It's NOT that Complicated!?!

I have noticed many people that have a hard time in life making the Christian worldview work in their life.  Those people don't get why they are having such a hard time.  Well there is one answer that they tend not to like to hear.  "It's your fault!"  I have a pretty healthy respect for philosophy and the basic laws of phyics which apply to logic.  One of the most obvious is that every action has an equal reaction.  So if life sucks (and I'm not talking about persecution for the faith, joy is found in that) take an in depth look at what you have been doing.  Figure out the action(s) that is responsible for the crappy situation that you are now find yourself immersed in.  The majority of the time you will find that it is of your own doing.  If you take the time to do this you will find that the cause is one of three things.

The first is the best situation.  The reason that you are dealing with crap in your life is because you are being persecuted for following Christ.  This may not be directly related with sharing the gospel message.  It could be for living out the gospel message.  However, if this is the case remember what James told believers!  "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." (James 1:2-3)  Also, remember that "Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.'" (Matthew 16:24)    This is where I make the confession that I don't always live up to this within the body of Christ.  Being a believer is not about a popularity contest.  From now on I am going to speak my mind when I hear about things that I disagree with that people are doing which does not build up the spirit and encourage holy living.  Now I'm not going to call people out in public and start casting down woes.  However, when something comes up in conversation like movies that I know are not good I'm gonna let them know how I feel about that and why. 

Now the second situation is the netureal one.  That being said, it still sucks.  When Adam and Eve fell on account of sin, they took all of creation with them.  That means we live in a fallen world that yearns to be restored to its former glory.  In the mean time that means that crappy stuff happens.  Physical death still reigns over mankind.  Also, we live among an unsanctified people.  So we shouldn't be surprised when we turn on the news and see more bad than good.  If you want to see a change, it happens one person at a time.  So if you want to see the world get better there is only one way to do it.  Spread the good news of Christ.  Picking up your cross sometimes means sacrificing an hour a week to talk to someone about conforming to the image of Christ.  Like Tim Reed, one of my instructors at Southwestern, always said, "Be a disciple, make a disciple, change the world."

Lastly, you might be having a hard time because you did something stupid in the past.  Whether it was knowing being rebellious or not the consequences are going to be there.  So stop complaining, fess up to your mistakes, live with the consequnces and try to not repeat the same mistake again.  The only way that this will happen is if you do as Paul did.  "I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." (1 Cor. 9:27)  It takes work on our part to become more like Christ.  It doesn't magically happen.  So find someone who is further along in his or her walk in Christ than you and ask them to help you to grow closer in relationship to God. 

That's how your life is changed from suffering for your own stupid mistakes to expereincing the joy of Christ's suffering.  Make no mistake, everyone will experince suffering in this world.  Let your suffering have a kingdom purpose behind it though.

Thank you for letting me rant. Also, if you are not sure who to ask for a spiritual mentor, send me a message and we will figure someone out.