Surrendering Life to God

It's easy to say that we surrender our lives to God, but the more I intrinsically search my soul, I realize how much of my life I still refuse to turn over to Him wholeheartedly. It's like I need to incessantly repeat Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths," in order to imprint it not only my brain, but my heart. It's simple to repeat those words, but to actually allow my life to reflect their true meaning is another story.
Trust is something that has been on my mind this week because I've been doing things that are a little outside of my comfort zone. While in North Carolina, I've gone into community on steroids. Like, my brain is completely overloaded and practically overwhelmed each day by the amount of people I've met going to church, small group, a prayer meeting, coffee, and Bible study. And even though I'm overwhelmed, I'm happy that I'm doing it and seeming like ERobb's groupie, following her around from place to place. It's a blessing to get to see how she lives her life within community and it gets me out of my comfort zone, which is exactly what I need. When I'm comfortable, I have no need to put trust in anything outside of myself. When I'm completely and totally uncomfortable with my surroundings, it gives me that opportunity to surrender the evening to God and allow Him to work through me because my natural response is to want to close myself off to the outside world instead of reaching out to a community. All the more reason it was a blessing to find a quote posted by J.S. Park today that stated, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."
This evening was such a blessing to me after my day. Satan knows I'm most vulnerable to attack when I'm tired and he knows that best way to deceive me and work his way into my mind is to make me doubt other people and start to question if I can trust them. I have some trust issues that I for the most part have dealt with due to experiences in my past, but every once in awhile, that doubt seeps in and can completely ruin my day. This whole week I had spent ensuring that my registration for a race would get transferred to a different location because a friend of mine had signed up for it. I was so excited once it got transferred so I could join her team, but when I searched for the team, I couldn't find it. I was hoping it to be some sort of computer glitch or something, but then Satan came along and made me wonder if she even signed up. I kick myself for even allowing the deceit to trickle in, even more so because it really ate away at me. Though I was frustrated, we trekked off to Bible study and this group of women was just so warm and welcoming and I felt right at home, which takes a lot for me because I hardly ever feel comfortable. Even more surprising to myself was the fact that I even took a couple opportunities to share some of my experiences with the group.
I left the Bible study feeling refreshed and even elaborating on the car ride home about some of my trust issues and where they stem from because I don't want to come across as that crazy person who seems paranoid when she says she doesn't trust people. It also gave me time to reflect on how I'm still not completely surrendering my life to God. I say I trust Him, but when discussing possible job opportunities earlier in the week, I said something about not having the money to move at the moment. How silly of me to think that money can get me anywhere in this life. It brought me back to what was discussed at church on Sunday about how the original disciples were sent out without any money or possessions in order to ensure that they completely relied on God to provide for their needs. That's how I need to live my life. God already knows what will happen in my life. Who am I to question where I'm heading and how I will "have enough" when He has had it all mapped out from the beginning of time?
The crowning moment in me realizing I must have more trust and not allow Satan to deceive me came when I decided to return to the race website one more time. I was hoping for a typo being the reason behind my inability to locate my team. I desperately wanted to trust that my friend did sign up, and thankfully, God provided me with an answer. He blessed me with a memory and I was able to recall the original way the team name was texted to me. I was spending all of my time searching for "Running for Jesus" when the actual team name is "Running 4 Jesus." I know this may seem silly to some to get all worked up about, but for a tired person with some trust issues, it was shaping up to be a frustrating disaster. Not only did God provide me with the due diligence to continue searching, but He blessed me with the knowledge that not only did my friend sign up for the race, but so did her sister, so I'll have even more company than I originally thought I would. My hope is that I'll remember this experience and continue to surrender more and more of my life and thoughts to God because He truly is in control of everything and knows all that will happen to me on this earth.

Pray for Boston and the Running Community

Photo courtesy of Linda Brain Beck

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:31

I'm sure most of you have heard the news by now, but two bombs went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon today. This saddened me deeply on many levels. The fact that a senseless tragedy took place that injured and killed innocent people is almost unfathomable. My heart breaks for those impacted by this act of terror in Boston. There are no words to heal the physical and emotional wounds, but I would suggest reading Psalm 34:18, which says, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." God is the only one who can bring any sort of comfort after such an event as this.
Another reason this tragedy saddens me is the fact that it happened at a running event.  I understand the immense effort needed to qualify for the prestigious Boston marathon and the numerous amount of miles and hours necessary to train. This should have been a day of celebration for everybody, but instead it was marred by tragedy. Running is a peaceful sport, not one full of any type of violence. Sure there are fierce rivalries, but at the end of the day, we're all friends. Comradery is the essence of running. Just look at Mo Farah and Galen Rupp, or Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan; two fierce rivals who train together and have become friends. (The greatest moment out of today's marathon involved Kara crossing the finish line and immediately asking how Shalane finished). Those of us who are runners understand that the running community is more like a big family than anything else. If something bad happens to one runner, it's almost like it happened to us. Runners stick by each other through good and bad times, helping out when others are in need. Although many consider running an individual endeavor, it truly transcends boundaries and every runner looks out for another during races. I have so many fond memories from running and have built friendships along the way. I remember back in the 8th grade I was the only girl who would be running the mile at the local Hershey track & field meet and numerous members of the high school distance team decided to band together and join me for my mile run on the track, some of whom might have been wearing jeans if my memory serves me correctly. I also befriended members of other teams and although we were fierce rivals on the track or cross country course, we would laugh together and warmup together when we weren't racing. After high school, I have encountered many friendly runners who enjoyed my running outfits by telling me that I looked like an Easter egg and who helped me conquer obstacles during the Tough Mudder.
All that we can do now is pray. Pray for the runners. Pray for the spectators. Pray for the first responders. Pray for the doctors. We should even pray for those who are responsible, as difficult as that is to fathom. Everybody was created by God, and unfortunately sin has twisted the way people function in this world. It makes me long for my heavenly home because I don't belong here on this Earth. Philippians 3:20 states, "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Events like the tragedy in Boston make it even more apparent that this world is slowly going to hell in a handbasket. I can't wait for the return of Jesus and life is what's described in Revelation 21:4 ~ "'He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"
For now, us runners must band together and persevere. We can't allow this tragedy to impact our love of running or our desire to run the prestigious race in Boston. If we alter our thinking, we let the terrorists win. As runners, we must remember that what we do best is endure. We endure pain and suffering to achieve our dreams of finishing 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, marathons, ultras, trail races, and any race in between. We know what it's like to not know if we can take another step, but then we do because we refuse to give up on our dreams. So whether you're in shape or not, if you consider yourself a runner, I urge you to get outside and run tomorrow. Run for those who were impacted in Boston. Run for those who can no longer run. Run for those who may never be able to run the same way ever again. Whatever you do, make sure you run, whether it's 100 yards or 100 miles. Once a runner, always a runner!

Community Built on the Foundation of the Holy Spirit

This post is dedicated to ERobb for her friendship, kind contributions, and understanding/sharing my viewpoints on community and solitude.

Toward the end of Jesus' ministry, He began to talk about how he would be leaving the apostles. Thoroughly enjoying fellowship with Jesus on Earth, many of the apostles could not comprehend the necessity behind His departure. They insisted that Jesus remain with them, but in John 16:7, He responded by saying, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." The Helper that Jesus was speaking of was the Holy Spirit, which is contained within each and every believer in Christ. It assists us in many ways and is quite powerful because it is the living God in all of us. I've borne witness to its amazing power on some of my deployments with Samaritan's Purse because without the Holy Spirit, some of the volunteers would not be able to do what they were doing because they were so far out of their everyday comfort zone.
Not only is the Holy Spirit powerful enough to allow us to gracefully function outside of our comfort zones, but it is what holds the body of Christ together. What many may not realize is that the Holy Spirit binds us to one another, creating a great big family. As Chris Smith said in an article for the Gospel Coalition, "The New Testament reveals that family ties—the strongest human bonds—are redefined not by biological relationships, but by mutual faith in Christ." Through our love of Christ, we can discover and acquire an entire new family if we so choose. Unfortunately, our natural instinct is to seek solitude and avoid community because we are either pursuing our own selfish desires, or we don't understand the importance of a solid Christian community. Proverbs 18:1 warns against this solitude by stating, "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment." Obviously remaining within a community of believers must be important if it is included in the wisdom that Solomon chose to impart to others. Rather than be self seeking, we must focus on the Holy Spirit within us, which will draw us into community and fellowship with others. As C.S. Lewis put it, "No man can be an exile if he remembers that all the world is one city."
It is necessary to look back at the original Christian church to fully appreciate the bonds of community and how we are all tied to one another. Our goal should be to emulate the first century church in our interactions with fellow Christians. "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common," is what's written in Acts 4:32 describing this first century group of believers. The Holy Spirit provided them with a singular heart and mindset creating a commonality within the group. Their group dynamics molded them into a tight knit family. They wanted to live their lives in service to one another by reflecting the words found in Galatians 6:2 ~ "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." It is the duty of the community to help and assist one another in any way possible. This requires us to live outside of the walls of isolation and put other's needs ahead of our own. Though this may sound impossible at first, over time and through prayer, the Holy Spirit will give you the mindset to act in an unselfish manner. By putting the needs of others first, you will grow even closer to fellow believers.
The bonds we have with our fellow Christians are strong and unyielding due to our common faith. As the authors of the book Creature of the Word wrote, "Unity in the gospel is much deeper than surface uniformity." In the secular world, we maintain friendships in category subsets that have few, if any, overlaps. You might have friends who shared your college major, others who enjoy similar sports interests, or others with similar music tastes. An amazing aspect of great Christian community, though, is the fact that the Holy Spirit can transcend all boundaries and bind us together in spite of our differences. "The reason Christian love will stand out and bear witness to Jesus is that it is a display, for Jesus' sake, of mutual love for social incompatibles," is a really powerful and eye-opening quote from a D.A. Carson book. By analyzing the community of believers I surround myself with, it becomes evermore apparent that only the Holy Spirit binds me to them. That's because this group of believers consists of a retired firefighter, an accountant, a personal trainer, a registered nurse, a fashion designer, a jazz musician, an avionics specialist, an unemployed computer geek, school teachers, eye doctors, scuba enthusiasts, a marine helicopter pilot, stay at home moms, social workers, a fitness manager/custom painted shoe artist, a pharmacy tech, an outdoor recreation enthusiast, a 911 operator, a college professor, a concert pianist, and an engineering student, just to name a few. Each time I think of all of these family members, I consider the intricate plan that God formulated in order for me to cross paths with these individuals. I know that He has a hand in every aspect of my life and that these people were placed in my path for specific reasons, and for that I'm very thankful.
For a Christian community to be fully effective, the members of the community must not become apathetic about the ability to gather together, and they also must understand how to find a healthy balance between fellowship and solitude. In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed." We aren't to neglect the blessing of community by forfeiting it out of laziness or selfishness. In the United States, there are no consequences for Christians who meet together and so we let community go to the wayside. In some foreign countries, though, Christian's who meet risk punishment or death, which is why they appreciate the sweetness of fellowship above and beyond those who can freely meet. Rather than becoming apathetic, let us constantly yearn to remain connected to a Christian community. As it is written in Hebrews 10:24-25, "Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Our motivation to love and care for each other should stem out of the knowledge that the last day is creeping closer and Jesus will soon be returning. Why not spend our days encouraging one another and glorifying God in the process?

One danger about community is that some might develop an unhealthy dependence on others. This is on the opposite side of the spectrum to those who have no desire to meet in any form of community. A balance must be struck in order to garner the benefits of fellowship while still being able to maintain a  sense of self. Some forget that solitude is necessary in order to build one's relationship with Jesus by reading the Bible. Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers an ample description involving the dangers of imbalance:  

"One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair." We must find solitude with Jesus so we can learn how to love others. Then we can bring that love into our communities in order to serve and love one another just like Jesus.
In closing, if you're blessed with a Christian community that becomes like family, don't neglect it or take it for granted. We need each other more than we know. "The physical presence of other believers is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer," is how Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it. In the past couple of months, I have discovered this joy honestly and truly for the very first time. At the moment, there is a ten hour distance between me and the majority of that family. It is my hope and my prayer, though, that God has a plan to provide me with a way to be put in closer proximity with them so that we can encourage one another and share the true joy of community that Bonhoeffer wrote about.

Satan: The Father of Lies

"'He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.'" ~John 8:44b-44d

Every Christian needs to know and be aware of the fact that any fears they have in this world are not of God, but derived from Satan. Satan knows our weaknesses and tells us lies in order to keep us from getting close to God. He is the prince of manipulation, even going so far as to twist God's own words to deceive Eve in the Garden and to tempt Jesus after his time in the desert. Like Jesus, we must rebuke Satan as a liar in order to keep him from having the upper hand in our lives.
Earlier this year, I penned a post entitled W.A.I.T. Part 8: Fear of Man, which outlined how fearing our fellow man causes us to stumble in evangelism. Some of my more recent posts also have the underlying theme of Satan utilizing our weaknesses to stall our progress as a Christian. I believe the reason behind my dwelling on fear and Satan is not only because we all need to be reminded of its origin and his existence, but also because it has been a personal struggle of mine as of late.
Doubt and fear have been all too familiar to me in the past. I believe I have allowed them to hinder me because rather than resting in God's love and joy, I insist on analyzing and reanalyzing my past failures. Through this unnecessary hyper-analysis of the negative, I believe I have developed within myself a touch of athazagoraphobia, or the fear of being forgotten or ignored, much like the psalmist who penned Psalm 31:12a, "I have been forgotten like one who is dead." I agree that this seems ridiculous and almost laughable, yet I know the fears that haunt my brain when I allow Satan to have his way. Satan likes to remind me of all of those who have walked away from me in life in order to make me doubt myself when I forage new friendships, especially with fellow believers. In moments of weakness, I can convince myself that certain people wouldn't possibly want to be friends with me or stay friends with me if they truly knew all about me, or I might drive them crazy by keeping in touch too frequently. Deep down I know this isn't true because I have maintained some strong friendships over the years, but I wanted to present a demonstration of how fear can infest one's whole train of thought and completely skew reality.
In order to keep Satan at bay, it is very important for Christians to utilize fellowship with other believers and to turn to God and the Bible. Fellowship and communication with other Christians is important because it doesn't allow us to become isolated, which is Satan's goal. The only way his deception can completely control us is if we separate ourselves from others and we keep our fears locked inside. As my pastor said in one of his sermons, "Suppressed fears can conquer us; speak out about your fears." Having Christian friends to go to with your fears is essential for overcoming them and growing closer to God. I'm thankful to have someone with whom I can be completely honest and receive valuable advice on how my thinking is skewed. When I expressed my fear of being an annoyance to friends, I was so thankful for her encouragement and her honesty. Some of the best advice I've ever received was this: "If you annoy them, they aren't the right people. You need to let go of it and just be yourself. You're not annoying, you're never a bother. You just seem to have friends that are jerks to you. Don't change yourself to accommodate someone else, especially when there is nothing wrong with you."
The amazing part about fellowship in the body of Christ is that advice from one member can help another member, even if they have never met, but have mutual friendships. This occurred recently in my life. Using the advice I received from a friend on my own fears, I was able to repackage and present fresh advice to another friend dealing with her own fears. In presenting my advice, I also encouraged myself to not be a hypocrite. I can't tell someone that "living in fear of screwing up isn't how to go through life and that the best thing you can do is be yourself," without being impacted by my own words. I must practice what I preach in order to bring life and meaning to my words so that I myself am not spewing out lies.
In our struggle with internal fears, it is also essential that we turn to God and His Word. As C.S. Lewis put it, "To what will you look for help if you will not look to that which is stronger than yourself?" God is bigger and stronger than our deepest fears, the great conqueror of the father of lies. In order to remind ourselves of this, we must delve into the Bible for instances where God assisted others plagued with fear.
Last week I came across the notes I took on a sermon back in May. It centered around the chapter of Joshua 8, and was aptly entitled "Facing Fear." My pastor spoke on how Joshua was fearing the upcoming battle at Ai due to his past failure there. He was reluctant to press forward because he was paralyzed by memories of failure. Joshua was in need of God's encouragement in order to get him to continue on rather than hesitate. God was aware of Joshua's fears, which is why God came to him in Joshua 8:1 and said, "'Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land.'" This is exactly what Joshua needed to hear. He needed a reminder of God's faithfulness and that through Him, Joshua would be granted success in the future.
Getting caught up in past failures can put a damper on your future. Instead of dwelling on what's gone wrong in your life, get closer to God because He is greater than your fears. Only God can provide the soothing words that we need to press forward in life. Remember that God is always present in your life and won't forsake you. Take comfort in Psalm 139:1-3 ~ "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways." Knowing that God is completely aware of your being and each aspect of your thoughts should draw you closer to Him. By having a relationship with Jesus, you will remain safe in the Father's arms, far from the reach of Satan. As Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote, "When the heart is flooded with love there is no room for fear, for doubt, for hesitation." By filling your mind with thoughts of love, your brain won't have time to process all of the fear and lies that Satan is trying to use to deceive you.
So continue to read your Bible in order to come to a better understanding of the ways of Jesus. In doing so, you will become enveloped in the joy and love that are ever present within Him. Building a strong bond with God is the best defense against the deception that Satan bombards you with.  Remember the words of 1 John 4:18, which says, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." Since God is love, fear will be far from Him. Those who live close to God reside within His love and won't be prone to unrelenting ambushes of fear from Satan. But if you ever do feel that fear is creeping in, rebuke Satan and discuss your fears with a close friend and God. They will help you through the difficult times and serve as a reminder to dwell in love, not fear.

The Necessity for Accountability

"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." ~1 Thessalonians 5:14

I believe a variable missing from society as a whole in America in this day and age is accountability. This concept seems to have died out with the coming of age of the American Dream. The American Dream is an individualistic, self-centered attitude based upon hard work, ensuring that nobody has to be accountable for his or her actions. Unfortunately, this is why America's infrastructure and economy now seems to be crumbling because nobody reminded anybody to save and then pay, or to even pay bills at all. Why else would individual, state, or national debt be so high?

I believe part of the reason is that nobody chose to "admonish the idle" since our concerns are focused upon self, as opposed to society. Everybody likes to blame society for all of the problems, but those same people tend to forget that they in fact are also part of the same society. We are all interconnected, whether we like it or not. No longer should we adopt the attitude of, "It doesn't involve me, so it's not my problem." Instead, God urges us to hold others accountable, but also to encourage and help those who are fainthearted and weak. If we focus inwardly on ourselves, we miss out on chances to help others who are truly in need.

Accountability has many forms. It should be used within the church in order to ensure that all the members are doing their best to maintain their walks with Christ. In the community, it could help promote honesty and concern among neighbors. Where accountability is helping me most at the moment, though, is within the sphere of running. I have not maintained a consistent running schedule since I ran my marathon last year, which has been rather frustrating. Part of me just needed a break from the sport, but part of me longed for the enjoyment of cruising along trails. Thankfully I have been blessed with someone from Bible study who has taken upon the task of holding me accountable when it comes to running. We both benefit because he is an aspiring running coach and I am in need of a more structured training regimen. Knowing that somebody will be checking in with me about whether or not I chose to run is definitely a great motivator.

I believe that if a more structured form of accountability was established within churches in America, many would put more thought behind their actions. Knowing that we will be questioned about our decisions in day to day life should help motivate people to draw closer to Christ and try to walk in a way pleasing to Him. Accountability encourages us to take responsibility in our lives and promotes caring to others within the community. I think it's about time we all tried some on for size.

Is it Time to Pop Your Protective Christian Bubble?

I had a realization last night. As Christians, I think we get too much into the habit of surrounding ourselves with fellow Christians without thoughts of expanding to outsiders who are considering coming to faith, or others who realize they have strayed too far into the world. Sometimes we focus too much on people's past failures instead of on the positive future they could have in knowing Jesus. As much as we don't want to be overly influenced by the world in order to not fall into a temptation, I feel we are precariously balanced in a realm where we shun those who seem to have awful pasts in order to protect ourselves, and there in lies the problem. We are too self focused.
This line of thinking all came about last night as I was chatting with an acquaintance of mine online. She has a bit of a rough past and is struggling to make improvements in her life. I had never really discussed Christianity with her, other than a couple of verses in passing, but in our conversation, she said something that struck me to the core. She was considering going back to her church, but they weren't very open to her because of her past. She said she felt as if she had to change herself before going back to church. What came to mind was when the Pharisees questioned Jesus about the people he chose to keep company with. Jesus' response can be found within Luke 5:31-32: "And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'" I believe we fail as a Christian community if we turn somebody away based on their past. If they truly repent for the wrongs they have done and the sins they have committed, and if they honestly want to build a relationship with Christ because they know something bigger is out there, then we should invite them in with open arms. Nobody should feel rejected before they even walk in the door.
I think it is easy to forget that we are all sinners. We all have temptations that we wrestle with on a daily basis and needed Jesus to pick us up out of a ditch somewhere along the path as we wandered through life. This should be in the forefront of our minds when a newcomer with a questionable past inquires about Jesus. It should excite us that they are interested to know more and we must be willing to get to know them and pray for them to come closer to Christ.
Many who have troubled pasts have been abandoned by either friends or family. This usually will lead them to spiral downward because they have nobody looking out for their wellbeing and nobody who cares. It reminds me of a line from The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. He was discussing his middle school football experience and how a coach rode him particularly hard one practice. Another coach came over to him and said, "When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you." I find this quote motivating when I have someone giving me a hard time about doing something right. But then I am also reminded of the times that I gave up on people because they would either shut me out of their problems, or there appeared to be no progress being made. These of course were selfish decisions, and I believe we all fall prey to responding in this fashion.
I believe God has given me a second chance to remember to not give up on people. This acquaintance of mine who is struggling but wants to get to know Jesus has really inspired me and motivated me to help her in any way possible. I don't want to give up on her just because the majority of other people have done so. Everybody deserves the chance to get to know Jesus and it is not up to us who gets to experience salvation. We can help answer questions and lead Bible studies, but only God's grace can save somebody. As stated in John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Everybody deserves to learn about Jesus. Salvation is the most important part of our lives, which requires us to build a relationship with God. This is only possible through His grace and mercy and it is completely up to Him who is accepted into heaven. Stop protecting yourself from the people of the world and instead realize that everybody needs to learn about Christ and that your first calling is always to discipleship. Be willing to step outside your bubble and extend yourself to somebody who everybody else might have given up on. We all deserve to have someone believe in our abilities and we should be willing to assist somebody in their walk with Christ, no matter what their background, or how far away they may live.

W.A.I.T. Part 9: Life Transformation and Associating With the World

"Do not conform 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." Romans 12:2

Christians are meant to stand out from the world because Christians try to adhere to the Holy Spirit and not to the ways of the world. Lately, this might seem more and more difficult because Christians get such negative labels in the media and are accused of being narrow-minded. But don't let this sway you in your beliefs because you are here on Earth to serve God, not man. As the above passage suggests, we are to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and are not to conform with the world, as tempting as that may be sometimes. A lot of people try to assuage their sinfulness by claiming that everybody is a sinner and what they did really wasn't that bad. The problem with that way of thinking, though, is that you are trying to place blame elsewhere and not take Scripture seriously. In order to be transformed, we must be convicted in our hearts to abide by the Word of God. 

"When you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." These words from Ephesians 4:21-24 direct us to rid our lives of the evil desires within our hearts. Without the disposal of our earthly lives in which we do as we please with no thought to the negative impact of our actions, we are unable to come into a relationship with Christ and be born again. I'm not saying that the minute you decide to be a Christian you will no longer sin; that is impossible. But once you are convicted in your heart to follow Christ and abide in the Holy Spirit, blatant and outright sin will be reduced in your life gradually because of your awareness. Those who know Scripture try to follow it to the best of their abilities, and when they stumble, they repent of the sins they committed.

To gain a better picture of what it means to live by the Holy Spirit, lets look at Galatians 5:16-25 which says, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." These verses outline the desires of our sinful nature and states that we must squelch these thoughts and desires, which is no easy task. With the acceptance of Jesus in our hearts, though, we gain the ability to slowly follow the ways of the Spirit. Over time, somebody should be able to recognize the transformation that has occurred in your life once you become a Christian. If there are no hints of the fruit of the Spirit in your life though, there could be a problem. You might still be giving in wholeheartedly to your sinful nature and need to strengthen your relationship with Christ because without the desire to change and be more like Him, you never will overcome the ways of this world. 

When someone who claims to be a member of the Body of Christ still continues to blatantly sin, it is the church's job to rebuke this person so that they come to their senses. But what members of the church must remember, and unfortunately often forget, is that this rebuke of blatant sin should only be directed at those who are within the church of believers. We run into trouble when we rebuke unbelievers because that means we are not only stepping outside our "scope of practice" but we are actually stepping on God's toes. 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 says it this way: "But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked person from among you.'" Paul is very specific in telling us that we are to not associate with the blatant sinners within our congregations, not all of the blatant sinners outside of the church. Paul makes this point in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world."

Life on Earth is always this careful balance of trying to live by the Spirit, but not coming off as "holier than thou" to all of the unbelievers in the world. It is not our job to judge what they do, but it is our job to minister to them in the hopes that Christ can transform their hearts. Jesus said, "'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,'" in Matthew 28:19-20. I'm not saying that this will be an easy task, though. The state of the world is such that relativism thrives. According to the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, relativism is sometimes identified as the thesis that all points of view are equally valid. When people have this point of view, it is very difficult to tell them about their need for a Savior because in their own minds, they are doing nothing wrong and don't need to be saved. Nobody likes to admit that what they are doing is wrong, but most are willing to accuse others of doing something wrong. I think C.S. Lewis said it best when he stated, "If we do not believe in decent behavior, why should we be so anxious to makes excuses for not having behaved decently?" Getting somebody to realize this could possibly help soften their hearts and open them up to hearing about Jesus. 

Again, I'll reiterate that it is wrong for us to go out into the world and condemn it for all of its actions. By doing this, we would then fit the bill of the "narrow-minded Christian quack." I'm not saying that you should agree with how the world is behaving or that you should support the desired changes some are seeking, but I don't believe that condemning people for their lifestyles or actions when they are not Christians is the path to take. I think all we can do in these situations is to try and mirror what Jesus did when he lived. Referring to Mark 2:15-17, I believe there is much to be learned from this passage: "While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?' On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" 

The best way to check yourself to determine if you are shedding your worldliness is to compare your life to the fruits of the Spirit. As long as you are making progress over time to no longer conform to the worldly points of view and desires, you are on the path to thriving as a Christian. We will all have our days when we stumble, but just remember to confess those sins and ask for forgiveness. The desire to repent for wrongs is always a good sign. Only when you find yourself being apathetic towards sin and being blatant in your sinning will you run into trouble. Also, never forget to evangelize to those around you, but be careful not to condemn the nonbelievers. It is not your job to judge, but to plant seeds. Let God be the judge of those who choose to reject Him. Instead, focus on your own life and how to thrive in the Holy Spirit.

W.A.I.T. Part 4: Fellowship Beats Self-Reliance

Genesis 2:18 "The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"

Living in America has effectively brainwashed the masses into assuming that they can do everything on their own. We are to just "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps" and soldier on through life, giving no thought to anybody else. This is exactly the kind of thinking I'm sure God frowns upon. As was highlighted in the verse at the top of this post, God desires for His people to have community and to rely on one another, not our own strength. This is exactly why Eve was created out of Adam's rib; to be his companion. God knew that Adam needed a helper, so He created a suitable one so that Adam would not get lonely in the Garden.
The same goes for us today. We are to be in community with one another in order to create the unifying Body of Christ. Romans 12:4-5 outlines this point by stating, "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." Each and every person has a specific function within the body, and it is only when we all work together that we can find harmony. No single person has all of the answers, which is why we must turn to our brothers and sisters within the church for help. Not only can they assist us with our questions, but our fellow Christians can also pray for us and hold us accountable. If we stumble, we don't want to be alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 serves as a wonderful example of why we need each other: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."
Just this past week I had to remind myself about the benefits of the Body of Christ. I had a job interview on Thursday and I had mentioned it to my family earlier in the week so that they could pray for me. They urged me to share with other members of my Bible study group, but I'll admit that my first response to this idea was that I didn't want to ask for prayers. My gut reaction was that it was selfish to have others focus their prayers on me and my job interview, but then it hit me. It was even more selfish to rely on myself to get through the job interview without asking others for their prayers and support. Once I thought about it in that light, I immediately passed on the message to a handful of my friends at Bible study to please hold me in prayer, which they did gratefully. It was a great learning experience for me to remember to humble myself enough to ask for help instead of just relying on myself.
The Body of Christ is also a great place to eagerly seek counsel from others. The Book of Proverbs highlights the benefits of having others to counsel us. Proverbs 15:22 relays, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed," while Proverbs 18:1 expresses, "An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels." It is only when we express our plans to others that we succeed and avoid silly quarrels with others. When we think only of ourselves and not how our decisions might impact others around us, that is when we can run into trouble. It is best to seek the wisdom of others around us who are outside the situation in order to gain a different perspective on how to handle a particular set of circumstances.
Lastly, it is best to try and leave at peace with one another because we are essentially one big family. In Ephesians 4:2-3, it says, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." This doesn't mean that everyday is going to be happy-hunky-dory, but if we strive to be patient with each other, we are better off in the long run. It is better to try and include everybody because nobody should feel like an outcast amongst other believers. Today, I was grateful for an elderly couple to extend an offer for me to join them for lunch at the local diner. Little did they know that I was dealing with a bit of anxiety because I felt a bit out of place surrounded by the numerous people, along with feeling disappointed over the reminder that my own grandmother has decided to cut herself off from her family. It was a moment that I felt quite lost and was questioning if I was indeed a part of the community, but their invitation served as a pleasant reminder that I am loved and hold a place of value within the Body of Christ. My goal is to continue to remind myself that I have a place within the community and that it is best to turn to others when I feel lost, rather than depend on myself. Not until I fully grasp this concept will I be able to thrive as a Christian.