STRIVE FOR PERFECTION?

Most won't admit that they see themselves as darn near perfect "post salvation/confession". This of course is them setting themselves against the thoughts/actions of the nonbeliever...

(Romans 12:3-8; Romans 14:3-5)

I am not here to lull you to sleep with my blah-blah-blah, but more to share a apart of my experience. My family (on my mothers side) has an extensive background with the church. I was baptized and dedicated to GOD as a child; but then removed from that environment (around 3years old) by my dad who lost his faith and began to question what he believed. Problem was he was peering his views through the eyes of hypocritical "church leadership". The problem that Christianity faces today, city to city, state to state "church hurt". Idolatry :"extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone." So easy to overlook, I promises 10 out of 10 will deny it my friend. I WAS ONE OF THEM, in denial!

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field and captivate your readers’ attention; BUT I AM NO AUTHORITY on the subject. I am just trusting the spirit of truth on the subject. After spending 30 years away from the "church" I was drawn back to the flock by calamity, I had wracked up so much spiritual debt (a lying, adulterating, drug addicted, alcoholic the list goes on you get the point) all I COULD DO WAS CRY OUT!

When you cry out from that deep valley there is only one voice that cares to call back, "The Voice of the HOLY SPIRIT". This is what I believe. My lifestyle was consuming me. Funny thing is I had yet to fight the toughest battle I'd ever face in my life, "the inner me against the face of religion!" hopefully I haven't lost you; but I ask you to picture these writings as one of those connect the dots images, each line is "HIS" designs, for "MY" life. Thank you for allowing me to share it with you.

THE BATTLE BEGAN WHEN MY LIFE ENDED

Salvation : the deliverance of the soul from sin and its consequences. The only true marker of acceptance of this gift is a willingness to set your life up against the instructions given to us by GOD and HIS Word for HIS Creation. (2 TIMOTHY 3:16). DIE TO SELF, self: is the way YOU trained yourself to cope in a world we set on a path to destruction. I've got a lot of helpful words from well minded Christians but the only true help and peace I have received came from my reading, prayer, and fasting with my connection to The HOLY SPIRIT. Here's the BATTLE, I spent years following and looking up to religious leaders letting them tell me what my walk with GOD is suppose to look like. We may share struggles that reflect and resemble, nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9), but the resolution to your peace and healing comes from the source. I was taught all kinds of weird ways to cope, fake it to you make it, take "CONTROL" over your house god is the head you next everyone else falls under you (this in the spirit of manipulation and control) ; I'll end it there. The most important thing is the stuff I was being taught came from people who posted themselves as being darn near flawless. Highlighting small struggles while omitting they partook in the things that Christians frowned upon. What it leads to...

THE TERM IS CHURCH HURT?

This brings me back to the number one problem in the church today "IDOLATRY". Making idols out of men is a very slippery slope and the line can be so blurred for someone beginning on that very narrow path "GOD" says WE'D HAVE TO TRAVEL (Matthew 7:13-14).

We are all flawed and we are taken off the path do to our own lust, but what happens when the person leading you begins to wander off that path (and we all do) they have to be guided back by HIS voice, but remember your dilemma (you are listening to their voice and their instructions) you are not listening to the voice that is going to lead you by "HIS PLAN" HE has for you (JERIMIAH 29:11). Most of us never left the plan we had for success, we just added god to "our plan". We got snatched out of our plan by HIS SPIRIT, as we walk confused knowing nothing and learning who we've become (sin nature) still operating in us does it's job, confuses us. Mix that with a lost and confused leader, where you find yourself is hurt. Say these words out loud from MARK 7: For the gate is NARROW and the way IS HARD that leads to life, AND THOSE WHO FIND IT ARE FEW!"

Striving for that perfect Christian walk is an unattainable goal. The focus in this direction is where our adversary wants us focused. This is where we will fail every time and we can never be an effective witness this way. EPHESIANS 2 (8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do).

THE SELF REFLECTION?

Even now reflecting back on the paragraph I hand wrote to be typed for "THE TERM IS CHURCH HURT?" I realize it was focused on the flaws and actions of the leaders who hurt me personally. That slippery slope and narrow path has a well minded silver lining (BUT WE DON'T NEED TO EXPOSE THE CHURCH AND POINT OUT IT'S FLAWS). Have you prayed and searched yourself to find the root of your focus "ARE YOU STILL FOCUSED ON YOU?" or are you afraid to ask yourself and allow The Spirit of Truth the HOLY SPIRIT to show you your heart? Because you are the church and the bible says we are flawed being MADE perfect!!!