28 Aug
It’s Easy To Become A Christian, But Hard To Remain One
One of the most asked questions when I used to be a road-side witness with my youth group eons ago was “Huh? You mean it’s so simple!?”.
They were responding to, of course, the fact that it was easy to become a Christian — say a simple prayer admitting that one is a sinner, invite Jesus Christ as your personal savior, and end off with “amen”.
Some people were flabbergasted that it was that easy to become a Christian, and sometimes I feel that it is this ease that cause many to stray or leave the faith just a short while later.
I am not advocating there should be some initiation rites or tough obstacle course to be saved. Simply because Jesus Christ has indeed provided a simple way for us to return to God through His sacrifice that once and for all, washed away our sins if we believe in Him.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
What I am saying is that too often youth and church groups over-simplify the notion of being a Christian. Nobody reminds new Christians that the journey won’t be easy, nor that everyone will come to dislike them. As a result, many fall away when the first obstacles hit.
I’ve been a Christian for 14 years, and I can tell you that many times I have actually fallen away, but God has kept walking with me and harkened me back time and again.
I was a prodigal son many times over, and am not proud of it.
Being a Christian isn’t easy as I have found out — people look at you with different colored glasses on. They expect you to be the holy, nice people that they assume all Christians to be. Get angry about something once, just once, and they decide that you aren’t nice anymore. And if you should voice concern about some liberal thought they immediately seek to hush your Christian view up with some name-calling.
Nobody told me these things when I was a young Christian, and hence I was buffeted on tidal waves of rejection and being ostracized in some quarters. I didn’t know that being a Christian meant that sometimes you become a loner not by choice. Neither did I know that all Christians were supposed to be nice and sweet, always turning the other cheek which usually meant that you weren’t supposed to be angry and let others walk over you.
Yet, our Lord Jesus Christ told us that it won’t be easy to follow Him.
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”
I finally learned those verses much later and have come to know and accept that it won’t be easy to carry one’s own cross and follow our Lord. And I have also learned that people will hate us Christians just because. No other reason is necessary, it’s just because we are Christians — followers of Christ Jesus.
So here’s my little advice to my younger brethren and sisters: stand firm and let not those around you sway you from loving and following our Lord Jesus Christ. For the devil will seek ways to turn you away by any means, especially peer pressure.
I pray you don’t make the same mistakes as I did, but if you do, know that the Lord is always there beckoning you to return to Him. All you have to do is repent, sin no more and once again learn to follow in His footsteps.
And like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, God will forgive you and welcome you home with open arms.
For our God is a loving and merciful God.
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
Amen.
Photo by diver227.
Tags: Bearing The Cross, Christian Living, Hate, Love, Prodigal Son, Suffering
Posted by Casey on 28.08.07 at 23:47
Good advice. Many people think that you pray that initial prayer and POOF! your problems are solved and you live happily ever after.
Posted by Sicarii on 28.08.07 at 23:47
Most times it’s just the opposite — after you become a Christian, that’s when the trials come. :-)
Posted by Shalene on 28.08.07 at 23:47
I just read an article today that was a piece about a t-shirt that had what looked like the Staples “Easy button” but said Jesus on it, and underneath that it said “It’s just that easy.” The article went on to say that that was “false advertising.” I tried to find the article for you, so that I could share it with you, but I apparently didn’t save it. Sorry. Shalom and God bless, brother.
Posted by Sicarii on 28.08.07 at 23:47
Shalene:
LOL, that’s gotta be cute. :-)
But at the same time I worry about the other message it’s sending by saying that it’s false advertising.
While it’s difficult to be a Christian mostly, it is also true that the way to God is easy — just by accepting Christ as one’s personal Lord and Savior.
God bless and Shalom!
Posted by King's kid on 28.08.07 at 23:47
Scari,
You said: Nobody told me these things when I was a young Christian, and hence I was buffeted on tidal waves of rejection and being ostracized in some quarters. I didn’t know that being a Christian meant that sometimes you become a loner not by choice.
When you come to know and follow the Word of God you will surely be sanctified. Sanctify- to be set apart; to be separate.
So Sicari you were not being rejected you were being sanctified. LOL! Praise God.
Many are under the false assumption that all is required is believing that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died you our sin, and you shall be saved. If you dare try to inform people that God requires Obedience, not only will you be sanctified, you will be vilified. However, when you realize the reward for obedience, it makes it easy and well worth your while. Great post.
Peace to all
Posted by Sicarii on 28.08.07 at 23:47
Dear King’s Kid:
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving me this wonderful comment.
I have never thought about it that way! I’m looking at those days in a totally new light now.
But you are right — informing people that it requires obedience will really make you quite unpopular. Perhaps that’s why most evangelists do not touch on this point.
The beauty of our faith is that to be saved, all you need to do initially is believe. Walking on the path requires total obedience and total surrender to God’s will.
Posted by channelofhealing on 28.08.07 at 23:47
it is not easy my brother I tell you! but we must follow him, that is the only choice we have to live… as for the part of not being angry…
the only thing I do when it gets too much for me is, cry to God and tell Him to fight for me… and believe me when He does answer it is in a big way, bigger than I imagined.
so on the long run , waiting and following Him is my best bet, easy or not.
Godbless will be checking your archives for more posts.
Posted by Justin on 28.08.07 at 23:47
Sicarri said: “Most times it’s just the opposite — after you become a Christian, that’s when the trials come.”
Amen brother! I also wish more pastors would start teaching on this. It gives everyone false hope to think that all life’s problems disappear after becoming a Christian. I have had some of my hardest battles since becoming a Christian, but the only thing that makes them “feel” easy is that Jesus Christ is on my side.