By: Pastor/Teacher James R. Paxton
All my life I have heard people say “it’s so hard to be a Christian” or “being a Christian is not easy.” I will admit that being a Christian has its challenges. Challenges confront us all, Christian and non-Christian alike.
That is life. Becoming a Christian doesn’t cost you anything. Jesus paid the cost in full. However, being a Christian does have sacrifices to be made. You have to separate yourself from the appeal of the world’s system and trust God and do what the Bible says. When you become a Christian you must practice forgiveness even when you don’t want to. It may seem to be unfair particularly if the person to be forgiven hurt you on purpose. Is it a sacrifice? Not really. When you forgive, it cleanses your heart and sets you free of the past. It is a blessing in disguise.
What about tithing? Is it a sacrifice? Should you give God 10% of your increase when you feel you can’t afford it? First of all the Bible says the tithe is holy. It belongs to God. It is 10% of what God has blessed you with. When you give back to God, it opens the door for God to bless you with increase. You may feel like it is a sacrifice but it puts God into your financial situation.
Some may say “I need my rest” and church attendance isn’t really necessary. I can be just as good a Christian staying at home. True? No! God says in His Word to “forsake not the assembling of yourselves together”. To stay home is rebellion against God’s Word. Secondly, we are instructed to edify or encourage one another. You can’t do that if you aren’t there. Thirdly, the world is watching you and what kind of witness are you if you don’t do what God says? Fourthly, God may want you there to minister to you or He may want you there to be a blessing to others. You won’t know if you don’t go.
Some would say I live a better Christian life that some of them that go to church. That may be true but it is your relationship to God and His Word that is in question. That is between you and God, not between you and your opinion of someone that may be found in church. Certainly there are hypocrites that attend church. Even the devil and demons go to church. Does that make it ok for you to not go. Not hardly.
Being a Christian is not hard. Being a half-Christian is. If you entertain doubt or walk in skepticism or unbelief then being a Christian could be most difficult. Someone said “You can’t run with the devil and walk with Jesus.
But if you become fully persuaded and rooted and grounded in the Word of God and wholeheartedly put your trust in Him and walk in obedience to His Word then you will find that being a Christian is not hard at all. It does, however, require commitment, obedience, faith, love and diligence. How committed are you to being a blessing to others? I hope to see you in church. God may have a special word for you that will lift your spirit and cause you to rejoice be glad.
Maranatha!