Sometimes it can feel like our Christian lives are a struggle. It can be hard to love those around us. Hard to keep a positive outlook on life, there can be so much negativity, killing and just evil in the world.
A Good Christian
Society tells us that we have to be a “good” Christian. What exactly does that mean? It means that we can pray at church, but not in a public setting where there is a chance that we might offend someone. Being a “good” Christian means that we must compartmentalize our faith. It is for Sundays and some holidays, but not for our families, work places, or communities.
A Bad Christian
Society also tells us that being a “bad” Christian is to hate everyone that doesn’t agree with you. That disagreeing with one person or group means that you hate them. We’ve gotten to the point that we can’t disagree with each other. It doesn’t have to lead to anything, it’s just disagreeing. Everyone around us tells us that being a Christian means that we should love everyone and what they do. Whether or not it is harmful to themselves, their families, or communities, we should love them and accept what they do.
Looking at the world and going by what they tell us it means to be a good or a bad Christian leads us to a watered down version of our Christian faith. One where we are pleasing everyone around us except for the one that truly matters: God.
Pleasing God
Being a “good” Christian should be based solely on this one thing. Pleasing God. Jesus said it this way:
John 8:29(KJV)
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
We’ve put so much focus on pleasing and accepting everyone and everything around us that we can lose sight of pleasing God. That should be our measuring stick for being a “good” Christian. Are we pleasing God?
Prayer
There is a way to know whether or not our lives are pleasing to God. Ask. Prayer at its core is us communicating or talking to God. So for this reason it is ok to ask God if I’m leading a life that is pleasing to Him. Spending time in prayer shouldn’t just be a time where we pour out all of our pains, troubles and problems, but it should be a time of expressing our love, appreciation and joy in God.
Is my life pleasing to God? I want it to be, and I think that is where it starts. There should be something deep in us that wants to please God. Let’s lead lives that are pleasing to God, not pleasing to this group or that group, but pleasing to God and Him only.
This is great!! It’s interesting how what society has deemed as “good” Christians continues to change with the times. I think in the past being more vocal was more acceptable but in this age of ‘tolerance’ Christians are feeling forced to be silent. But praise God that the word can be out litmus test! It never changes so pleasing Him is always the focus!
I think you’re absolutely right. It’s interesting to me how society is tolerant of everything and everyone except Christians. The word of God definitely has to be our litmus test.
Awesome!