Tonight, I stare at the computer screen a bit heavy-hearted once again over the same question. Why do Christians struggle so greatly with obeying the Word of God? There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of books written on how to live the Christian life. There are conferences, sermon series, Bible studies, and retreats all about improving your walk with God. And, of course, there is the Word of God; the best material on the most important matters in life (a Dallas Willard quote). And yet, we still fail.

We have all the information we need for success, and yet we choose otherwise. Why?I expect most people would give me a Systematic Theology answer about the fallen nature of man. While this answer is definitely a part of the problem, I’d like to explore another area. Because what I am seeing is not just great leaders falling prey to grievous sin, but a daily pettiness about the details of life. One reason for this behavior that I have noticed over the years is not all Christians understand God to be a real being. I do not mean a real idea or a real teaching, but a real being like your parents, spouse, children, or friend. It would be extremely difficult to go to church with your family and then go home and act as though your family does not exist. However, some Christians go to church and then go home and act as if God does not exist. Embarrassingly, some Christians even act as if God does not exist while they are at church. This is such odd behavior for the body of Christ who claim to have the most powerful, intelligent, and loving being dwelling inside of them.

As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” Plus, the God who indwells us is described in 1 Chronicles 29: 11, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.” This is the God who is in us! Yet, I see so many defeated Christian lives. In fact, this behavior reminds me of the agnostic view about God; that perhaps there is a being that created everything, but we cannot really know that being. The agnostic view would explain a behavioral pattern of going to church and then going home quite unchanged and indifferent. Christians, on the other hand, do not believe in a nebulous creator that cannot be known.

In fact, the New Testament writers affirm the certainty with which believers can know the reality of God:Luke 1:1-4, “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”2 Peter 1:16, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” These authors viewed God as a real being, and Jesus Christ as his real Son. They are essentially saying, “I was there and I saw these things with my own eyes.” No wonder they were able to suffer and die for God, because they had a reasonable understanding that God was real! So I am wondering if we would see a notable difference in the behaviors or attitudes of the body of Christ if all believers could articulate why they believe that God exists (apart from the answer of “the Bible says so”)? At the very least, would Christians be able to better prioritize what is petty from what is important in life if we could grasp hold of the reality of the God who indwells us?

MJ
© Mary Jo Sharp 2008