What will history say about today's Christians?

There once were Christians that people may not have understood and did not follow, but they were interested in what these Christians had to say. They were inspired by these strange people called Christians. People would stop and listen to what they had to say instead of running away as they do today.

People were astonished at the courage of these early Christians. Just two months after Jesus’ crucifixion they were willing to preach the gospel to anyone that would listen knowing they could be executed for doing so.

Peter and John were arrested for spreading the words of Jesus. They were jailed and brought before the religious leaders. They stood strong and refused to back down. Fearing a riot the religious leaders let them go with a warning to stop speaking of Jesus. They refused to accept the religious leaders terms.

They leave and immediately meet with a group of followers of “The Way” Christians. The first prayer meeting ever recorded was held on that day. They prayed for God to give them the strength to continue to speak of Jesus with great boldness, fearlessness and confidence in spite of facing all kinds of percussion. They prayed big prayers unlike us that tend to pray small prayers.

Will history say we faced difficult times, but did not fear?  Will history say we remained confident, engaged, not divisive, not judgmental, loving and kind? Will history say the worse things got the better we got and the world was a better place because we were among them? 

Christians today need to remember we do not just go to church we are the church. We may be the only contact nonbelievers will ever have with Christ. We have to let them know we are Christians by the way we live our lives. Will history say people wanted to listen to us or that people wanted to avoid us because we were prejudice, judgmental, selfish, prideful and condemning.  Are we giving people a reason to want to be a Christian or not?  

Can you be content in adversity?

What can you do when it seems your situation cannot ever change?  Perhaps it is a health issue, financial issue or relationship issue. It may seem that your dreams can never come true. Your situation is permanent. All your options may seem to be bad ones. Do you get angry and resentful? Do you start telling yourself you will never be happy again? Do you start looking for who or what you can blame?

I certainly have been in situations where I thought there was not a solution and nothing good could come out of the situation I was presently in.  I have gotten angry, resentful, looked for someone or something to blame.  I have even blamed God, wondered if God had forsaken me, wondered what I had done wrong for God to punish me, wondered if God was hearing my prayers and sadly have wondered if there was a God.

I assure you God is never absent, God is not punishing you, God is not angry, God knows what you are going through and God loves you. Don’t consider God’s silence as not caring.

When you are going through these difficult times try to find someone that has been through a similar situation. Ask them how they got through it. If they survived it you will know you can to.

Don’t beat yourself up for having doubts. John the Baptist was considered the greatest man on earth at the time by Jesus and John the Baptist had doubts.  While in prison he sent his disciples to see if Jesus was really the Messiah.  

Do not lose your joy, hope, sense of purpose and certainly do not lose your faith in God during these difficult times. We have story after story in the Bible especially in the New Testament of people going through difficult times and not losing faith. In times of your difficulties read about the life of Paul. 

Paul came to see the thorn in his side that God would not remove as being good for him.  I have come to see that the bad health I have suffered most of my life has been good for me.  As with Paul my suffering has helped me manage my pride and kept me humble. The grace of God can give us the power and endurance to get through any and all difficulties.

A trial is not always your enemy.  It can be a gift. It depends largely on the attitude you take towards your circumstances. Many Christians try to hide their problems because they are afraid people will think their faith is weak. Use your story to help others. There is a natural bond between people who have suffered similar circumstances. Be a comforter!

There is nothing wrong with asking God to remove our problems, but it is important that we be prepared to accept God’s will. I think it is more important to ask God to comfort us in the midst of our problems. We must trust that God knows what is best for us and that takes faith.

I am not naïve. I know we all question how God can be good and yet bad things happen to good people. Bad things happen to good and bad people, but people of faith can learn to be content in bad times. Trials do not have to wreck our contentment unless we allow them to. I certainly want to learn to be content in good and bad times. I know if Paul could learn to be content I can to. 

We have no idea how God can use our adversities for good if we remain faithful. There was a young man in my parish suffering an incurable illness.  I was moved to another parish and about five years after being moved he came to my new parish and wanted to see me.  I invited him in and ask how he was doing. He told me he was better, but he wanted to let me know that because of how I handled my illness he became determined that he could to.  He had left the Catholic Church and was studying to be a minister in another denomination. That outcome never crossed my mind. He will go on to help others and they will go on to help still more. God works through people.

(Note: A good man lost to the Catholic Church because they will not ordain men with lifelong health issues.)

One mistake we often make is jumping into solving our problems before we turn them over to God. We focus on the wrong things and when we focus on what is wrong we can lose sight of what is right.  We lose sight of what God is doing. We lose sight of what God is making right. Trials when handled properly can bring us closer to God and strengthen our faith.

Ask yourself the next time you find yourself in the middle of a bad situation how is my actions affecting others. Your hope in bad times can bring hope to others. No matter how difficult your situation is there is hope and you can survive.

GOD CAN MAKE BEAUTIFUL THINGS OUT OF DESPAIR!