I've had these words on my heart for some time, but I've honestly been afraid to post them until now. Afraid of what both Believers and Non-Believers will say in response, afraid of the impact it will have on my own faith, afraid just in general. But, God has moved my heart to the point I can no longer avoid sharing this. I am hoping these words... bring hope and opportunities for connection to many in 2015. Here it goes:
There are some misconceptions held by both Believers and Non-Believers about a life of following Christ, and these need to be cleared up.
The first misconception is that being a Believer makes you perfect. This is simply not true. Some think that once you accept Christ as your Savior, your attitude and behaviors are (should be) instantaneously and immediately altered to be Christ-like. All addictions, bad habits, and sinful ways are suddenly wiped away, and the person who emerges from the prayer of Salvation will be, or at the least is expected to be, sinless. There are times when a certain person is so convicted at their moment of confession that God does take away some of their "demons," but this doesn't happen every time with every person. Sometimes the changes in a person are huge, sometimes they are small. That doesn't mean one moment of Salvation is better than the other; it just means each person is unique and different, and so is their relationship with God. However, NO experience of Salvation creates a perfect person. We are humans, and humans are sinful creatures. No amount of Salvation will ever make you perfect on Earth because you are human. This is an unfair expectation held by Believers and Non-Believers alike. And it is an expectation that God does NOT put on us. The wonder of His Grace is that all He wants is our acceptance of His love, and the rest He has covered by the blood of His Son. This does not mean that it is "ok" that Believers should go on sinning with intention, but it does mean that God's love will still be there when you do.
The second misconception is that many think that being a Believer means you know everything about being a Believer and about God and His Word. Again, this is an untrue and unfair expectation. First of all, there are things about God and His plan and His grace that we will never understand while we are here on Earth, and we may never understand even after we get to Heaven. You know what? That is okay. God is MORE than we will ever be able to comprehend; and honestly, that is the way I like it. If I could understand and completely explain God, that would make His power and abilities less than they are. A God that is beyond my understanding also has limitless capabilities. Second, knowing and understanding God at all is a part of the journey of relationship with Him. It is not unlike any other relationship you have. It takes time to get to know and understand the other being. You will never know everything about them, but when you spend time with them and communicate with them and devote yourself to the relationship, eventually you get to know them much better. That is where prayer, devotions, and time spent in the Bible helps your relationship with God grow, as well. Non-believers do not know any more truth about their non-belief than Believers do about God; therefore, it is an unfair "point" in an argument to say your faith is wrong because you are not a master of the Bible or cannot explain everything about God and human existence. There are things Non-Believers cannot explain, there are parts of their beliefs that are just theories and cannot be proven, and even the best of them believe in things that cannot be observed by the five senses - like love, emotions, or dreams. Human understanding of the entire human experience is impossible - so expecting anyone to have a full grasp of it is unrealistic.
Finally, there is a misconception that being a Believer will lead you to a life of prosperity and lack of troubles. Point blank, this is NOT true. In fact, Jesus even warned His believers in John 16:33b (NIV), "In this world, you will have trouble." Being a Christian does not make you immune from sickness, financial worries, natural disasters, family troubles, or any of the millions of other stresses that the human experience offers. In fact, as a Christian, you might experience some of these woes (e.g. financial burdens or family troubles) that you may not have experienced if you weren't a Christian. Being a Christian often means sacrifice or rejecting materialistic or worldly/culturally accepted (expected) items/experiences/behaviors. You may have to change careers or be ostracized by family and friends, or even be discriminated against or persecuted for your choice to follow God. But Jesus provides a promise to His believers at the end of the very same verse listed above: "But take heart! I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33c). This is a promise Jesus provides that Non-Believers do not have to cling to. The hope and belief that Believers have a Savior who has overcome this world to provide something greater beyond this world is extraordinary. Your life may not be sunshine and lollipops after becoming a Christian, but at least you have the promise of a future with a God who is greater than anything this world can throw your way. That is the greatness of being a Believer.
So, whether you were a Believer or a Non-Believer when you began reading this, I hope you have a better understanding of what it does (or maybe what it does NOT) mean to be a Believer in God. I hope this message helps Believers grow deeper in their faith by allowing them to stop holding themselves to unnecessary standards. I hope Non-Believers leave here with a softer heart toward Believers and will approach them with less unrealistic and more equal expectations. I hope this understanding encourages conversations between these two groups of people to help them grow closer together. Do I think this post will bring world peace? No. But if it helps "just one," it was worth it.
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