What's Happened??

I don't know that I want to start judging all of Christianity that way. I know MANY people who are on fire for Christ, who are working hard to do God's will, and striving to walk with Him.

I think there's alot of people out there who claim the name of Christian when they shouldn't. But then again, none of us is perfect and we can all stand to improve in any given area.

 

Years ago I asked a large Bible study group to help me list the characteristics and actions of a new believer. We've all seen how excited most of them are.

I filled a regular height, and about twelve foot long blackboard with these characteristics etc. I then asked why believers don't follow through with these activities and ways of living.

Several had suggestions but the one that really stopped the discussion was "Well, most of us get over it."

I fear most in America have gotten over the excitement of living a life trusting in Christ due to their own great provision for themselves.

 

James, when we try to work for the Lord under our own power, that is always what will happen. What needs to happen is you need to let the Lord word through you. There really is nothing WE can do FOR Him! But He is willing to work through those of us who are willing to follow Him and empty ourselves out. We are just the gloves, let Him be the hand.

Of course there's a chance for someone like you! We have ALL been in your shoes at one time or another, trying to do things ourselves that we deem good to do. And that's all backwards! It's the Lord who knows what is good to do, not us. It is the Lord who has the timing, not us.

And you don't have to be 'on fire' for Him. In fact, that sort of thing can be emotionally exhausting. You just have to be quietly available to Him. "What do you want out of me here, Lord?" Often, the answer is 'nothing'. "Be still, and know that I am God" is still relevant!

Get quiet with our Lord first. Then look at the two great commandments. Love Him.

Then care for the people He has put in your life.

That will keep you quite busy! And you will be doing exactly what He wants you to do where He has put you to do it.

But be with Christ first, before being with anyone else. He WILL give you His peace and His joy in your heart and that will be the greatest testimony in each of your days that others will see. That quiet and loving patience which expresses His care for a hurting and dying world. It is His kindness, through us, which leads others to repentance. It is not arguments or 'works' per se. It is who we are in a world of violence and death and loud noises.

 

I thought these points were worth repeating.

We often tend to take what we, personally, immediately see and extrapolate it to all of Christianity.
James, I see evidence of a lot of onfire Christians. For example, Southern Baptist volunteers have now served over 10 million meals in the Gulf Coast hurricane-damaged areas in the last two months. OK Southern Baptists have served 300,000 of them.
Tens of thousands of Southern Baptists have worked in chainsaw, feeding, and mudout teams so far. Untold numbers that cannot go assist with prayer and finances.

I do not intend to disparage efforts by other Baptist and non-Baptist Christians. This is simply what I know about.

Most of us have been members of only a few churches in our lifetimes. And we don't really know the life circumstances of many in the church we belong to now. We need to be careful not to make sweeping generalizations about the state of the whole church or the state of all Christians just from a few personal anecdotes. Most of my life is invisible to my fellow church members, and vice versa.
Yet if personal anecdotes are what count, I go to a great church, so "the church" is in great shape!

Karen

 

james,

do you mean that you are thinking the early Christians didn't sin? or overcame all their sin eventually?

 

I guess we could compare ourselves with them realistically....remember many of the Biblical epistles were written to churches because they had become apathetic or false teachings had somehow crept in. So I don't know that what you say is really true.

But then, if it is correct, we still have the same Holy Spirit, and He works the same way. We just have to be willing to change.....and I think alot of people don't like change, even good change.

 

JM,

I don't believe it is a waste of time to ask such questions. The Christian faith is not all about activity. Yes, it is active, but I'm concerned that too often the church stays very superficial and doesn't dig into the meaning of who Christ is and the nature of our relationship with Him--the very foundation of our faith.

I would recomend to you the ministry of John Piper. He is attempting to address the area of joyful Christ-centered faith and the life results that spring from that loving relationship. Do a search on Desiring God Ministries. Perhaps the Lord will use that in your life as he has many others who have struggled through dry years in the Christian life.

 

There was a time in the OT when hearing from God was rare. It was a time when Israel was disobedient and God was tired of it and cut off communication with His people. He let them do what they wanted to do and let them fend for themselves without Him and let them live in their own sin and let them suffer the consequences for it. I am not sure of the verses but it is around the time the Judge/prophet Samuel was a boy and God had first Spoke to him in his dreams.

I would definitely be concerened about your not feeling the presence of God becuase we are not required to feel God but have faith in Him no matter what.

One of the problems we as not just christians but as Americans have is that we have nothing left to fight for and the only thing left after that is to entertain ourselves with what ever feels good and in doing so we become very passive in what we feel is right and wrong and not what God says. We justify what we do and down play things that should really be called evil. That is how things like abortion and same sex marriages get passed because we no longer see it as a threat against our faith but rather we see it as something that is fine to do as long as it doesnt affect me.

 

There was a time in the OT when hearing from God was rare. It was a time when Israel was disobedient and God was tired of it and cut off communication with His people. He let them do what they wanted to do and let them fend for themselves without Him and let them live in their own sin and let them suffer the consequences for it. I am not sure of the verses but it is around the time the Judge/prophet Samuel was a boy and God had first Spoke to him in his dreams.

I would definitely be concerened about your not feeling the presence of God becuase we are not required to feel God but have faith in Him no matter what.

One of the problems we as not just christians but as Americans have is that we have nothing left to fight for and the only thing left after that is to entertain ourselves with what ever feels good and in doing so we become very passive in what we feel is right and wrong and not what God says. We justify what we do and down play things that should really be called evil. That is how things like abortion and same sex marriages get passed because we no longer see it as a threat against our faith but rather we see it as something that is fine to do as long as it doesnt affect me.

 

I read through this whole thread and never found it. I find that hard to believe...What? you say. The gentleman's answer. Here it is. Simple. He said "where is the faith?"

FAITH cometh by hearing and hearing BY THE WORD OF GOD. The book will keep you from sin (both omitted and committed) or sin will keep you from the book.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Without immersion in God's word it is impossible to maintain or grow your faith. Without faith you have no REAL works, and your faith dies.

Hey, Brother, don't confuse your POSITION with your CONDITION, or your RELATIONSHIP (beloved we are NOW the sons of God) with your fellowship.

GET in the word...and your faith will come alive! And don't forget Heb 10:24-25

 

I really believe that the emphasis on salvation by grace alone for the elect today which then seems to make a lot of people regard acts of Christian love as WORKS is part of the problem. Christ told us to pick up our cross and follow him. I don't know about the rest of you but I almost never hear that preached today.

It seems as if the primary focus of most christians today is to make sure the country (read the world) conforms in a superficial way to their beliefs rather than focussing on soul winning. Christ said that we are in this world but not of this world. How much effort did He expend on changing the Roman Senate, the Roman government of Judea or even the Jewish rulers? The answer is none. Did He instruct His apostles to work to reform the government after He ascended into Heaven? No.

We need to stop trying to make the world conform to us and should focus on saving lost souls.

 

Posted by James Mason: But you're partly right soulman, I am on the outside looking in....now. I used to try to work for the Lord, even on this forum. But I always knew something wasn't right, with me & others.No FIRE. No burning inside for Christ. No willingness to put EVERYTHING else aside for Him.
Thats what I wanted to understand, to see if there was still a chance for even someone like me, & others. Not necessarily people here on the board, but everywhere. I am sorry thats a waste of time to you.

James,
You have to remember that the deeper things of Christianity are closed to unbelievers. A backslidden believer is basically in the same boat.

Heb. 6:4-6 4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Repentance is required to be renewed. You must cry out in earnest for it. It can't be willed. It is a gift.

Hebrews 12:17
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

You are trying to find out answers to the dilema of Christianity without the Holy Spirit. Even with discernment if you find the answers you can do nothing with them on your own except become more bitter.

I was backslidden for years and couldn't understand why I couldn't just come back. I thought all christians were hypocrites and thought they were goody two shoes.

It wasn't until I realized that I was the bottom of the barrell. I was scum that deserved no better than what I was getting. To have turned my back on God was the worst thing a christian could ever do. I was able after begging God for forgiveness that He gave me the gift of repentance. It IS A GIFT!!

Tarry for it my friend. Realize that if you couldn't work for it the first time, that information gathering won't get you there either.

Backsliding is sin. And there is only one unforgivable sin. That is unbelief. You are a christian and know what you must do! Ask God for repentance knowing His will is that none should perish. Knowing we have a God which cannot lie. Do this and don't wait. Do it before your earthly heart turns to stone. Do it before God turns your body over to the devil for destruction.

The prodigal son is in the bible for a reason. I will pray for you brother.