I accepted Jesus as my Savior in my teen years, and throughout my journey as a Christ follower…I’ve never seen my brothers and sisters in Christianity so divided as I do now. I don’t give that statement lightly. I truly do my best to not use absolutes that provide no breathing room for correction from my sometimes flawed perspectives…but in this case, I simply can’t recall (in my lifetime) when I’ve experienced Christianity so separated.
I remember when I first started my faith journey and how I developed a foundation for what I believed within the words and beliefs of the Pastors and mentors that were a part of my life. I never once thought to question their validities or interpretation of Scripture…why would I? They were my elders and knew a lot more than I did at the time, so it made sense to me to follow their direction without hesitance.
It wasn’t until my college years that I began to see the importance in working out WHAT I truly believed about Scripture and about God. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying those men and women that taught me so much in my formative years as a Christian were incorrect in their teachings; I’m not saying that at all. But what I am saying is that simply following others in my Christian walk (believing what they believe, saying what they say, and doing what they do) without any development on my own, would have left me unable to STAND amongst a world that is constantly doing its best to make me fall in line with their convictions.
Brothers and Sisters, it is my belief (for what it’s worth) that the reason why we’re seeing Christianity so torn right now, is because so many of us are choosing to follow, instead of lead. We waver between FAITH and DOUBT, because if we’re being honest, we’re struggling to know what we believe and why. Really, think about it.
Why did you decide to follow Jesus? Why do you choose to serve Him?
These questions can be answered as we familiarize ourselves with what God has to say in the Bible. In fact, so many questions facing all of us today can be answered through Gods Word…but how are we going to find those answers, if we can’t be troubled to even look? If our answer to why we choose to serve God is by following someone else’s example...then what have we really discovered? About God? About ourselves? How can we be sure that the person we’re following is on the right track or even knows what they’re talking about?
Can you even discern between Gods Truth and what someone else is saying? Do the two line up at all? Do they differ? Do you know? Really…do you?
I’m not trying to harp or be a jerk, but I do believe that with enough investigation and study, ANYONE can stand firm in their faith and know why they believe what they believe, and why they shouldn’t believe someone else who may sound good and eloquent, but who is actually pulling the wool over their eyes.
“Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim My every Word. There is a difference between chaff and wheat!”
--Jeremiah 23:28
The more familiar we are with what God has to say in the Bible, the less likelihood there will be of our being led astray. Remember, once you’ve tasted wheat, you’ll quickly recognize the chaff. There will always be a difference between Gods TRUTH and man’s desires.
Don’t get caught up in the struggle between FAITH and DOUBT.
Too many of us are doing that right now…and it’s separating believers the world over.
STAND, Brothers and Sisters…STAND.
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