Oh no... she's up.

"Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
- 2 Timothy 3:12

I have grown a lot over the last month. Through the help of some awesome friends, a school counselor, a committed husband, and quite a few intense worship services, I feel like I'm healing from the pain of... well... a lot of things I've been holding onto.

Amen.

I want to be the kind of woman that wakes up in the morning and the devil says, "Oh no, she's up."

[I love that saying.]

But seriously. I decided recently that it was all or nothing, in or out, Heaven or bust, if you will. You see, the only way to be really fulfilled by a life with Christ is to give yourself over to Him completely. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to happen that often. I know a lot of people (myself, included, at different points in my life) that call themselves "Christians" but don't act like Christ in, well, pretty much any way.

I know a lot of people who care more about the way someone on a church platform is dressed than by how much they love Jesus.

I know a lot of people who feel awkward if you bring Jesus up in an average conversation that doesn't take place at church.

I know a lot of people who think the way to be a follower of Christ is to follow all of the "do not's," like do not drink, do not smoke, do not have sex outside of marriage, do not swear, do not lie, do not steal, do not cheat, (and the list goes on).

All of those things are good things - they're Biblical rules for how we really should not conduct ourselves in life.

But what about all of the DO's?

We leave those poor little do's out quite a bit.

For example: 

"Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching." - 2 Timothy 4:2

"[May] supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions..." - 1 Timothy 2:1-2a

"Putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger... Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear...be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." - Ephesians 4:24-5:2 (sections)

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." - Ephesians 6:1

"Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women." - Ephesians 6:7

"Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 2:1-5

I could find many more verses like these, but you get the point, I'm sure.

Now, before you stop reading because you think I'm Jesus juking you (please click here if you don't know what a Jesus juke is), please understand that I have no problem having average conversations that don't mention Jesus. I also want to have fun and laugh and sometimes just be a goofball - I'm not advocating that we spend 100% of our lives being overly serious and contemplative.

However, I feel like we have a problem in mainstream Christianity, and that problem is that we've convinced ourselves that life filled with Christ is the same as life without Him, except that we follow some don't rules and go to church on Sunday.

But it is SO much more awesome than that.

[side note]

It took me (and it is still taking me) a long time, and a grueling process of constant surrender to even begin to understand or truly believe what I'm about to say. It's a daily thing, and it's not easy. This is as much for me as it is for anyone else.

[end side note]

Life with Christ is about living each day as a selfless, loving person, intent on proclaiming the message of Jesus in every situation. It's about being so in love with your Saviour that it doesn't matter what people say about you anymore, because all things are but loss for the sake of knowing Him. It's about having freedom from the chains of sin, self-doubt, lust, anger, selfishness, self-pity, materialism, fear, and pain and living in the knowledge that you are a beloved child of the Most High King.

I'm just sayin'... that sounds pretty sweet to me.

So what happened? When did it become normal to feel awkward when people bring up real, deep, faith issues if it's outside of a small group or church context? Why is it okay to hold onto anger, gossip, and slothfulness instead of living in the freedom that Christ offers?

When did we decide it was too much of a sacrifice to be persecuted for the sake of the cross that we decided to conduct our lives in a way that garners us the least amount of ridicule?

And how can we change that?