All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Becoming Discouraged.

Hello all,

I just would like to share and get some insight about all the religious cofuffle in the world.

I am becoming increasingly discouraged about how many people have their own religious belief, such as mormonism, etc. It just makes me feel like I cannot clearly speak about Jesus and am even feeling like calling myself a Christian is a useless thing, because people just look at labelling as fitting into something religious- not having a real relationship with Jesus.

If I was to become involved with a discussion or debate about why Jesus is real and give my testimony, most people would respond by saying, "Well that is your belief of the 'truth'. That is just the unbelievers there. I do worry about all these other doctrines that people have become involved in and I myself have become sick of church.

My view about what a real church is has become distorted and I just wonder if it is still important that I attend church. I now look at church as a cult group of people, thanks to all these different groups of denominations and groups of people that claim to have found the 'real Jesus'.

I feel that nowdays it has turned into a great debate, always wanting to expose the false doctrines and teaching people or preaching the real Jesus.

I have exerted so much energy in trying to convince people and showing them, but they don't see, neither do they want to. Is this blood on my hands if I let go and not say anything?

In the midst of this, I feel I am losing my relationship with Jesus Christ.

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Permalink Reply by Colby on February 12, 2013 at 12:24am

Don't become discouraged, don't quit the Church, don't lose your relationship with Christ.

As Christians, we are members of the Body of Christ, which is the Church established by Jesus Christ. The Body of Christ is stronger than the differences that divide us.

Disunity and strife within the Church has been with us since the First Century. It was the subject of letters written by Paul to the Church at Corinth. The Church is made up of imperfect and broken people, and not one of us is righteous.

Jesus prayed for unity in the Church: "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23).

Unity does not mean there must be uniformity. We don't have to agree on everything or worship in exactly the same way to be Jesus followers. There are many parts, but one body. "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and, in all things, charity." We are Christians because we hold to certain essential core beliefs concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus said the most important thing for us to do is to love God and to love one other. But we do have to receive Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives and show God's love to one another.

For those who have not yet joined us, we are called to share the Gospel, to pray for them, and to shine the light of Christ by our example.

First Corinthians tells us that the Gospel, or Good news of Jesus Christ, is foolishness to many. It goes against the wisdom of the world and turns it upside down. Like it or not, the world is made up of atheists, agnostics, and billions that follow other religions than Christianity.

When we carry out the Great Commission, to share our faith with others, they will either accept the Gospel or they won't. That's the way things are, and we need to be prepared for either outcome. We have a part to play as instruments of God, but make no mistake: it is not us, but the Holy Spirit, that has power to change the hearts and minds of others.

Because people are corrupt, spiritually blind and predisposed to sin, the Gospel is hard for them to accept. It's a hard sell. The best we can do is present the Gospel as clearly, succinctly, and simply as possible. Don't add to it or subtract from it. Don't make it complicated. First Corinthians 15 is such a summation of the Gospel by Paul. As he tells us in Ephesians 2, it's as simple as this: we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

So don't be discouraged, give up your faith, or quit the Church. Stick with the simplicity of the Gospel message. Don't worry about those that major in the minors and minor in the majors. Stay focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ. By your example, incarnate Jesus' love in the world. Stay strong in the faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, in things unseen, as we read in Hebrews 1.