lately my heart has been very heavy. VERY heavy for those who have been a Christian and no longer claim that. they treat it like another thing you can drop in a day.we give up certain foods, activities, bad habits..etc. and then also expect to just "drop" our faith? if its hard for you to leave Christianity, then maybe you DID have some faith. some love for God. some religion.or, maybe, you actually did have a relationship with Him.
i'll be honest. one of the many i am talking about is my brother. he is so mad at Christianity and Christians. here is the problem...he based it on me, family and friends.{you cannot base your final conclusion of God on humanity}. its not accurate! i personally, have messed up so many times in front of my brother. my language, my attitude, my decisions. o how i wish i could take that all back! it kills me that people are turning away from God because of our actions. because of how we act, how we respond. but like i have said in an earlier post. {i am not perfect. i am not comparable to God's love and reasoning}. yes, i represent Jesus. i strive to do that every day. but i am not perfect at it at all. if there is ANY good in me, it is all because of Jesus working in my heart. and when i mess up, its just another time that i get back up and press on . i guess what i'm trying to reiterate is this...{do not base your final decision of God because of what people have said or done to you}.
my main question to people who are getting frustrated with the church is "what are you not experiencing? what do you need to experience to make God real in your life?" you cannot stop being a Christian because you "hate" the "church"(the BRIDE of Christ). Perry Noble said it best. he said, "to say you love Christ, yet hate is church is offensive. its like telling me you love me and want to get to know me, yet hate my wife and cant stand her. i would hurt you if you said that about my wife!" (paraphrased)
this all makes it hard on myself as well. what are we doing as Christians that are making people fed up? are we allowing the whole influence to be based on our actions? or are encouraging engaging in the Holy Spirit! and a movement in their hearts!
its hard to see our mistakes lead people away from God. but, luckily, God does not let go.
may they, by Gods grace, see Jesus at work in many others and in their lives as well.
{Sara}
