"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9
This is the struggle I face. The outcome is this: because I too quickly seek perfection before I seek God's will and direction, I stumble and fall. I refuse to get up and "do" at times because I know that I will not be perfect right off the bat. For example, I have a love/hate relationship with running (as most do). I hate the running part, but I love accomplishing goals and feeling healthy. However, because I do know how hard it is for me to build up the endurance to even run one mile without stopping, I choose to "do it later," or "wait," or simply ignore it and not do it all. Because I know that getting back out there will hurt my lungs, legs, and head, I refuse to do it. It takes effort to get better; I simply cannot go out and run a mile without first putting in the work for it. The desire for perfection stands in between me and my goals. Who I want to be in my head does not resonate well with the real me; They are two completely different people.
Similarly, my spiritual life can suffer because of this battle. If I don't pick up my Bible for a couple of days, those days can turn into weeks, and those weeks sometimes turn into months. I feel guilty, unworthy and the cycle ensues. It's a sad situation to have the truth and solutions laid out in front of you and simply refuse them. Oh flesh.
The misconception that Christians have it easy is not a Biblical idea in the least bit; Romans will literally smack that notion right out of your mind. The spirit-flesh war in the lives of Christians is addressed most ferociously by Paul, who admits to the struggle within himself. Verses like Romans 7:14-15, 8: 18-21, etc., show us that the struggle is ongoing and is only relieved by the assurance of our salvation found in a loving God. (Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35).
While the unsaved have this misinformed view of an easy life for Christians due to a couple of holy stones carved with rules, Christians do not make the matter any easier on one other. Among church congregations, people hold each other to a level of quiet perfection. Underneath the shallow portrayal of the Christian life within the church is a whispering among us. We watch each other, analyze and judge though Scripture warns against it (James 2). The bond of unity is slowly chipped away with a chisel named Gossip and a pick named Shame. I try to avoid cliches as much as possible and along with that, song lyric doctrine; however, Casting Crown's song Stained Glass Masquerade is a very accurate picture of the American church today. Everyone of us, whether saved or not carries with us hurts, pain, sin. The only difference is that Christians are called to cast their burdens on Christ, who is more than willing to take them. Why is it that we are petitioned to let go of these things that chain us within in our relationship with Christ, however, we hold on to them so tightly among the midst of fellow believers? This mentality is damaging and the effects of hiding ourselves, masking our sin and leading the life of a double-minded man has unfortunately lasting effects on the congregation, as well as individual relationships. This leads to a lack of relate-ability, discipleship, and the biggest loss- growth in the heart.
When will we break the bond of extreme views and simply be Biblical believers? When will the church come to grips with its depravity without being hyper-Calvinistic? Likewise, when will the church find joy in the redeeming love of Christ without being a smiley mega-church? When will we accept that we WILL miss the mark while also accepting Christ's love and rescuing for our souls. And no matter how well we accept this in our one-on-one relationships with Christ, if we do not accept it among each other, how will WE grow and how will we REACH others for Christ? Love cannot grow in isolation.
"The Christian life is to be growth, right? But your Christian life doesn't go on a line like this. You know how it goes? It goes up and down. How do I know that? Because that's how mine goes. You see, it's when you dip down that you start learning lessons that push you up again. Then you fail a little bit and God teaches you lessons through discipline or trial and up you go again. It goes like that." J. MacArthur
We are going to struggle. We are going to fail. When Jesus died, he bore the complete wrath of God towards ALL sin. His work was a finished work. This means that your sins from the past, present, and the sins you have yet to commit are all completely covered and forgotten in the eyes of God. So this struggle we as Christians daily face is nothing to be ashamed of. It is something that we should be encouraging each other about, lifting one another up, offering godly council and discipleship. We are a fallen people- but we don't have to let that be our defeat because the victory is already one. Sin is a destroyer; Unity will rebuild. Don't hide from each other the very things that connect you as brothers and sisters in Christ.
simul justus et peccator
"simultaneously justified and sinful"
Love in Christ,
Laura
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