Not feeling encouraging today

In one of the MySpace Christian discussion groups, someone posted the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from Daniel 3 as an encouragement to those in the group who feel like they are standing alone in the secular world. For some reason, I just don't feel encouraged by it. I was in a foul mood when I started reading it and after reading it I became even more frustrated. So I wrote the following response:



LOL... While I agree with what you posted, I'm not sure you address the correct problem.

Is the problem, really, that Christians are trying to do what God is calling them to do and are faced with obstacles? Come on! What percentage of Christians are actually listening for God's call much less following His call?

Jesus said, "Repent!" (take an 180 degree turn in your perspectives), yet, there are those who calls themselves Christians and insists it's ok to be gay. (Do you see any repenting there?)

Jesus said, "If you want to come after me, you must deny yourself, pick up the cross and following me." How much denying of oneself is there within the church?

Jesus said, "So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Ask any random person in church, "Are you willing to give up your career, retirement benefits, your comfortable home, your girlfriend/boyfriend, etc. if the Lord asks you to?" Do you think they are not going to try to wig out of that one?

Poppycock! The major problem today is that most Christians are chasing worldly stuff while trying not to do "wrong" and occasionally, they may toss in a token goodwill gesture.

Why? Too many Christians are willing to accept Jesus as their savior but are not willing to accept Him as their Lord. All they see is a "Get out of hell" card.

Sure they debate about this issue or that issue; you can read them in this forum. They might as well be one of the Pharisees or Sadducees.

What, in their lives, do they have to show for their citizenship in the Kingdom of God?

Last month, I posted a request for testimonies of what God has been doing in their lives. I had only 3 contributors. Don't tell me it's the lack of time. They certainly have time to argue like Pharisees or Sadducees.

No, I believe that it's because God hadn't been doing much in their lives.

Prove me wrong! Post your testimonies of what God has been doing recently in your lives. If you've been a believer more than a year, don't be posting your conversion story; if you do, it just means that God hasn't been doing diddly in your lives recently.