Sometimes being a Christian is hard, isn’t it? How about when it has already been a difficult day, and someone out in the world treats you disrespectfully, and you just want to lash out? Maybe you are frustrated with a fellow Christian’s behavior, and so you share that behavior and frustration with others. Perhaps you had an opportunity to encourage someone, but you failed to seize the opportunity, and now it is too late. How about a difficult relationship issue, and the last thing you want to consider is acting in grace first — so you don’t.
The reality is that we will continue to fight our propensity to sin while we remain on this side of Heaven. So, we understand that becoming Christ-like is a life-long process, and unfortunately, we will fail from time to time in our continuing maturation. I think that is one of the things that makes following Jesus so difficult at times… fighting the old nature to sin… when we really want to live God-honoring lives. I am so grateful for the promise that if we are faithful to confess our sins that Jesus forgives us and purifies us from all unrighteousness.
Yes… sometimes being a Christian is hard… and if we are honest… sometimes we make it harder than it really needs to be — because we choose behavior that we inherently know is wrong. Maybe we wound even as we know we should encourage. Perhaps we belittle when we should uplift. Possibly we follow culture even though Christians are called to be counter cultural.
And maybe it seems harmless… I mean, what’s really wrong with saying, “Let’s go Brandon?” Brandon, er… Biden…didn’t actually hear me say that, after all. If that last sentence doesn’t make sense to you, then perhaps you are a bit out of touch with current culture. “Let’s go, Brandon” has become a pseudonym for… forgive me… “_____________ Joe Biden!” (A vulgar word would be inserted in that blank.) It has been chanted at parades and football games, at race car tracks and family picnics, at community events and conservative rallies… and even in some churches.
I’ve seen it on social media, shared and written by fellow brothers and sisters of Jesus.
Folks, I’m not going to pull any punches here… so if you stand on the other side of the ring with me prepare to duck… Christians have no business ever saying, “Let’s go Brandon” unless you are cheering on an 8 year old named Brandon as he plays in his soccer game… and even then… based upon what is happening over that phrase… you might want to change it to “You can do it, Brandon!”
THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS! I don’t care if you support President Biden and his policies, or if you would stand on a soapbox with a megaphone and loudly contradict him and his politics all day long and twice on Sunday — The people of the Church of Jesus Christ are called to be like Jesus. The Greek word for Church is “Ekklesia” and it literally means — “The Called Out Ones”. Can you ever imagine Jesus uttering that phrase with the meaning that is behind it?
Listen to what the Bible teaches. “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” 1 Timothy 2:1-3. “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” 1 Peter 2:17 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Romans 13:1
I could keep going… the Bible clearly teaches that we are to respect those in authority and that we are to pray for them. Listen, you don’t have to agree… but as one of the “Called Out Ones,” you are called to honor them and to lift them before the Lord in prayer.
Yep, sometimes being a Christian is hard. Sometimes we have to fight the impulses to sin. Let’s get this one right, folks. Let’s be people of prayer.
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