THE TRUTH YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR

Margaret Feinberg writes:  “God isn’t a fan of shortcuts when it comes to spiritual growth.  God places us in positions that are sometimes tougher than we would naturally choose, but they’re designed to make us stronger and healthier than we would otherwise be.”    [the organic God, , p.116]

But the typical response of Christians in the American culture is “Waaaaa, Waaaaaa!”  We wail, cry, feel sorry for ourselves, and doubt God for treating us so badly. 

And by doing so, we forfeit the opportunity to grow closer to Him and to draw on His vast resources of strength and wisdom.  We are the epitome of the spoiled child.

We only want to serve God if He will protect us from harm and propel us toward happiness and prosperity.  No servanthood.  No sacrifice.  No discomfort.

How do you turn this around?

Three ways:

1.  Study the Bible!

Learn from stories like:

Job – who was a righteous man when all the bad stuff happened to him!

Paul – (II Corinthians 11) who endured unbelievable pain and suffering in His service to God.

Jesus – who suffered and died and challenged us to take up our cross!

2.  Read Christian biographies.

Learn from lives like:

Dietrich Bonheoffer – who was imprisoned by Hitler’s regime and who was killed there just before the end of the war.

Martin Luther – who was defrocked, excommunicated, and persecuted for his resistance to evil in the church in the early 1500’s.

Jim Elliott and his companions – who gave their lives trying to reach the savage Auca Indians of Ecuador in the mid 1950’s.

3.  Become a world Christian.

Learn about the realities of serving Christ in China, the Sudan, North Korea, Pakistan, and the Middle East!  Expand your knowledge of the real-life conditions of the vast number of worldwide Christians – your brothers and sisters in Christ!  Compare your conditions to the conditions of Christians in these settings.  Discover the fervency of faith and the rapid Kingdom expansion that accompanies their dire circumstances.  Compare it to the fervency of your faith and the dismal growth (or lack of growth) in your spiritual community.

John Steinbeck wrote:  “Adversity and defeat are more conducive to spiritual growth than prosperity and victory.”  Maybe we ought to start praying for troubles and oppostion?  Perhaps the result would be a greater dependence on God...