How's That Working For You? Examining Your Christian Life

So, now… we'll live happily ever after right? Well, we all know that's just not the way it works. 

A number of years ago there was a comedy show called, Hee-Haw, how many of you remember that show? Well, once in a while they would have an act on the show where someone would go into the doctor's office and say, "Doctor… Doctor, it hurts when I do this…" To which the doctor would respond by thumping the patient on the head and saying… "Then don't do that."

 

In so many ways Christians can be like that patient on Hee-Haw.

If your life is not Christ-centered then… "Don't do that!"

If you have lost your vision for the church then… "Don't do that!"

If you have unconfessed sin in your life then… "Don't do that."

If you have lost your passion and love for God… "Don't do that!"

And as simple as it may sound, the Hee-Haw mentality is pretty much the truth. If we are doing some of these things then we need to stop. But, we all know that sometimes things are easier said than done.



Now, because I'm a pastor and shepherd, I have the greatest concern for people individually, and corporately. You are the flock that God has placed in my care, and I have a huge responsibility to present you before our Heavenly Father, holy and without blemish.



Now, if sheep are engaging in behavior that is unhealthy for them, it is the responsibility of the shepherd to rectify their behavior. The shepherd cannot allow the sheep to drink tainted water or wander off by themselves or become infected with disease. And should these problems arise, the shepherd must address them and correct them.

And I'm not sure, but I don't think that any shepherd was of much use to his sheep if he simply called out to one of his endangered sheep and said… "No, don't do that. Don't drink that water it will kill you." Instead, he would retrieve the endangered sheep, he would lead it away to pure clean water and he would rub it behind its ears and love on it.

Years ago when Ronald Reagan was president, his wife Nancy tried to help prevent drug abuse by having school children repeat the phrase… "Just say NO!" And although I'm sure it helped some children I am just as sure that for others the words didn't really keep them from going down the slippery slope of drug abuse.

In the same way, I would be of absolutely no use to this congregation if I looked at the confessions of last week and said, like the doctor on Hee-Haw… "Don't do that." Because, many people will continue to do what they are doing unless they are shown another way to do things. A better way. A rewarding way.

So, as we look at some of the problems that we are facing as Christians… as we examine our ways and test them, the Scripture instructs us to then, "return unto the Lord."



The Christ Centered Life 

For the person who is not living a Christ centered life, I could say… "Don't do that!" But, you already know that. So, to you I say… "How's that working for you?"



If Christ is not the center of your life then what is? And if something other than Christ is the center of your life, don't be surprised if things aren't going so well for you and your family.



In Exodus 20:2-3 God tells us, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me."

Sometimes other things become more important to us than God. That is called idolatry. Sometimes it's money. Sometimes it's sex. Sometimes it's power. Sometimes it is ourselves. We can become idols unto ourselves.



In Genesis 20:4-5 God warns us about having idols and tells us that he is a jealous God and that He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him. In other words, our children, our grand children and our great-grand children will suffer because of our failure to put God first.



If our life is centered on anything other than Christ, it will ultimately destroy us and it will destroy our church. So, to you I say… return unto the Lord. Trust in Him, because He loves you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New King James Version)

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
      And lean not on your own understanding;
       ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
      And He shall direct your paths.

Vision for Christ's Church

For those who have lost their vision or passion for Christ's church… I could say, "Don't do that."  But, you already know that.

So, to you I say, "How's that working for you?"

Do you go to church because of how it makes YOU feel… or do you go to church to worship God? Do you go to church for what you can get out of the church? Or do you go to church for what you can give to the Kingdom of God?

I want to remind you that His church does not depend on buildings or cathedrals. When He walked the earth His church assembled on seashores and on mountainsides.

His church does not require any special style of music or dress… but a broken and a contrite spirit that makes a joyful noise unto the Lord.

His church is not about what we want… but about what He wants. He is the head of the church, we serve Him, first and foremost.  And He has promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

If you are disillusioned about Christ's church I say to you, "Return unto the Lord."



Confession of Sins

For those of you who are struggling with un-confessed sin, I could say, "Don't do that." But, you already know that. So, to you I say, "How's that working for you?" 

How does it feel to carry the weight of guilt and shame and remorse? How does it feel to have secrets and sins that you fear others may someday discover? And how does it feel to act as if nothing is wrong when all along you know the truth about what you have done? How does it feel to know that someday you will have to give an account for those sins and stand before God and give an explanation?

But, I want to remind you that you are not alone. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But, if you have un-confessed sin in your life then the Lord wants to talk to you...

In Isaiah 1:18 He says,

¹⁸ " Come now, and let us reason together,"
      Says the LORD,

      " Though your sins are like scarlet,
      They shall be as white as snow;
      Though they are red like crimson,
      They shall be as wool.
 

God just wants to talk… God is reasonable. He WANTS to forgive you.  In 1 John 1:9 God's Word tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  

So, to you who have un-confessed sin I say, "Return unto the Lord."



Love for God



For those who are struggling with their love and passion for God, I could say, "Don't do that." But, you already know that. So, to you I say, "How's that working for you?"



If you have lost your love or passion for the Lord, what is it that you do love? Has something stolen your affection away from the One who has given you the breath of life?



Perhaps you are angry with the Lord because He has not given you something that you wanted? Or… maybe you feel He has taken something away from you that you believe you should have?



Think again, my friend. I encourage you to make a list of all the blessings the Lord has given you; your home, your clothes, your food, your health, your friends. Thank Him for each of these. Your freedom, your skills, your abilities… thank Him for these.

Think of the suffering of Christ upon the cross, and how He shed His blood to pay the price for your sins. Think of His mercy, His grace and His kindness… and thank Him for these things. Think of His great love for you and how He rose from the grave to prove to all mankind that there is hope beyond this miserable world. Think of all these things and see if it does not kindle up the affections of your heart.



Think beyond this world of death and sin. Jesus has pledged His eternal love for you. He loves you so much He was willing to die for you. If you were the only person in the world, He would still have died just for you because He wants to spend eternity with you.



And He has gone to prepare a place for you as the Word of God tells us in John 14:1-3 when Jesus said, ¹ "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."



If you cannot love Him for the life you have in this world, love Him for the life He promises you in the world to come. Because, He has something special in store for you, something that will bless your socks off.



In 1 Corinthians 2:9 the Apostle Paul tells us,
⁹ But as it is written:
      " Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
      Nor have entered into the heart of man
      The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

And when we realize how great His love is, loving Him becomes so easy. So, to those of you who struggle with your love and passion for God, I say, "Return, unto the Lord."  

 

 

 

» left by Brianna Popsickle

2 years 70 days ago.

Just so you know, your article worked for me. Thanks for writing it and sharing it with us Mark.

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» left by Mark Parsec 2 years 70 days ago.
285 fans.

Hi Brianna,

 

Thank you... LOL. Nice spin on the "worked" theme. Glad to hear that the article was helpful for you. Thaks for the comments.

 

Mark

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» left by Jim Johnson

2 years 69 days ago.
13 fans.

Just say no, didn't stop me. But I had many other problems. As I grew older I began to see that I didn't live a Christian life. Thanks for the article Mark. 

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» left by Mark Parsec 2 years 69 days ago.
285 fans.

Thanks Jim,

 

Yeah... growing up in Christ sure can be an eye opener. Thanks for your comments.

 

Mark

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» left by Marijo Phelps

2 years 69 days ago.
139 fans.

Wonderful piece! Proverbs 3 was the scripture that the Lord used to get us to move to Colorado (no relatives or jobs here but we came and have been thankful ever since!) MArijo

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» left by Mark Parsec 2 years 69 days ago.
285 fans.

Thanks Marijo,

 

I love Proverbs 3:5-6 and try to live by it. Glad you and your husband were faithful enough to follow it too! Thanks for your comments.

 

Your brother,

 

Mark

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» left by Ella

from Texas 2 years 69 days ago.

The Bible is chocked full of good advice and inspiration- it's one of the best books ever written. You can use it for a reference book (as it was meant to be) all your life- if you know how. The trouble is that we were taught to view it from a different perspective than what it really is- taught by selfish, greedy, power-hungry people who sought to use the Bible to control others for their own ends. Unfortunately it worked - and still does. The Bible was meant to be used as a guideline to our own human nature in order that we may know ourselves, and therefore help ourselves become better people, not as a directive from somewhere on high. As Jesus said: "The kingdom of God is within you." We now know what is "Up there," we've seen the man behind the curtain. Did you understand the message in the Wizard OF OZ?

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» left by Mark Parsec 2 years 69 days ago.
285 fans.

Hi Ella,

 

The story of the Wizard of Oz was actually a metaphor regarding the deregulation of gold currency... an ounce (oz) of gold, the Tin Man was symbolic for the industrial society of America, the Straw Man was the agricultural segment of society and Dorothy was the common folk, the working class. The "Wizard" was the intelligencia of Wall Street and the Ivory Colleges...

 

Yes, I understood clearly the message of the Wizard of Oz...

 

Sadly, there are those wolves in sheeps clothing who are always looking to make a buck or manipulate people for their own ends. Unfortunately, too, some people are so cynical about messengers that they have neglected the Message.

 

Thank you for your comments.

 

Mark

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