I've been a member of Revelife for less than a week now.  It disturbs me to see the lack of conviction in Christians on this site.  There are those on this site who are not Christians and reading everything we post.  Perhaps, it's because they're curious and would make a decision to follow our Lord, or maybe it's to find fault in our beliefs. 

I see us divided amongst each other, bickering and arguing.   However, worst of all, we disregard much of the book that sets the premise for our entire faith.  Why?!  Do you dismiss it because it makes you uncomfortable?  The excuse I see a lot of is, "That is no longer relevant to our culture."  Perhaps, that is because we have allowed ourselves to blend with our culture.  Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will."  Stop being like everyone else!  Don't compromise God's Word for the sake of fitting in.  Are you afraid people will scorn you and mock you if you stop conforming?  "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you."  John 15:18-19.  I know how badly rejection hurts, I know the need to fit in.  We are not called to fit in with the world though, we are called to be a light in the darkness.  "You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:14-16.  Yes, we may be mocked, rejected or even persecuted, but Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10. 

The culture we live in today is a very sick one.  There are murders near our home towns every day.  Sexual immorality runs rampant in our society.  We have been desensitized to cursing and violence.  As Christians, some of us have become so acclimated to worldly things that we no longer feel convicted participating in them.  I think the sex thing is the biggest issue.  A woman I once considered a godly woman came to me before I was married.  I was saving myself for my wedding night.  The woman said, "You need to move in with Daniel."  "WHAT?!" was my reply.  "To see if your are sexually compatible before you marry him.  You wouldn't buy a shoe before you try it on, would you?"  I cannot tell you how stunned I was.  1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says to flee from sexual immorality.  We are to have nothing to do with it.  Matthew 5:39-42 says not to resist an evil person, but to turn our other cheek if we are struck; to not only give him our tunic, but also our cloak.  If we are forced to go a mile, go two.  "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head."  Romans 12:20.  "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5.   Profanity has permeated through our culture.  You can hardly go to a PG movie without more than a few curse words.  I had never even heard the "F" word until I graduated highschool... now, you cannot pass a day without hearing it.  I live in a heavily trafficked area and not a week goes by I don't get the finger.  One lady flipped me off when I accidentally made eye contact with her.  Philippians 4:8, "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things."  We cannot expect to call violence, profanity, sexual immorality, or even greed any of the things listed above.  We cannot say that movies, or music, or reading pop culture magazines have no effect on us.  Whatever we put into our hearts will come out again.  We cannot not make good things come from our mouths if our heart is filled with filth.  Matthew 15:18-19, "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."  Remember the old saying, "Garbage in, garbage out?"  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Matthew 5:8. 

It breaks my heart to see Christians, my brothers and sisters, rationalizing away the Bible.  We cannot dismiss God's word.  "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16.  Do we honestly think we can outsmart God; to skirt around his commands?  He made us!!!  He can see our hearts.  "Who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been his counselor?" Romans 11:34.  I think we are beginning to do exactly what Paul warned about in 2 Timothy 4:3-5, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."  We surround ourselves with preachers and teachers that tell us what we want to hear... not what the scripture teaches.  They make us feel like better people when we move in with a boyfriend or girlfriend, when we curse some one in anger, when we watch the inappropriate films.  "Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." Matthew 7:15.  They help us make being a Christian easy.  It was never meant to be easy... "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4.  We are supposed to praise God for our troubles, not try to dodge them.  Hardship is what strengthens our faith. 

Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.  These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." John 14:23-24.  When we disobey God's teaching (the scriptures) we are kicking dirt in his face.  We are not loving him, we are insulting him.  We can't love Christ when our hearts are filled with worldly things.  He cannot dwell in a heart full of sin.  Christians, we are being watched, weighed, and measured by the lost.  I know of three regular commenters on Revelife who have blatantly stated they are not Christians.  Why would they want to be the way we behave?  We don't act any differently than they do; we bicker and argue amongst ourselves, and condemn them for the sins that we commit in secret, or even right in from of them.  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposistion from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3.  We have to purge our lives of things that keep us from leading godly lives.  Be it crude movies, profanity, unholy relationships, media that fill our heads with secular ideals; we must get rid of those obstacles to even begin to love the Lord. 

My challenge: get rid of your hindrances.  Remove from your life the things that keep you from having a relationship with Christ.  Throw out the things that do not honor Him.  Not only will you be happier, you will not cause your lost friends to stumble or find fault in your faith.  It's time to stop being wishy-washy pansy Christians.  Have some guts and follow Christ like you actually love him.

Kimberly

God's been doing a very great work in my heart.  On August 16th, I will have been a Christian for 15 years, and yet never before have I truly sought to make myself worthy of Him.  I've been the "church Christian" for too long.  I'd go to church and that would been my God time for the week.  I never led a particularly sinful life... in fact I have a pretty boring life by worldly standards.  However, I've been drifting away from Him; only half heartedly fighting the pull the world has on my heart.  This is what I read during my Bible study yesterday.  I think these few verses sum up the attitudes we should... no, MUST show in our lives. 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." Galatians 5:22-23  Good fruit only grows on a healthy tree.  These 9 things should show in our lives as a result of a healthy relationship with our Father.  Note that love comes first. 

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."  1 Corinthians 13:4-8   This is THE definition for love.  I once read somewhere a good method for practicing this in our daily lives.  It said to treat it like Russian nesting dolls.  Open up the first one and all the others are inside.  It said to practice being patient first, then being kind would come next, and patience makes kindness come a little easier.  Like nesting dolls, you can't get to the last one without opening all the ones before it, one at a time. 

Now for applying it the way God intended.  This, of course is always the hardest part.  "Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above youselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord.  On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'  Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:9-21  None of this is possible without the love of God in our hearts.  This is how Christ calls us to live.  To love those who hate us.  To reach out to those the world finds unloveable. 

Take some time to read the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12).  Jesus is blessing the very attitudes the world often finds to be weak.  These are actions which spring forth from a loving heart.  It is easier to hate than to love.  The one who hates is the weak one, not the one who treats his enemy with mercy and kindness. 

My prayer is to live up to these verses.  To show evidence of Christ's love in every facet of my life.