There are many reasons people avoid church and Christianity.
I would like to explore this subject and point out a few things.
Here is a list of reasons you may have heard or maybe even used yourself:
They are all a bunch of hypocrites.
I feel out of place.
I don't like the preacher.
I don't like the way they worship.
I don't like the way they dress.
Why is this so important to us? Or is some of this an excuse to not have to live up to God's standard? When we avoid Christianity and the Church, being Christian or not, we don't have to be accountable and we can do what ever we want. Anybody can do that.
To be a true Christian on the other hand is not easy. To become a Christian is easy, but to walk the walk takes discipline and a lot of help from God. What lot of people don't realize, is that it is a lot easier to run with the crowd than to resist the things that seem to be fun in the world. You have to realize a Christian is still human and a lot of sin is fun at the time, it is later that it becomes a problem.
God also asks things of us that go completely against anything society teaches. Lets look at some of this.
PR 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Most of this goes against the grain:
We are suppose to trust in someone other then ourselves.
We don't need to understand what is going on.
Everything we do, we are to do for God. In other words not for ourselves.
Then it goes on:
PR 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
Again it says to not think we know it all.
Then it even tells us how to handle our money. It says:
PR 3:9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops;
Do what? Give money to God. I don't have enough to begin with.
Then it talks about God correcting us:
PR 3:11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke.
We are even suppose to let God discipline us without it bothering us.
Wow, that is a lot that doesn't make sense with anything that we see all around us.
Most people only here this part of the Bible and they don't want to hear why God would ask this of us. It goes against what society teaches: I am my own, I do what I want, I don't have to answer to anybody.
But we need to look at this some more, because there are always promises that go with what God does and asks from us:
Lets see what promises goes with the verses we have read.
With 3:7 it says: PR 3:8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
With 3:9 it says: PR 3:10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
With 3:11 it says: PR 3:12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Take some time and think about the meaning of these verses. They are pretty easy to understand.
The things God does, always have a reason. He protects us from ourselves, he wants the best for us and he loves us. We always think we know what we need, but God truly does know best.
How do you get in on this? How do I make sure I receive these promises? If you are a Christian and haven't been doing any of this, recommit to Jesus and start walking the walk.
If you are not a Christian it all starts with the next 3 versus. If you do this your life will never be the same. I guarantee you will never regret it.
Rom 10:9-11 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
