opposite gender?​

Answer

The Bible does not give specific guidelines concerning sharing one’s faith with the opposite gender/sex. We do have the example of Jesus, who spoke one-on-one to a Samaritan woman about her spiritual need (John 4). And in the book of Acts, Priscilla and Aquila speak to a man named Apollos about the gospel (Acts 18:26); however, they were simply correcting some wrong ideas that Apollos had, not really witnessing to him.

The Bible says that sharing the gospel is a primary responsibility (Acts 1:8). Since there is no biblical instruction to share the gospel only with people of the same gender, we can assume that it is okay for men to share their faith with women, and vice versa. However, there are some practical matters to consider. Discernment in dealing with people one-on-one is always necessary.

A young Christian woman needs to use wisdom in sharing her faith one-on-one with a man. There are men who will pretend to be interested in the gospel when really all they want is to talk to a girl. A feigned interest in spiritual things can mask a more dominant interest in physical things. When a married man shares his faith with a woman, he should take steps to avoid compromising situations or misunderstandings. Many pastors make a point of counseling women only when their wives or another woman can take part in the counseling session. The biblical pattern of witnessing “two by two” can forestall many potential problems (Luke 10:1).

If you have a friend of the opposite sex who is having some spiritual problems or wants to talk about your faith, there is no problem talking to him or her one-on-one, as long as you exercise caution. Pray for wisdom in each situation (James 1:5). In all personal relationships, it is best to pray, approach things case-by-case, and simply use good judgment.

For Further Study​

Sharing the Gospel with Ease: How the Love of Christ Can Flow Naturally from Your Life by Thom Rainer

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[Patriot]

Is loving God an emotion, a feeling, or a decision?​

Answer

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Luke10:27; Mark 12:30; Matthew 22:37). Repeatedly throughout the Bible, God commands His people to love Him with all their hearts and serve Him alone (Deuteronomy 6:5; 11:1; Joshua 23:11). But can love be commanded? How can we make ourselves love someone?

Since love is commanded, then it must be within our power, in Christ, to love. Love, therefore, is a decision we make. Yes, love will often be accompanied by feelings, but emotion is not the basis of love. In any given situation, we can choose to love, regardless of how we feel.

The Greek word for “love” used in reference to God is agape, which means “benevolence, delight, preference, or good will.” This is the kind of love God has for us (Zephaniah 3:17; John 3:16). First John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” Since God is love and we are created in His image, we can love as He does (1 John 4:16). He has placed His capacity to love within our hearts. He then teaches us how to love by demonstrating what real love looks like (John 15:13).

Loving God begins with a decision. It is a purposeful setting of our affections (Colossians 3:2). We cannot truly love God until we know Him. Even the faith to believe in God is a gift from Him (Ephesians 2:8–9). When we accept His gift of eternal life through Christ, God gives us His Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13; 1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spirit of God dwelling within a believing heart begins to produce the traits of God, the first of which is love (Galatians 5:22). God Himself enables us to love Him as He deserves to be loved (1 John 4:7).

As we grow in knowledge and understanding of who God is, we begin to love the characteristics that define Him, such as wisdom, truth, righteousness, and purity (Psalm 11:7; 90:12; Hebrews 1:9; 1 Timothy 6:11). And we begin to find the opposite of those traits repulsive (Proverbs 8:13; Psalm 97:10). Spending time with God causes our hearts to hunger for holiness, and we find satisfaction only in more of Him, because He is the perfect embodiment of everything we long for. Learning to worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) allows us to experience the pleasurable emotions of love. Emotion does not create love, but, when we choose to love, the emotion comes. A. W. Tozer said, “Flowers and bird songs do not make spring; but when spring comes, they come with it.”

One obstacle to loving God is love of this world’s sinful ways. We cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24), and neither can we love God and the world at the same time. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15). Many believers today need to heed the word given to the Ephesian church: “You have forsaken the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4). The call is for a conscious returning of the affections to God alone.

Another obstacle to loving God is the mind. Our minds continually set themselves up against the knowledge of God and challenge the faith that has made its home within our spirits (2 Corinthians 10:5). Doubt, anger, misunderstanding, and false doctrine can all rob us of life’s highest pleasure, intimacy with God (Philippians 3:8). These obstacles can be overcome through repentance and a determination to seek God above all else (Matthew 6:33; Jeremiah 29:13). In order to truly love God, we must stop insisting that God explain Himself to our satisfaction. We have to crucify our pride and our right to approve of His ways and allow Him to be God in our lives. When we humbly recognize that He alone is worthy of our love and worship, we can abandon ourselves to loving Him for who He is.

For Further Study​

The ESV Study Bible

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

 

[Patriot]

How can I stay encouraged when finding a good job seems impossible?​

Answer

What’s important to recognize in the midst of situations that seem impossible—like finding a good job—is that, when we surrender the problem to God’s control, it automatically enters the realm of the possible, because with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

God’s Word transcends our circumstances. No matter what we’re facing in our lives, we can still trust what God says about Himself. One thing we know about God is that He hears our prayers and knows what we need even before we ask Him (Matthew 6:7–8). We are commanded to not worry about the future for the same reason: God knows our needs, and He is our provider (Matthew 6:25–34). Not worrying doesn’t mean not taking action, but simply recognizing that God is ultimately in control and that He has our best interests in mind (Romans 8:28). Even when we don’t see anything happening, we can be assured that God is actively working on our behalf. He is not sitting idly by (see Ruth 3:18).

Knowing that God said He would provide for us is one thing, even when we can’t find a good job. It’s quite another to be able to experience the peace and encouragement embedded in that truth.

Discouragement is often a matter of the heart. A good question to ask is, what am I focusing my attention and thoughts on: the problem or God? While our main concern may be finding a good job, God cares more about the condition of our hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7). Philippians 4:4–7 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When we consciously choose to praise and thank God in the midst of our job search, we open our hearts and minds to receive His peace.

It’s also important to realize that, while God has amazing plans for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11), we also have an enemy in Satan who would love nothing more than to discourage us from trusting God to fulfill those plans for our lives. The Bible describes Satan as one who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The easiest way for a lion to bring down prey is to first isolate it from its herd. It is much easier for Satan to discourage us when we are disconnected from the Body of Christ. Having godly people in our lives who know what we’re going through and can pray with and for us when things are tough is a huge encouragement (see Hebrews 10:24–25; James 5:16).

For Further Study​

The ESV Study Bible

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

What is servant evangelism?​

Answer

Often the word evangelism brings to mind a dynamic person speaking to large crowds about Jesus and giving an invitation for salvation. Some evangelists do speak to large, public crowds, but the truth is there are many approaches to evangelism and many different strategies. Servant evangelism is sharing God’s love by simply serving others in practical ways without asking for or expecting anything in return.

The focus of servant evangelism is doing acts of kindness for anyone and everyone. “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people” (Galatians 6:10). An example of servant evangelism could be something as simple as handing out free water bottles on a hot day or taking bags of food to needy families at Christmastime. The possibilities are endless, but the common denominator is that nothing is asked for in return. One of the motivations behind this type evangelism is that the Bible tells us that God’s kindness leads people to repentance (Romans 2:4).

There are many benefits of servant evangelism, both for those being served and for those serving. Servant evangelism reaches people where they are and exposes non-Christians to Christians showing God’s love in unmistakable and non-threatening ways. Not everyone is comfortable walking into a church building, but receiving a free service with no strings attached is harder to resist. In fact, it usually piques curiosity as to why someone would go out of his or her way to perform this act of kindness. Servant evangelism has the potential to soften people’s hearts, enabling them to hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a good way to “water” seed previously sown (see 1 Corinthians 3:6).

Servant evangelism benefits those serving, as well. As Christians, we are called to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Serving others gives Christians the opportunity to tell about God’s love. When someone asks why they’re doing what they’re doing, those who are serving can point to Christ—it’s great training ground for other types of evangelism! Also, as Christians, we are to be full of the Holy Spirit in such a way that the Spirit flows out to others (see John 7:38–39). Engaging in servant evangelism puts Christians in situations where the Holy Spirit can minister through them. Jesus commanded His disciples and, consequently, Christians today to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19–20). Jesus didn’t say, “Wait inside your church buildings for the lost to come to you”; He said to “go.” Through servant evangelism the church can show people outside the church that God cares and give them a reason to want to come inside.

While servant evangelism is certainly a biblical practice, it is incomplete as a form of evangelism until the message of Jesus is spoken. Romans 10:17 tells us, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” To complete the process of evangelism—to bring someone to accepting Christ as Savior—we need to speak “the word about Christ.” Servant evangelism can be effective in opening that person’s heart to receive the message once he or she hears it.

For Further Study​

The ESV Study Bible

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

How can I live a holy life?​

Answer

In order to address the question of how to live a holy life, we must first understand what holy means. To be holy means to be set apart or separate from sin and evil. God is holy—completely separate from everything that is evil (1 John 1:5). God calls us to be holy, just as He is (1 Peter 1:16, quoting Leviticus 19:2), but it’s vital to understand that apart from God this is impossible. We must have the Holy Spirit indwelling us and filling us with His holiness. We can only live a holy life through the power of the Spirit; thus, the first step to living a holy life is to accept Jesus as Savior (Ephesians 1:13).

Once we have taken that step of salvation, we are declared righteous (Romans 5:1). But what does it look like to be actually righteous—to live a holy life? In 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8, Paul emphasizes sexual purity as part of holy living: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God” (verses 3–5).

Beyond avoiding sexual immorality and keeping sex within God’s design for marriage, we can live a holy life by being obedient to God in all areas of life (1 Peter 1:14–16). Knowing and obeying God’s Word is key (John 17:17). Hiding God’s Word in our hearts keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11). When we live in obedience to God, we are staying separate from evil. We are offering our bodies as “living sacrifices” to God (Romans 12:1–2). The purpose of living a holy life is to glorify God and display His nature to those around us (Matthew 5:16). Living a holy life of obedience to God is living in true freedom from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:6).

It’s not always easy to choose obedience to God, especially if we’re trying to do it all on our own. Satan would love nothing more than to bring us back into bondage through disobedience. But we have the promise, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The Holy Spirit will produce Christlikeness in us, and, as we yield to Him, we can live a holy life (Galatians 5:16).

Here is the mindset we should have: “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). Any time we face temptation, we should say, “I’m dead to that! That was part of my old life! I am a new creation in Christ!” (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). To live a holy life, to separate ourselves from sin, we must see ourselves as God does—as born-again children of the Most High, clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

We also have the benefit of being part of the Body of Christ. Fellowship with other Christians and making ourselves accountable to them is a great source of strength in living a holy life. As Christians, we are called to encourage one another in this matter (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Remember, we are not trying to live a holy life in order to earn salvation; living a holy life is a natural outgrowth of being saved by God’s grace and filled with His Spirit. It is also important to not give up when we mess up. When we fail, our response should be to confess the sin and keep moving forward in our Christian walk (1 John 1:9). Romans 8:1 says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” God’s grace doesn’t go away when we make mistakes.

For Further Study​

The ESV Study Bible

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

What is wrong with being a solo Christian?​

Answer

“I don’t like church.” “I can worship God on my own. Why do I need other people?” We hear statements like these, spoken with conviction, and we wonder if they have any validity. Do we need to be involved with other Christians in a local church in order to effectively serve God? After all, salvation is an individual decision. Why afterwards must we involve other people? What’s wrong with flying solo?

It is true that a relationship with God is an intensely personal decision. No one can give us the faith to believe except God (Ephesians 2:8–9; John 6:44). Church activity does nothing to impress God or earn His favor. He loves and favors us on the basis of our faith in the shed blood of His Son for our sin (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13–14). Obedience and surrender to the Holy Spirit are individual decisions that cannot be made for us by others. God will hold each of us accountable for our stewardship of all He has given us (2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 16:27; Revelation 22:12).

However, when we enter the family of God by being “born again” (John 3:3), we become “new creatures” (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we experience the new birth, we are like snakes shedding our old skin. Our spirits inflate with the presence of God, and that new Spirit crowds out the old ways. Our desires change. Our outlook changes. Where we once lived only to satisfy ourselves, we now have a longing to please Jesus and glorify Him (1 Corinthians 10:31). If no change occurs after a supposed conversion, it is likely that no regeneration occurred. C. S. Lewis said, “If conversion makes no improvements in a man’s outward actions then I think his ‘conversion’ was largely imaginary.” Part of the change is a desire to be with others who also love and serve Jesus. Being a “solo Christian” is not the norm.

There are several reasons why every born-again believer needs to be involved with other Christians. First of all, the New Testament is filled with admonitions to “love one another”—the “one another” refers to fellow Christians (John 13:34–35; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 4:11). Love is not just a noun; it is an action verb (see 1 Corinthians 13:1–8). We are to actively pursue ways in which we can demonstrate unselfish love for each other. “Solo Christians” who avoid association with other believers cannot do that.

Second, most of the books of the New Testament are letters written to churches, not to solo Christians. Although God loves us as individuals, we are collectively referred to in Scripture as “the church” (Ephesians 5:25, 32). The Epistles, addressed to groups of Christians, include detailed instructions about how members are to conduct themselves within the group. The letters were to be read corporately and are best understood in the context of a church working together. As a unit, Christians are the “bride of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7). Most of the New Testament is instruction on how the “bride” can ready herself for her groom, Christ.

We are also called the “body of Christ.” This body has many parts, just as a physical body does (1 Corinthians 12:27). One body part cannot exist on its own. The heart cannot go solo; the chin cannot survive on its own. Any one part needs the participation of all the other parts in order to function successfully. The same is true for the members of the body of Christ. Jesus equips each one with certain gifts that He wants us to use to benefit the whole (see 1 Corinthians 12:12–30). Romans 12:4–5 says, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” There is no room in this passage for solo Christians.

A third reason solo Christianity is not a good idea is that we need the encouragement and accountability provided by our brothers and sisters in Christ (Hebrews 10:24–25). Often, those who shun involvement in a local church live with major blind spots and spiritual strongholds that they are only mildly aware of. Because they do not make themselves accountable to other believers, solo Christians have no one to strengthen their weaknesses. Flaws such as pride, greed, envy, anger, and a judgmental spirit often grow unchecked in the heart of one who rejects spiritual oversight from those who could gently guide him back to obedience (Galatians 6:1).

The solo Christian is a loner also misses out on preaching, corporate worship times, and opportunities to serve. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” We grow sharper as useful tools for God when we learn from each other, pray for each other, and invest ourselves in the lives of others. Local churches offer many opportunities in which to use our gifts to serve others and glorify God. Avoiding such connections weakens the solo Christian as well as the local body.

Finally, we have a powerful enemy who “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The lion metaphor works in Scripture because God’s people are often referred to as sheep (Psalm 95:7; 100:3; 1 Peter 2:25; Mark 6:34). As any good shepherd knows, the sheep are safest when they stay with the flock, under the watch-care of a kind shepherd. First Peter 5:2 exhorts pastors with this: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them.” A pastor is called the shepherd of the flock. It is his responsibility before God to nurture, protect, and encourage the sheep God has entrusted to him. A lone sheep, separated from the flock, is vulnerable to the enemy. Wolves and lions don’t usually attack a healthy flock. They wait for one who lags behind, isolated from the shepherd and the safety of the fold.

Christians need to involve themselves with other believers in order to remain healthy and productive. Satan cannot steal a soul that belongs to God (John 10:29), but he can render our lives useless for the kingdom by convincing us that we don’t need fellowship, spiritual encouragement, or challenge from anyone else. He likes to stir up trouble, bitterness, disappointment, pride, and a critical spirit to keep lone sheep away from the flock (Ephesians 4:30–31; 1 Peter 2:1; Colossians 3:5–10). Then he attacks them with discouragement, temptation, and deception to eliminate any heavenly treasure that loner could have stored up for himself (Matthew 6:20; 10:41; Luke 12:33; Revelation 22:12). We will spend all eternity worshiping with other redeemed saints of God. We might as well learn to enjoy it now.

For Further Study​

Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community by Brett McCracken
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[Patriot]

How can I keep the faith?​

Answer

First Timothy 4:16 exhorts us to keep the faith: “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them.” When Paul visited the recently established churches in Asia Minor, his goal was “strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith” (Acts 14:22). Other passages calling us to keep the faith are Hebrews 12:1 and Ephesians 6:13. The Bible also gives us advice for how to do it.

Keeping the faith requires remembering what brought us to faith in the first place. We need to be intentional about remembering God’s grace in our lives. Hebrews 12:1b–3 says, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Practically, this means remembering the wonderful gift of God’s salvation and following the example of our Savior, who “endured” the trials of this life. We must “fix our eyes” on Jesus. Many people find prayer and journaling helpful in this regard. The Old Testament saints often demonstrated the importance of remembering. The Israelites were instructed to set up memorials, and many of the Jewish feasts were designed to remember and celebrate God’s deliverance. Deuteronomy 4:9 says, “Be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Psalm 103:2 says, “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” When we praise God, we remember His past goodness, and that makes it easier to keep trusting Him now.

Keeping the faith requires a love of truth and a commitment to the Word of God. First Timothy 4:1 says that, in the latter days, those who abandon the faith “follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” To accept “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6–7) is to fall into error. Paul exhorted Timothy to “fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience”; those who ignore this command “have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith” (1 Timothy 1:18–19). We must “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). The Spirit of truth will never lead us into untruth (John 16:13).

Keeping the faith also involves growth in Christ. Jesus is the author of our faith (the one who initiated the relationship), and He is the perfecter of our faith (the one who will see it through to the end). From beginning to end, Jesus is the source of our faith. We remember what He has done, and we look forward to what He will do. Practically, this involves having an active prayer life, studying God’s Word, and digging in to His truth.

Keeping the faith is also about community. The Christian life is not lived exclusively between God and the individual; it is lived in community with other Christians. Hebrews 10:23–25 says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Fellow believers can encourage us to keep the faith. They can exhort us when we are going astray. They can join in our gladness and in our sorrow (Romans 12:15).

We will face trials and temptations in life (John 16:33; James 1:2–4). Our faith will be challenged. But it is not only in the difficult times that we dig in our heels and fight for our faith. No, we contend for our faith always. What we do today prepares us for what is in store tomorrow. God is always at work in our lives. Our faith should be ever-growing. Second Peter 1:3–11 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. . . . For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . My brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” We keep the faith by remembering God’s faithfulness and continuing to grow in relationship with Him.

For Further Study​

The ESV Study Bible

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[Patriot]

 

[Patriot]

Doubting God - how can I overcome doubt in my relationship with God?​

Answer

There are two primary ways Christians can stop doubting God. The first is reading the Bible. In order to stop doubting, trust must be built. But it is hard to trust a stranger, or even an occasional acquaintance. When salvation occurs and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in one’s heart, it is just the beginning of a lifelong journey (and beyond) of getting to know God. The primary way of knowing God is reading the Bible. One thing that the Bible makes abundantly clear is that God is faithful, trustworthy, and good. As we fill our minds with the proofs of God’s power and love through history, we are better able to overcome doubt. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17).

The Bible is unique because it is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), which means the words on the pages may look ordinary but they are inspired by the Holy Spirit. God’s Word even “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Bible reading encourages us (Romans 15:4), satisfies and sustains us (Matthew 4:4), and guides us through life better than any GPS (Psalm 119:105). The Bible simultaneously reveals God to us—what He is like, what He loves, and what He hates. And the more a believer learns about the person of God, the more his faith will increase—and the less he will doubt.

The second way Christians can stop doubting God is prayer. Prayer may be the most difficult discipline to develop in the believer’s life, but it is also the most rewarding. Our reading of Scripture should prompt our praying. In Daniel 9:2–3, we read, “I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.” In other words, Daniel knew from Scripture that God was going to end Israel’s captivity, and that knowledge spurred him to pray. Why did Daniel pray for what he already knew would happen? Because Daniel knew that God uses the prayers of His people in the working out of His eternal purposes. If God is so benevolent that He would allow us such an important place in His plan for this world, surely we can trust Him to hear our prayers and answer them.

Not only does God hear our prayers, but whatever we ask in accordance with His will shall come to pass (Luke 11:9–13). In the words of Andrew Murray, “Let no delay shake our faith. Of faith it holds good: first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Each believing prayer brings a step nearer the final victory. Each believing prayer helps to ripen the fruit and bring us nearer to it; it fills up the measure of prayer and faith known to God alone; it conquers the hindrances in the unseen world; it hastens the end.”

Our prayers should be made daily, in a quiet place with no distractions. It’s good to keep a prayer journal. There’s no need to write down every detail of your prayers, but do write some of your petitions, and, when God answers, write that down also. It won’t be long before you have a bona fide record of how God supernaturally speaks into the lives of His children through answered prayer. This can be a tremendous help in overcoming doubt.

God doesn’t want His people to doubt Him; He wants them to be confident in His love, watchfulness, and protection. Do not hesitate to call to Him; He has promised to answer (Jeremiah 33:3).

For Further Study​

The ESV Study Bible
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[Patriot]

How can I overcome spiritual apathy?​

Answer

Spiritual apathy, coldness, or indifference can affect even the most sincere Christian at one time or another. Human emotions being as fickle as they are, feelings of apathy or disinterest can sometimes replace the fervor we once felt for the things of God. Overcoming such apathy is necessary for continuing our walk with God.

The one who realizes he is spiritually apathetic needs to, first of all, make sure he is a true believer in Jesus Christ (see 1 John 5:13; Romans 8:16). If he knows that he is a true believer in Christ, he needs to then ask himself this question: “What caused me to lose my love and passion for the Lord?”

One cause of spiritual apathy is sin in the believer’s life. When David sinned, he felt separated from God (Psalm 51:11). As he confessed his sin to God, David prayed for God to “renew a steadfast spirit” within him (verse 10), and he had this request: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (verse 12). A believer who feels spiritually apathetic should confess any known sin and ask for God’s cleansing and renewal.

Another cause of spiritual apathy is allowing dead orthodoxy to replace a true love for the Lord. A Christian is to be marked by his love for and obedience to Jesus (John 14:21), but it is possible to obey without love. It is possible to cling to the truth and serve God yet do so in a loveless, lifeless fashion. Such mechanical service is not pleasing to God. This was the Lord’s condemnation of the Ephesian church in Revelation 2:4: “You have forsaken the love you had at first.” When Paul wrote to the same church around AD 60, he commended them for their love (Ephesians 1:15–16), but now, some thirty years later, they had left their first love. Their passion had waned. Why? Perhaps the Ephesians had begun to take for granted what they had in Christ. Living for Christ was no longer a daily adventure; it was becoming “boring,” and they were losing sight of their eternal purpose. The church at Ephesus knew the teachings of Christ, but they were not living in His power. In so doing they lost their vibrant love and passion for Christ.

What’s the solution, then, for turning spiritual apathy into a renewed love and passion for Jesus Christ? The word to the spiritually apathetic Ephesian church was, “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:5). The spiritually apathetic person needs to remember, repent, and renew.

First, the spiritually apathetic person needs to remember; that is, he should think back to the time when he sensed the warmth and closeness of Christ’s presence. He should realize that he can return to that state of fellowship. Then he needs to repent; that is, he needs to see his spiritual apathy as sin and confess that sin to God (1 John 1:9). Finally, he needs to renew; that is, he must cultivate a renewed commitment to the Lord—not just serving the Lord, but knowing Him, praising Him, and fellowshipping with Him. He should start again, if he has discontinued it, daily Bible reading and prayer. He should let the indwelling Holy Spirit empower him so his life will display the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). And he should fellowship with a Bible-believing local church (Hebrews 10:25).

Satan loves apathy. We must stay alert to the temptations of the old nature, the world, and the evil one. We must never lose the sense that God is always with us and in us. “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). As we begin to worship and praise the Lord and let Christ control our lives each day, we will rediscover a life of adventure filled with joy and eternal purpose. We will wonder how we ever became spiritually apathetic in the first place.

For Further Study​

Survival Kit: Five Keys to Effective Spiritual Growth, Revised

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[Patriot]

How should a believer respond to the characteristics of God?​

Answer

God reveals Himself to believers through His Word (the Bible) and through His Son (Christ Jesus). The more we study the Bible, the more we come to understand God’s characteristics, the qualities He possesses. As mortals, we struggle to grasp the power and majesty of the God who has created time, space, matter, and all life. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8).

For the purpose of this article, we will focus on three key characteristics of God and the believer’s response to each.

Perhaps the most important characteristic of God is the moral attribute of His holiness. Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8 describe the triple force of God’s holiness: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” Only when a person glimpses the holiness of God in comparison to human sinfulness is there any hope for true repentance. When we realize the dreadful consequence of sin and consider that the sinless Son of God suffered our punishment, it brings us to our knees. We are silent before the face of God’s holiness, struck dumb by the reverence such holiness demands. Like Job, we say, “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth” (Job 40:4). Understanding God’s holiness causes us to exalt His compassion (2 Corinthians 1:3), mercy (Romans 9:15), grace, and forgiveness (Romans 5:17) toward us. “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared” (Psalm 130:3–4).

God’s most endearing characteristic is His love. Love requires relationship, and throughout eternity the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have existed together in relationship. God created us in His image, and we were created to be in relationship with Him (Genesis 3:17–18; Romans 1:19–20). Such is the extent of God’s love that He sent his only Son to redeem us from our sins. “This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. God is love. . . . We love because he first loved us” (1 John 3:16–19). God provided the solution to sin in the person of Christ Jesus. Jesus came to take our punishment for sin and to satisfy God’s justice (John 1:1–5, 14, 29). At Calvary, God’s perfect love and perfect justice met. When we begin to grasp the great love of God, our responses are humility, repentance, and reciprocal love. Like King David we pray that God will create in us a pure heart and a steadfast spirit (Psalm 34:18; 51:10, 17). God lives in a high and holy place, but with Him are believers who are contrite and lowly in spirit (Isaiah 57:15).

Finally, we will consider the sovereignty of God (Psalm 71:16; Isaiah 40:10). God is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2). He is the source of all life (Romans 11:33–36). He is independent of His creation (Acts 17:24–28). Abraham, Samuel, Isaiah, Daniel, and David all acknowledged God as their Sovereign Lord: “Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name” (David’s words in 1 Chronicles 29:10–13). The believer honors the Sovereign Lord who has bought us and gladly submits to Him (2 Peter 2:1; James 4:7; Jude 1:4).

King David eloquently summed up the characteristics of God: “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. . . . The Lord on high is mighty. Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord” (Psalm 93:1–2, 4–5).

A few men of faith have been privileged to experience God’s presence, to have God speak directly to them. This is how some of them responded:

Moses asked to see the glory of the Lord, and the Lord agreed to cause all of His goodness to pass in front of Moses. “I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen” (Exodus 33:21–22). Moses’ response was to bow down and worship. Like Moses, the believer will bow down and worship the Lord, filled with awe as we contemplate the glory that is our God.

Job never lost his faith in God, even under the most heartbreaking circumstances that tested him to his core. “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face” (Job 13:15). Job was utterly silenced by God when He spoke to him out of the storm. Job confessed that he spoke of things he did not understand, things too wonderful for him to know. “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:1–6). Like Job, our response to God should be one of humble obedience and trust, submission to His will, whether we understand it or not.

Isaiah had a vision of the Lord seated on his throne and of seraphs who cried out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). So overwhelming was this vision that Isaiah cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:1–5). Isaiah realized he was a sinner in the presence of the Holy God, and his response was repentance. John’s vision of the throne of God in heaven inspired in him great awe. John fell down as if dead at the feet of the glorified Lord (Revelation 1:17–18). Like Isaiah and John, we are humbled in the presence of God’s majesty.

There are many other characteristics of God revealed in the Bible. God’s faithfulness leads us to trust Him. His grace prompts gratitude in us. His power incites awe. His knowledge causes us to ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5). Those who know God will conduct themselves in holiness and honor (1 Thessalonians 4:4–5).

For Further Study​

Knowing God by J.I. Packer

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[Patriot]

Is it possible to live your life only doing things that are honoring to God?​

Answer

Every Christian wants to honor God. Wouldn’t it be nice if everything we did, without exception, brought honor to Him? But can a Christian reach the point of no sin? Is it reasonable to expect that over time we can grow spiritually to the point that we never stumble? There may be two answers to this question.

First of all, living in holiness should be the goal of every child of God. God commands us to “be holy as I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). And He gives us the power to do so. Second Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Peter goes on in verses 5–7 to list the steps of spiritual growth that build upon one another: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and agape love. He then ends with this startling promise: “For if you do these things, you will never stumble” (verse 10). So does this mean that perfection is possible?

According to this passage, it is. Willful sins can be overcome by continual submission to the will of God. However, Peter is not implying that every believer will live continuously in complete victory. He is simply stating that if we have these qualities in abundance, we won’t fall into sin’s traps. How many of us can truly say we always express agape love as God does? Do we have all knowledge in every situation? We do have a goal, which is to be like Jesus (Romans 8:29; 1 John 4:17). But we also have two enemies that war against that goal: Satan and our own sinful flesh (Romans 7:18–23; 1 Peter 5:8). When our lives are totally yielded to the Holy Spirit, we can expect to live above sins of the will, such as sexual immorality, stealing, and lying. Those are sins we choose consciously, and God expects us to overcome them with His strength and might (Romans 8:37). So, in that sense, we can choose to do only those things that are honoring to God.

On the other hand, we still live within the limitations of our fleshly bodies. We are subject to conflicting passions and emotions, such as self-pity, anger, and fear. A single lustful or covetous thought mars perfection and thereby cancels any suggestion that we can live above sin. That’s why we are commanded to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Often, the greatest battles with the flesh are waged on the inside, unrecognized by anyone else. Other sins we only recognize in hindsight. How many times have we said something and later realized, “I shouldn’t have said that”?

So, while it may be possible to reach the point of self-control and Spirit direction that results in doing only those things that are honoring to God, “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). We often do not understand our own motivations or see our own flaws until God points them out. That’s why God encourages us to keep our sin confessed and our hearts cleansed, never assuming that we are sinless. First John 1:8-9 make this clear: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

The wise Christian does not assume he or she has attained sinless perfection. Doing so is pride, which is sin (James 4:6; Proverbs 16:5). We should examine ourselves continually to see if our ways please the Lord. We can pray with David, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24). We can also pray, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). We also must guard against legalism, which makes us feel we must be perfect in order for God to approve of us.

Romans 7 records the apostle Paul’s impassioned struggle with his own flesh and is an encouragement to the rest of us. Ultimately, we can all say, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (verse 25). Psalm 103:13–14 comforts us as we recognize our inability to be all we were created to be: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” When we remember that Jesus alone is our righteousness before God (2 Corinthians 5:21), we are free to serve God joyfully from a heart of love rather than fear.

For Further Study​

The Owner's Manual for Christians: The Essential Guide for a God-Honoring Life by Charles Swindoll

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[Patriot]

How should a Christian respond to all the negativity out there?​

Answer

Negativity is nothing new. Since Adam and Eve were first banished from the garden, life has been hard and we have been complaining about it (Genesis 3:23). It is the nature of sinful humans to live for ourselves and to complain when our desires are not being met (Galatians 5:19–20). We tend to argue for our “rights,” demand our way, and oppose anyone who disagrees with us. That combination results in a general spirit of negativity toward the world and life in general. It is understandable if those who do not know Christ are negative. They have no hope of anything beyond this world and its confusion. But negativity in a Christian’s attitude means he is refusing to see life from God’s perspective. When we join in with hostility, pride, and complaining, we are reacting the same way unbelievers do.

Unfortunately, God’s people are often just as guilty of negativity and grumbling as those who do not know God. We often forget Jesus’s words, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Negativity was one of the Israelites’ gravest sins after God brought them out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and destroyed their enemies with a single, crashing wave (Exodus 14:16–18). Yet, as soon as the Israelites weren’t getting what they wanted, they began to grumble against God (Numbers 14:27). Rather than rejoice over all God had done for them and trust that He would continue to provide, they murmured and complained. The Lord hears when we do that, and it greatly displeases Him (1 Corinthians 10:10–11; John 6:43).

There is a difference between being grieved over sin and being negative. Someone who agrees with God over the gravity of sin also agrees with God that we should do something about it. When God saw the evil desperation of humanity, He did something about it (John 3:16). Jesus came to show us what God is like and to get involved in our messy world (John 14:9). He was not afraid to “roll up His sleeves and get His hands dirty” (2 Corinthians 5:21). As His Body (1 Corinthians 12:27), we remain to carry on the work He modeled for us.

Christians can counter the doom-and-gloom mentality with a gentle, loving, faith-filled approach to life (Ephesians 4:32; 1 John 5:14). We can refuse to be caught up in the hopelessness and me-first mentality that is too normal in the world (Philippians 2:14–15). We can offer light in the darkness (Matthew 5:14), truth in the midst of Satan’s deception (John 17:17), and hope in the face of despair (Psalm 43:5). First Peter 4:12–16 gives us some clear guidelines about facing trouble. Peter says, “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

Christians are to model a better approach to life. In the Beatitudes (Luke 6:20–23), Jesus gave us a glimpse into that better life. First Timothy 4:12 tells us to “set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” It is important to always keep in mind that, for the unbeliever, this world is as close to heaven as they will ever be. For the Christian, this world is as close to hell as we will ever be. When we live with that as our focus, we have the tools to combat the world’s negativity and model the abundant life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10).

For Further Study​

Who’s Pushing Your Buttons? Handling the Difficult People in Your Life by Dr. John Townsend

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