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Guess What
The Bird is the Word
A Compromiser Never Makes An Impact.
So the Other night I was studying James while watching the Olympics, and a thought ran through my head, the thought was "compromisers never make an impact." I started to think about it, then read James 2, and came to realize that compromising is the easy way of saying, "I quit," or that "I'm not strong enough, make it easier." Then I started to wonder, why do Christians compromise?
Where in the Bible does it say we can live like everyone else, or that we should just act "normal" and try to fit in? When thinking about it, two main verses pop into my head, the first of which is 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 17 and James 2: 17 - 19
2 Corinthians 6:14-17
Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil[? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God's temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
"I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don't touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.
James 2:17 - 19
So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds." You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[a] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
So if we take a look at the first chunk of scripture, it says "come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves form them…" This is huge. So many people say that they are Christians, but fail to back it up with a lifestyle which leads right in to James 2 where it says Faith without works is Dead. Saying that you believe that God is real simply isn't enough, you have to have something to back up what you believe in, you have to live the Lifestyle.
"Don't call yourself a Christian if you are going to act like that." Pastor Judah Smith said this in a sermon addressing people who don't live up to what they claim to be. He continued to say, "Don't mock the sacrifice of Jesus, of what the disciples went through, of my life by calling yourself a Christian if you act like that." He was very passionate when talking about this, and I started to wonder, do people even know what being a "Christian" means.
Back when the Romans were persecuting the Church, the name Christians came around because they said they acted like little Jesus', they acted like Christ, and they had nothing else to call us. So you call yourself a Christian, do you act like Christ, do people confuse you with God?
I hear so many people say, "I believe in God, that makes me a Christian." when in all actuality, saying I believe in God doesn't really mean anything. James 2 says that Even the Demons in hell believe in God, and Tremble at his name. Faith without works is dead. Faith without the lifestyle to back it up, accounts for nothing.
This leads me to babying people, if you call yourself a leader, or even a Christian for that matter, I've only got three words for you, suck it up. Seriously, when I see someone going back and forth, back and forth it really only tells me two things. All, it tells me is that either you never wanted to quit, and never truly repented, or you simply aren't committed or discipline. I say never repented because when you repent, it's saying, "Lord I'm sorry, I'm going to try not to do it again." That's why I don't Baby people, people need to commit.
Being A Christian isn't supposed to be Easy, that is why you have to pick up your cross daily, you have to die daily. Nothing worth having in life comes for free, it costs you something. What does being Christian cost you, your life. Only when you loose your life will you truly find it. That is what makes Galatians 2:20 so significant. It says, "My old self has been crucified with Christ.[a] It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
There is nothing fun about a crucifixion, it's painful. Galatians 2:20 screams out, "I give you everything." It's more than just an idea, or a statement, it's a lifestyle. When you give your life to Christ, you submit to his authority, and are choosing to do his will instead of your own.
Christ asks for all you've got, is it in you? Are you discipline enough, or are you compromising.
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