Miserable Christians?

 

The devotional book I selected for this year has taught me much, yet not directly. The author wrote much about Christians who are miserable because they do not believe God. Some of it made me wonder if any of the people referred to were even saved. Most Christians I know are not ‘miserable’ in their walk with Jesus but experiencing much joy. Even when times are tough, they are trusting Him. Some complain but seek His will and are growing in grace and faith.

After eleven plus months, I began to wonder if the writer was striking at the tiny branches and missing the root of the problem. After doing a bit of research, I found that root and now understand this focus. This writer was part of what is called the “Holiness” movement consisting of a teaching that “no one could actually be born-again unless they had a ‘second blessing’ that made them perfect” meaning no more sin. No wonder many of them were miserable. While we are called to perfection, our perfection is in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. As we work out what that means, He works in us with the goal of perfection, which is true of our position in Him but not constant in our practice in life. Besides that, being perfect is not a requirement for new birth; it is a gift of God’s grace:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4–10)

After becoming His through faith and given new life in Him, that new life is to be lived out. The biblical term is “worked out” — yet He does the work in us.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)

God works in me and my part is to cooperate, to stop grumbling as the next verse says, showing that the source of my life now is the Spirit of God, not that old selfish and fleshy person that He died for. New life in Him makes this possible. I do not change because I’m ‘trying harder’ or thinking rightly about God. He makes the changes and they show up!

I write about this because many Christians are miserable because they are Christians but have somehow began thinking that their changed life depends on themselves. The book of Galatians addresses that issue of beginning in the Spirit and trying to be perfected in the flesh.

In contrast, some think they are Christians because they go to church, believe that Christ existed, and doing good is important. Instead of being saved by faith, they are going through the motions.  Jesus did say: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ “ (Matthew 7:21–23)

The Christian life is about having a personal relationship with the Christ. Without it, no one can be a Christian, no matter what they call themselves:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:1–8)

PRAY: Jesus, this is a longer than usual post because the gospel requires clarity, and because I don’t know if any readers are caught in the trap of “I’m not good enough” and feeling miserable. You know how to change that and even to use it to draw them to Yourself.