Normal Christian Life

What is the normal Christian Life?

I see many things in churches and hear many things taught in churches, but what does the normal Christian life look like?

I ask this because we had a healing service at church tonight, at least in part because of that; but also because of another story relayed to me, and also because it is simply something that I think about, and have talk with my wife about before.

To many people the normal Christian life looks like this: Go to church at least once a week (twice if I am really being holy), pay the tithe (probably about 10%, give or take), maybe volunteer to help with some church project, maybe pick up the Bible and thumb through it before going to bed, possibly even pray if one remembers to turn off the radio on the way to work.
To many, this is a normal Christian life. Granted I might be exaggerating somewhat, but I think if you took an honest poll, I probably wouldn't be too far off.
These Christians living this normal Christian life, also swear at the problem which just came up at work, use combative and ridiculing language (coupled with sign language) at the driver they feel cut them off today, come home and berate their children and wife for not being good enough, or for spending too much money, or not being quiet enough, all while kicking back with their beer and watching a rousing episode of Family Guy on TV.

The problem I have is that this is not the normal Christian life I read about in the Bible.

Most people seem to have taken bits and pieces and are missing other sections...Maybe they only have part from a bible smuggled into china a few pages at a time. (If that's the case let me know and I'll find you a whole one.)

So, why I write this tonight. First, let me relay the story as it was told to me.
My wife and I know a family who recently adopted a child whom they had fostered for some time. The situation this child came out of was very bad, and she is in a great family now. She also happens to be in our toddler class at church. The family is great and the little girl is great, except whenever she was first dropped off for class. Her mom has to run in, set her down and then run like a sprinter for the door, while this little one used to start a crying, tirade. You would have thought to see it that she had just lost her mother forever. Now, apparently this had happened at home as well. The dad, was training in classes at church which are basically classes to develop leaders for ministry. He had asked his mentor in the program to come out to the house and pray for their newest daughter, about these fits. His mentor agreed and then came back and told him, "I'm not coming, but here is what God said to do: You are going to pray for her. Tonight you put her to bed and wait until she is good and asleep, and make sure she is sound asleep. Then you go in anoint her with oil and pray over her. Say that you are her father and have authority over her. Then, in Jesus' name you command the spirit of rejection to leave her forever. She is going to sit straight up wide awake, and you tell that spirit to leave and never return. Then she will lay right back down and go right back to sleep." So, he did as his mentor directed. They put her to bed and waited till she was sound asleep. Then her went in, and anointed her with oil and prayed over her, that he was her father and was the authority and covering over her. Then he commanded the the spirit of rejection to leave her forever in the name of Jesus. This little girl sat up, wide awake and looked at him. He told the spirit to leave her and go into the dry places to never return. She laid back down sound asleep. Now, for the best part. She comes to church tonight, and rather than the screaming crying fit when she is dropped off for class...wait for it...wait for it...wait...for...it...she walks calmly into class and sets to playing right away. Freed forever from a spirit of rejection by a father who loves her, the Savior her father follows, and her father's willingness to take said Savior at His Word.

Reason 2: So tonight at church we held a healing service. I figured I'd go since my back is better but not perfect yet, and the fact that I LOVE seeing God move and miracles taking place. I love being a part of it. We had one lady who was deaf who took out her hearing aids and was able to hear people whispering...total miracle of deaf ears being opened. Another lady had been 10 years with sciatic nerve damage, and she had been unable to climb stairs without intense pain and something to hold on to. She was healed right there, no pain anymore in her legs, and she began walking up and down the stairs to the podium (which have no handrails) without any help.

Now you can debate the authenticity of such things if you want to. Did every person who asked for prayer get an instant healing? No. Will they all be healed? We can debate that another time. Did I get a miracle tonight? Yes and no. While I was waiting to be prayed for, I felt a burning run up and down my sciatic nerve in my left leg, which is where I have had all my pain. I could literally feel it in the nerve itself, it was centered there. I do not have as of this moment, any pain in my back or legs, and it's been 5 hours or so now. I do still have some tightness in my calf and some numbness in my foot, but I believe God has healed me, and I will see and feel a total manifestation of that healing in the days ahead. Why wasn't it instant? I don't know, but it doesn't matter, I believe God and will trust Him to do what He said He would do.

So here's the quandary I'm in. Why do we not see this every day? Every church service? Have you looked at the book of Acts in your Bible? What about in Acts 5 when the people were putting the sick in the streets so that Peter's shadow might fall upon them, "and they were healed every one"?
Or how about what goes on in Matthew 10: "These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions...As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons."
Remember in Matthew 11 before John the Baptist was killed? "When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."
Or again in Mark 16: "He[Jesus] said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. ...And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.' ...Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it(emphasis added)."

I read over and over again that if we believe, then we should be seeing signs and wonders following us as we go. So, why don't we? I don't find anything in the Bible to support a cessationist view (the view that the gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as tongues, prophecy and healing, etc. ceased being practiced early on in Church history.) For one thing, I've seen too much and been used too often in the gifts myself to not believe they are alive and well today. So, why does they church not see this all the time? Why are services like this one tonight the exception and not the norm?

I think it is because we have too often accepted that the normal Christian life is what I first mentioned above. Go to church, pay tithe, maybe pray, occasionally open a Bible (after dusting it off), etc. Whatever happened to living as strangers and pilgrims on this earth...living with sacrifice and commitment, tears and fasting, and touching a lost world with our lifestyle and commitment?

I want more than the accepted norm for my Christian life.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out; no longer good for anything, except to be trampled by men.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."

God's a little like Jimmy Buffet, looking for his lost shaker of salt...Looking for us.
II Chronicles 16:9a, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him."
I want to be found by Him. I want to chase after Him, and take hold of Him and dance.
Even now let it begin again, I want to do what my father said I would do. Holy Spirit come, lead us, empower us, teach us, but most of all, just use us. Let the privilege be ours of coming alongside of You oh God and joining in what You are doing.

I'm disappointed

I am disappointed. Yes it is about the alcohol vote. I was praying that it would not pass. But God also many times gave men over to their sins. He gave Isreal a king when they wanted one, even though they were never supposed to have one. That's just a quick off the top of my head example.

The reason for my disappointment though is even more than the propositions passing. Okay, so alcohol will be around. It already was. I don't want it at the grocery store. Let alone all the increase in crime and alcohol related crimes that the city and county WILL now see. I think it is wrong that a semi-govermental entity (Chamber of Commerce) forced this issue. But, they have the right to be greedy: We do live in America after all. I do think however, that a person under the legal drinking age should not have been allowed to vote for alcohol sales, perhaps I can get that amendment brought up to a senator or congressman.

What really disappoints men though it the vast number of Christians who supported this move. Does the Bible say "Do not drink"? No, it does not. Did Jesus drink wine? It is mentioned, although many biblical scholars say that the wine mentioned in scripture is not the same as what you buy at the liqour store...or I guess now the grocery store. This does include the wine Jesus made at the wedding. But that is another issue all together.
I am disappointed that in this day and age, the church in the "Bible Belt" refused to take a stand for morality. And the thing that saddens and disappoints me even more is that there will probably be people, even Christians, who will read this and say "What a non-issue!" "He must just be 'religious'!" "This guy is off his rocker. I be he drinks! What a hippocrite!"
Well, yes I do on occation drink. I am also over 21, and legally able to do so. I have never been drunk, or buzzed, and do not ever want to be. My occation for a drink tends to be maybe once or twice a year...if that.
I am dissapointed to read of the pastors and senior pastors who actually supported this measure. I'm sorry, but what happened to living a life "above reproach"? Yes, there are major issues the church needs to address, and many other social issues which are probably more important that alcohol. I must ask though, "Where do you draw the line at taking a stand?"

This simply shows me that what they found in 2000 had only become worse in the state of the church. In 2000, they found that less then half of SENIOR pastors in this nation held a Biblical worldview. And we see the results coming out in elections like this one today.

I fear that soon, unless something major in the church changes, you will see the church turn more and more into the world and to what the world offers. We already see churches the refuse to condemn homosexuality; churches in favor of legalizing drugs; churches who discuss the best way to weather the recession as the main sermon on sundays.
Where do we draw the line?

I have to say, "tolerance" will mean the death of Christianity in America. Christianity is not and cannot be a tolerant religion. We miss it when we are intolerant without the love of Christ (which is far too often the norm), but Christianity cannot be tolerant. I do not ever, anywhere in the Bible, see a tolerant gospel from God. Jesus did not live a tolerant life. Chrisitans are to follow His example, and that does mean we are to be intolerant of sin, but still show God's love. Easy to say but tough to do in practice, perhaps, but nonetheless, the example we are given.

I fear that we are seeing the death of the American church, or maybe we are just seeing echoes of something that died a long time ago...that is for God to decide, but the church in the country needs CPR desperately (that's Christ Perpetuated Revival). I pray that we can see a new generation rise up who are willing to stand for God regardless of the cost.
I fear that "dark and difficult times lie ahead", that "soon we must all choose between whet is right...and what is easy."

I pray that God will spare us in His mercy and we might see a true revival...it will be welcomed...at least by me and my house.

th