"Christian"

[breakingrote]

To be quite honest... I'm disgusted. Mostly with myself in many ways, but I notice what's in me in other Christians just the same. Few (and I can't tress that word enough) of us are reliable. It seems that all of us American Christians are so prone to resisting God. He gives us responsibility, and we give him the metaphorical finger. Is it ok? Dear God, not it's not. We'll pay for our rebellion... dearly without repentence. More than I fear I grieve. Less my heart (yet another common problem) and more my mind; my knowledge tells me to what degree. God wants me to be an unwavering (although I know we do waver, but that flaw is used too often where it is not due) example to my friends, family, and fellow brothers. But sadly, I fail. Why? Because I all too often omit my knowledge of God. Contemporary Christianity doesn't worship the God of the Bible. Like when I ignore aspects of God, I don't either. Almost subconsciously, but still enough to be aware to the point of knowing. We all are playing a game of dire importance, and almost none of us take it seriously. I understand now why Christianity is in it's current state. I'm experiencing the process of compromise. The beginning of all compromise begins with this verse...

Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

...and ends with ignoring it. We are to lose our lives. This verse is straight forward. If you want to be saved, be prepared to sacrifice your life (metaphorically and, sometimes, literally) for Jesus. If you don't, then do what you want; live your life for you, find your life. And I'm sorry, but you're no longer a Christian.

By being the compromisers that we are, we are hindering God's work more than anything. By being what we are, we are being poor witnesses.

All of this came together for me when I was reflecting on myself.

Pro 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

And I realized that if I continued on the path I was pursuing, my family would see Christianity as another passing trend in me. Something to not be taken seriously. Lord, what responsibility I have.

At this point you all are probably thinking I'm doing something that, in your minds, is absolutely horrible. Know what I'm doing? Playing video games. That's it, just video games. But what few people realize is how dangerous they are. So much time is dedicated to them. Time that you're literally throwing down the drain for nothing. While playing video games you are being this man.

Mat 25:18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

And as for the consequences...

Mat 25:30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

I know that we can waste time and spend it wisely, but I don't want to be that wasteful man ever. That's what I am when I play those worthless games.

On top of the games, I was beginning to watch movies like the Matrix and others of the like. Not acceptable. These are just the same as games. All of this was coming together to cause me to doubt God. The culture behind it was a definite contributing factor. The worlds these things build up in your head don't need a God.

Everything I've said so far comes together to be the cause of apathy. We begin to falter on our obligations starting at the seemingly most innocent level. It starts excuses. Everyone has them and most of them are valid. Want to know why? There is always an excuse to not do things you don't want to do. And there's always a reason for a broken promise. It all depends on what's important to you: You, or God.

[breakingrote]

Don't anyone get me wrong. I'm in noway disregarding God's merciful grace. He is a God of forgiveness. Despite our history he will forgive us. He just requires our earnest repentance. Ultimately, he requires our love, which causes repentance and a brokenness over sin.

Also, this message is more an exhortation to the knowing Christians who are more accountable. Once you have the knowledge of the truth, you are accountable. Being a Christian that carries out his walk well isn't what makes you accountable, even though they're referred to as "grown" Christians. Accountability comes with the knowledge of what you should do and how you respond to it. You can't know God, live a life contrary to his son's, and be good with God.

C.S. Lewis said something very accurate about Christians and how they should be. I'm going to paraphrase him.

There are professional basketball players. They are because they are reliable in their ability to play the game well. 9 times out of 10, they'll make a basket. Yes, of course, sometimes they do bad, but only sometimes, and it's rare. A professional basketball player is to his game as Christians are to moral conduct. They are reliably moral. You wouldn't look at the overall ability of a professional basketball player and say he's horrible. Likewise, you wouldn't look at the overall ability of a Christian and say he's immoral. There is more to it than morality. Christians should also be Christ followers. Do as he did. I don't think Christ often made promises he didn't keep. I'm sure he wasn't a man of excuses. The world provides excuses. Christians provide apologies and honored obligations with few exceptions.

Remember that Christ is a forgiving God. If you have a bad day, He'll not hold it against you. If you miss a basket, admit it, and ask forgiveness, God is faithful. But don't misunderstand perpetual poor performance or willful misconduct; it will only be tolerated for so long. At some point a price will be paid.