Greeting All ~
Okay, so I finally got an early enough start to spend some time here. There is something that has been weighing really heavy on my heart, so I'm going to share it here. Let me know if you think I'm way off base.
I don't want to be judgemental, and I really try to focus on my life and pleasing God myself. But, I'm really getting discouraged by the behavior of some of my brothers & sisters is Christ.
So many of them talk about drinking, having "a few too many", and flat out getting drunk. I'm not talking a couple of friends, I'm talking dozens. I'm also amazed at how often I catch Christians in blatent lies. What happened to be truthful? The third concern I have is the foul, nasty language I hear. The inappropriate topics, and course joking. Everyone I challenge on these issues has excuses and justifications for their behavior.
I found Romans chapter 12 that says, "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will".
Then, that took me to Colossians 3 which says, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator".
So, am I way off base? Am I not underestanding what the Word is saying here? I've always been told that we, Christians, are supposed to be different than those in the world. We're supposed to be a "light".
Let me know what you think. I know none of us is perfect, and we all have areas that we struggle with, but I just see a huge increase in these behaviors with no remorse. The attitude I get is that we are covered by grace, so it doesn't really matter what we do...
Okay, please pray over the services this week, and the following songs:
The Name of the Lord
Awesome in this Place
He Reigns
Great is Thy Faithfulness
All Who Are Thirsty
Adoration
Our God Saves
Scripture - Psalm 42:1-5
Have a great week, and be blessed!
Matt
P.S. See you Wednesday night?
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Wow Matt, I have seen this myself and within my own family. We are covered by grace but our behavior does matter, we are a "light", we are set apart. The best thing to do is to be an example, be worship leaders for our fellow believers and pray that they see the light.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for what you wrote we are to be set apart from the world to be a light. When we have Christ we are a new creature old things are passed away. My prayer is that we will remember that daily
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. They were an encouragement to me, as are your lives.
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