Ever since the tragedy that occurred here on October 1, and a little bit before, I have been disillusioned with Christians in general, especially Christian leadership. I know we are all human and all fallible, but I'm very frustrated with the Christian "light" attitude we all have. We are Christians but how dedicated are we really. How far are we willing to go to be followers of Christ. Here in America we are not persecuted. Sometimes it feels like it but we really we aren't. But, on October 1 and afterwards, I witnessed how quick we are to jump into the spotlight and not to defend our faith.
Now I know evangelists have been in the spotlight for years. Moody, Graham, Spurgeon, but it seems different lately. It seems it is more about the person and less about God and sharing Jesus. As I get to know leaders I see compromise. I also see it in other Christians lives. I'm not trying to be judgmental, I see it in my life as well, and maybe it has always been there through the ages, but where are the "hot" Christians. It seems as if we've all cooled to lukewarm.
That is what I mean by Christian "light". We are Christians but, we want what the world wants. Money, fame, popularity. Sometimes it is hard to tell a Christian from anyone else, even pastors. I know of pastors who drink, not only at home but in public. Some pastors spend more time on vacation than in the pulpit. The way I see it, when our leadership goes soft, so do the people. We complain about what is happening in our world and we should be offering the solution, but our testimonies have been compromised.
How can we tell others about Jesus when there is as much divorce in the church as in the world. Drinking and smoking are not as taboo anymore. Our young people and older people have sex outside of marriage, live together without marriage...how are we ANY different.
My heart's desire is to be different. It says in the Bible we are to be a peculiar people. That is in 1 Peter 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light". That is what I want. I want to be a light, a beacon, not little of faith.
This Christian life is not about me. It is about Jesus and bringing others to Him and helping struggling Christians with accountability, to helping raise up our children to not only pray the sinner's prayer, but give their whole being to Jesus. I think that is where I failed when I raised my kids. We went to church pretty faithfully, we had family devotions, we prayed together, but once they accepted Christ as Savior, it was like that was the completion. I feel like I neglected to show my kids how to have a relationship with Jesus, how to build that relationship.
I want to be different, peculiar. I want people to see Jesus, not me. God has been showing me things in my life and with Christians in general that break my heart. We are failing. We are not doing what he has called us to do, be LIGHTS. Jesus is the light of the world and we are called to share that light, not be "light", doing just what we need to get by. I want to make waves by being different. That is my prayer for myself and all Christians. That we all will have our eyes opened and see that we need to fully commit to Christ and be different.
Now, not all of my Christian friends are Christian "light". I know some awesome people who have dedicated their lives to Christ and it shows in their lives and their children's lives. I want to be like them because they are like Jesus.
Father,
It seems your children have not been fully committed to you. We are not doing what You have asked us to do. Sometimes we are no better than unbelievers. Father, I fully believe we need to be set apart from the world and I pray that You will touch the hearts of every Christian and give them a hunger for Your word and for You. I pray that we will all commit our lives to serving Christ and developing our relationships with You and Jesus. I pray Father, that you will open our eyes to our sins and our thoughtlessness towards You. I pray for sincere repentance and revival among all Christians and may it start with me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Now I know evangelists have been in the spotlight for years. Moody, Graham, Spurgeon, but it seems different lately. It seems it is more about the person and less about God and sharing Jesus. As I get to know leaders I see compromise. I also see it in other Christians lives. I'm not trying to be judgmental, I see it in my life as well, and maybe it has always been there through the ages, but where are the "hot" Christians. It seems as if we've all cooled to lukewarm.
That is what I mean by Christian "light". We are Christians but, we want what the world wants. Money, fame, popularity. Sometimes it is hard to tell a Christian from anyone else, even pastors. I know of pastors who drink, not only at home but in public. Some pastors spend more time on vacation than in the pulpit. The way I see it, when our leadership goes soft, so do the people. We complain about what is happening in our world and we should be offering the solution, but our testimonies have been compromised.
How can we tell others about Jesus when there is as much divorce in the church as in the world. Drinking and smoking are not as taboo anymore. Our young people and older people have sex outside of marriage, live together without marriage...how are we ANY different.
My heart's desire is to be different. It says in the Bible we are to be a peculiar people. That is in 1 Peter 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light". That is what I want. I want to be a light, a beacon, not little of faith.
This Christian life is not about me. It is about Jesus and bringing others to Him and helping struggling Christians with accountability, to helping raise up our children to not only pray the sinner's prayer, but give their whole being to Jesus. I think that is where I failed when I raised my kids. We went to church pretty faithfully, we had family devotions, we prayed together, but once they accepted Christ as Savior, it was like that was the completion. I feel like I neglected to show my kids how to have a relationship with Jesus, how to build that relationship.
I want to be different, peculiar. I want people to see Jesus, not me. God has been showing me things in my life and with Christians in general that break my heart. We are failing. We are not doing what he has called us to do, be LIGHTS. Jesus is the light of the world and we are called to share that light, not be "light", doing just what we need to get by. I want to make waves by being different. That is my prayer for myself and all Christians. That we all will have our eyes opened and see that we need to fully commit to Christ and be different.
Now, not all of my Christian friends are Christian "light". I know some awesome people who have dedicated their lives to Christ and it shows in their lives and their children's lives. I want to be like them because they are like Jesus.
Father,
It seems your children have not been fully committed to you. We are not doing what You have asked us to do. Sometimes we are no better than unbelievers. Father, I fully believe we need to be set apart from the world and I pray that You will touch the hearts of every Christian and give them a hunger for Your word and for You. I pray that we will all commit our lives to serving Christ and developing our relationships with You and Jesus. I pray Father, that you will open our eyes to our sins and our thoughtlessness towards You. I pray for sincere repentance and revival among all Christians and may it start with me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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