Applying our faith to our lives

Why don't we practice Christianity outside of the church building?

You know exactly what I'm saying.  Many people, myself included, are great Christians inside the Church.  We sing the songs loudly and ask our questions about God, participate in the discussions and appear to be great Christians.  Yet for many of these people, the vast majority of our friends would never know that we are Christian.  We swear and cheat on schoolwork and we act often with harshness to those around us, judging our peers with impunity.  Why is this?

The biggest problem with the idea of practicing Christianity is that people are lazy.  It's far easier to revert back to our old ways once we walk out the Church doors than actually apply them to our lives.  I think that that is one thing that youth leaders (for sure the ones at my church) struggle with the most.  No matter what they teach, no matter the lesson every Sunday, if it doesn't stick then it is irrelevant.  And the leaders can't make it stick, that has to fall to us.  I guess that that is why I created this blog.  I felt that I just wasn't doing enough with my faith outside of church.  This way, even if I can't change anyone else, at least I will change myself and hopefully my faith as well.

In addition to being lazy, the main barrier to our faith is that it's just not cool.  Especially in the culture of us teenagers, the ideas being promoted often including smoking, drinking and sex, the ideas of religion just aren't meant to be shared with our friends.  Of course, this depends on your friend group and what clique you happen to align yourself with. 

Finally, many of us don't WANT God in our lives.  We are perfectly happy exactly where we are and we want nothing to change.  We have some fear that if we allow God to take control, if we give Him the reins, the God will transform our perfect life.  He may ask us to sell our possessions and give to the poor.  We may have to devote our time to him.  We would have to give up sinning.  I am one of this category - I know the things that I need to change, but I continue to do them anyway.  But this has to change.  In Genesis 2, God commands Abraham to leave his country, home and friends, and set out to a new land.  In return, Abraham is promised the blessing and protection of God.  And we all know the story of Jonah, who made a slightly less wise decision in regard to obeying God.

The key to being strong in your faith as a Christian is, I believe, getting over the "lukewarm" stage.  At Wayzata Evangelical Free, the youth saw a video by Francis Chan on this very subject (and Josh did a great job speaking about it in the congregation.  Live so that others can tell you are a Christian.  Wooddale needs to work on this I've heard, as do all churches.  That't the benefit of a smaller church - a closer community means a closer connection with God, often times.

A Christian can be on fire for God, or lukewarm for God.  God HATES the lukewarm behavior we sometimes adopt.  Revelation 3:16 says "So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth."  The Bible says that those "name only" Christians WILL be condemned to Hell.  Going to church on Sundays and telling people you are a Christian is not enough.  You have to live by the standards to reap the rewards.  This blog is meant to help get me over MY lukewarmness as well as yours.

Well, I just wanted to get a post out on the blog so it wouldn't look so empty.  More design editing/posting to follow.  At the moment of this writing, I doubt a single person even knows about this blog, so I'll have to tell some people.  I'm planning on posting at least once a week, minimum.

Finally, prayer request... Matt Honson's grandpa died recently so please continue to pray for him.  I'm struggling with a few friendships but nothing major.  Feel free to contact me with prayer requests.