The Lazy Christian.

Is there such a thing? A lazy Christian?

The Lazy Christian does not:

• Pray
• Read the Bible
• Serve
• Evangelize
• Tithe
• Know their personal gifts
• Bear fruit

We are called to live a life set apart FOR Christ.
Yet apart from Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
So then: DOING NOTHING = LAZINESS.

Need a definition?

 

la·zy  (lā′zē)

adj. la·zi·er, la·zi·est

1. Resistant to work or exertion; disposed to idleness.

2. Slow-moving; sluggish: a lazy river.

3. Conducive to idleness or indolence:

Lazy Christ are apart from Christ. These lazy Christians are the lukewarm church. Do they know their destiny? Revelations 3:16 explains it simply.

So what then shall they do? Luke 13:5 has the first step of the solution.

Folks, the end is drawing near. There is no time to procrastinate abiding in the Lord. I long to see the Body of Christ full engaged living a biblical lifestyle that attracts the unsaved to Christ.

How will the world know that Jesus Christ transforms lives,

if your life looks no different from the world?

Where did you get off track? Refer to the list above. The starting point of living out a 'changed life' starts with a 'devotional life' of prayer and spending time in the Scriptures/truth! In this time, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and you will begin to bear fruit, find your spiritual gifts, serve, give, and evangelize.

The Christian life is intended to be active, not passive.

Matthew 28:19-20 gives the directive: Go and make disciples! This is not an optional commandment, it is what the Lord Jesus calls us all to. It's up to you to spend time with the Lord to find out who in your life you are to lead and direct toward Christ. God speaks. His Spirit leads and convicts. Obedience is key. Obey the voice of the Lord, the nudge of the Holy Spirit and you will find yourself being an "active participant" in the work of God.

Otherwise, you will remain the "spectator Christian"...the Lazy Christian. And that my friend is just down right boring. No wonder sexual immorality, alcohol, drugs, porn, the Internet, money, -- FILL IN THE BLANK -- is so attractive and consuming your time. You are not aggressively engaged all that God created you to do FOR HIM.

John the Baptist said it best: I must DECREASE, He must INCREASE. It is to be about HIM, not us!

When it is about US, our lives, dreams, comfort, choices....we become disengaged with Jesus...and resort to being Lazy Christian, living the lukewarm powerless life fulfilling OUR will, not HIS will.

It all begins with repentance. Luke 13:5. Repent of the selfish lifestyle and call onto the Holy Spirit to fill you with the power to overcome your fleshly desires and give you the passion to live sold-out to Christ. And then daily - stay plugged into the power source!!!!! This is when you crush the lazy, spectator Christian lifestyle and you will produce the kind of fruit that is imperishable...that which will stand with it refined by the fire coming!

LUKEWARM - What is it by definition?

You know you're a nerd when you have fun working on a 75 page paper....

Here's a little excerpt....

"Consider what ‘lukewarm’ in the Greek means, the word in which God describes the church of Laodicea in the Book of Revelation lukewarm is chliaros in the Greek, which means, “ the condition of the soul wretchedly fluctuating between a torpor and a fervor of love.”  Further definition is needed. Torpor is defined as sluggish inactivity, lethargic indifference, apathy, and dormancy; fervor on the other hand is intense heat, passion, and zeal."

Attempting to make this fit as part of my worldview, and will feel like I need to find a way later to refer back to it later when I pose the need for greater discipleship.

Why is this fun? Because it is confirming...no longer do I take offense when people try to criticize me and say that I am too passionate for Jesus...really, according to these definitions can one really be too passionate? Funny how a critical opinion can be received as an affirming compliment.

I was born for such a time as this, to be open and transparent about my faith to serve as an encourager to those who do not want to live the lukewarm life, but find acceptance for their zealous pursuit of the Lord.

It's OK to love God above all....really, it is!

Are you bold enough to share Christ? Anytime, anywhere, and as the Spirit leads you?

If I am bold to share Christ, I am shamed by people.

If I avoid sharing Christ, I am shamed by the Holy Spirit.

What do you think I choose to do?

Unfortunately for others, I am bold for Christ. But my motives are always pure. I promise.
I am guilty of caring too much.

Caring about peoples':

• Salvation
• Walks with God
• Walks withOUT God
• their marriages
• their kids
• their ministries
• their reputation
• their mental health
• their physical health

I care about people's lives. I really do. And when I see people make plain as day decisions in complete opposition with what the Word of God says, I speak up. Why not? It's only their salvation, their eternity, their lives they are setting up for bankruptcy, right?

For the record, it has been over a month and a half since I sat in church. I love church, but I've had kids taking turns with colds and flus and ear infections that well...tis the season I miss a lot of church from having sickies.

I state that so that I can say the next thing...I don't even have to go to church to see how diluted the preaching is. When will the undiluted Word of God be preached? When will people be passionate about living sold-out for God? As though there is "saved, but no fruit or holiness" as an option? No passion for Christ?

Folks, when I read the Book of Acts, the start of the 'church', the apostles were bold. BOLD. When I am bold out in the marketplace or with friends and family....oh dear, silence falls upon the crowd, and someone attempts to correct me.

I am so saddened that there is no sense of urgency upon the Body of Christ to share what the Bible REALLY says. Not the verses about 'believe and receive'...but the verses that tell us how to live...'be holy as I am holy' says the Lord.

I can see why so many men take on the mission to write books that call Christians out of their complacency. That's what it is - Complacency has plagued the body of Christ.

(Okay....Not ALL, but most...come on, there's a statistic that says only 10% of Christians read their Bibles...you can't disagree with me that 90% of the body of Christ is complacent...come on, they don't even read their Bibles. How can one be sold-out and passionate about Christ, if they don't even read the Bible???? Read John 1:1 and on...Jesus is the Word...therefore, you should read the Word!)

On another note, I totally acknowledge that my giftings and calling are completely different than many around me.

 

HOWEVER, Matthew 28 tells all: GO and PREACH THE GOSPEL.

 

Why are so many pussy-footed to: GO and PREACH THE GOSPEL?

People don't want to offend others. People don't want to be rejected. Hello, do you really think that person's lifestyle is NOT offending the Lord? Do you really think that Jesus is not being rejecting?

I think one thing is clear about me: I DO NOT LIVE FOR MAN'S APPROVAL. No way. Man is fickle, they are wayward, they are sinful, and can't even please themselves. So why try? Let's make a deal, you don't reprimand me for speaking truth of the Bible, and I won't reprimand you for NOT! No, I actually can't make that promise, because that too is not fulfilling the Word. Remember, Jesus, the Lord of lords, King of kings say to: GO and PREACH THE GOSPEL.

Present day, America in 2012 has become a time where everyone wants to do as they want, what feels good to THEM, but everyone needs to keep their mouth shut. Are you kidding me? Jesus died on the cross so that those who believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Did He die in vain? Should we not tell the world the better way...the ONLY way?

Here's where society defaults to relativism. Guess what? The Bible that I read is very clear and concise on what we are to do. It's truly our survival guide to life, how can I be wrong to point someone to it when making some of life's biggest decisions?

Here's where I care...entirely too much. And after sitting down this morning in Acts 9:28 and reading about Paul 'speaking boldly', I find myself writing boldly.

Hey, I live by: When you do things GOD'S WAYS - You get GOD'S RESULTS!!!

I challenge every Christian to truly read and STUDY  the BIBLE, beyond a 'devotional time', and then challenge yourself to live a life that the Bible shows you, and the life God calls you to.