Let’s get right into it, so wipe your Christian smiles off your faces and let’s get real about what Christian life really looks like.
The Bible teaches that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted – 2 Timothy 3:12″
Also if you are focused on getting the good things in life because you are a Christian and should be rewarded by your faithfulness: “ 1 John 2:15 tells us we should not “love the world or the things in the world” and it further reinforces that by saying “those with a fondness for the things of the world become enemies of God -James 4:4
In fact Paul, who was super “Christ-like” found himself arrested and imprisoned in Caesarea for two years for his faith. Eventually it is rumored that he was martyred (although I can find no biblical back up on that one) and he said “had learned to be content “in whatever state I am” – Philippians 4:11.
OK..so those were some writings of the guys who just followed Jesus and maybe we can kind of dismiss them because of context. How about some of those red words in the Bible from Jesus himself. His message is that a Christian is called to “…deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul” – Matthew 16:24-24
So you get dunked, sprinkled or whatever and you come from the claiming of Jesus’ name and then you are shocked and appalled when bad things continue to happen to you. I am sorry for you, but not one place in the Bible did I hear anybody (not a soul) mention that the Christian Life was the “Good Things Life”
We are only promised the “Good Things Life” after we have died our Earthly death and are with Him in Heaven. Earth Life is rough and it is fatal. There is no dancing through the tulips while riches (accolades, rewards, a new boat, whatever) are thrown your way.
Christianity is to be Christ-like. From what I have read, the man Jesus was taunted, rebuked, homeless, no possessions, ridiculed, screamed at, flogged, mocked and then died brutally hanging on a cross (FOR YOU)
I am truly sorry that you thought that becoming a Christian saved you from divorce, death of loved ones, financial troubles, physical illness, etc.
Can we put the “Good Life” glasses away now and be real about what the Christian life is?
- It’s about being taunted.
- It’s about being mocked.
- It’s about being content wherever you are and whatever happens to you.
- It’s about accepting that this world and all the ways you try to beautify your house is not your real home and it is not where your treasures should lie.
- It’s about knowing that God’s son died to give you the “Good Life” later.
- It’s about knowing that no matter how hard you pray for something, it may not be God’s will and you need to deal with that.
- It’s about picking up that cross (burdens of this life) and carrying it for all to see.
- It’s about having faith that good will come from the bad, but maybe not in your lifetime.
OK so after all I wrote it makes it seem that the Christian life is going to be hard and maybe a different life would be better. Here is our parting gift though of being Christians.
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Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
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Colossians 3:23-25 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
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Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
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Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
To be a Christian is hard, but the promises are endless through the Bible of hope, faith, other Christians who are put in place to mentor you and help carry your burden….and there is always the end all of promises of the Christian Life – eternal life with our Heavenly Father in a place he prepared just for you.
Many have turned from a “bad” life to the “Christian” life and assumed that life was going to work out and the temptations would disappear or they would get out of trouble in some way. That’s not Biblical and that ship won’t float.
You CAN however surround yourself with like-minded Christians who will guide you from your troubles and hold you accountable from your temptations. But the bad stuff is not going to “poof” disappear….in fact, it’s probably going to get worse as Satan tries to grab you back with his temptations and allure of grander things.
Brace yourselves O’ Christians – this life is hard and there is no Earthly promise of good things. We have to wait a while on that, but even in trials and tribulations, your God has his hand on you and is guiding you through your purpose here on Earth to bring good from the bad, turn your tests into your testimonies and your mess into messages.
Live fiercely.
Love with no apologies.
Forgive when it seems pointless.
Talk about your God whenever and wherever your can. It’s your job to plant the seed.
With wild abandon and boldness go to your God and talk to him about all things.
Give yourself some grace, because God does every day.
Strengthen yourself with other Christians and know you are on a spiritual battlefield and you will be called to the front line on occasion. (We got your back)
Most of all…quit thinking Christian Life entitles you to all the earthly blessings and accept your treasure awaits you in your real home.
Take off your blinders Christians and quit staring thoughtlessly at the preacher. Start hearing the message but look at the people beside you and outside your church. Find ways you can help shepherd them to the “Good Life” that awaits.
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Categories: Adversity, Uncategorized
Tags: bad things happen, christian entitlement, life isn't supposed to be easy
Let Your Skeletons Dance 
Alycia Neighbours 
I remember thinking as a Christian woman, wife and mom that I wouldn’t face all the difficulties you talked about, but found out that is truly a lie! But what I’ve experienced of God THROUGH those tough situations has proven to me over and over how faithful He truly is! And that it’s not about THIS life but the one to come that we look to. Great words here!
this is disturbing to me and I’m trying to figure out why. why does life have to be so tough and why should we just take it in accepting that while we may deserve good things in our life, we arent necessarily going to get them. and that when crappy things happen to us, we are supposed to be content with that because we arent being Christ-like if we arent? how is that making the best of this one mortal life that we have? I don’t like it 😦
It’s really not there for us to “like.” It’s the way of the world or it’s the Way of God…we can’t have it both ways. I would recommend that you become involved in a church or spiritual group that can help hold you up during the crappy times.
so are you suggesting that we merely endure this life we’ve been given? if we happen to enjoy it, is that a bonus…or Satan? what about actually doing something to fix the crappy rather than finding a group to help me merely “hold up”? surely God gave us this gift to enjoy, rather than merely endure. and if not, what is the point?
I am not suggesting that you “endure” this life that you were created with purpose for…I am suggesting you ENJOY it. It was a gift that God gave you and His Son died for…so I don’t think they intended you to drudge around mopey faced. God never wants His children to suffer, but promises to comfort those who are burdened or heartbroken. Yes…we should ABSOLUTELY do what we can to fix the crappy situations around us. (Me – I personally left a domestically violent husband of 12 years to fix my crappy situation) It’s not easy, but fixing it for God’s glory to be given through the trial is worth the effort. The group to “hold you up” is a place where you are safe to be hurting, struggling and to seek advice while you are “enduring” the rough times.
As far as enjoyment being of Satan – we all know that his lies look beautiful, easy way out, way to prosper, etc. but they destroy you as you fall farther from your Father.
I hope this makes sense to you and thank you for your questions on this subject
Smart565 many people in this world don’t have a choice, their only choice is to endure. Each day for them is a struggle. I work everyday with these folks and while my life is so much better off, it doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy it, but it sure does make me appreciate what I have been blessed with. That in turn also causes me to try and do something about the problems of others. Not either or, but both and. I don’t ask why me? I think why not me? Gives me a great perspective on life I think. Works for me anyway.
I guess where you threw me was when you said that living a Christian life meant “being content wherever you are and whatever happens to you”
im trying to understand, but this makes no sense to me…i have a hard time reconciling that God would demand this from his children that are suffering. especially since you then said that you left your abusive husband… that is not “being content wherever you are and whatever happens to you”, that is insisting upon something better for yourself, and good on you for it.
I’m just going to have to write a new post about this and what “contentment” looks like in our messy human world. Stay tuned….
Life is really easy actually!
SOME WILL BE, AND ARE BEING BEHEADED FOR THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST/ AND ITS SOON TO COME TO AMERICA , STAND STRONG IN THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST,, WE WONT GIVE UP THE FIGHT,, JESUS IS COMING BACK SOONER THAN WE THINK AMENM
this is true. American Christiams have it very easy compared to other Christians around the world. We should be aware and keep that in perspective.