The Words We Speak But Do Not Say

Not that i feel like i am doing especially well or that i am in a good stretch of my life, but because i look around me and see hearts falling left and right, i find myself yearning for God's presence more and more not just in my life but in the lives of others. This life is strange in that we live our own lives and we take care of our own spiritual journey through disciplines such as prayer and quiet times, which form our own spiritual conditions, yet we are so affected by the people around us that regardless of our own spiritual walks, the joy or the deadness in others can override our own feelings of life. As Christians, we are constantly commanded to encourage each other and to lift each other up.

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage each other daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
- Hebrews 3:12-14 (NIV)

This command that we have is a serious command that is set in direct opposition to turning away from the living God. When we are left to ourselves, we fall into the trap of our sin and look at ourselves and our failings without the lens of grace. All of a sudden, God's grace is not enough and we flail around looking for things other than God. As we encourage each other, we remind ourselves of the grace that God freely (in the sense that there is no condition under which He will not pour out his grace) gives to us and to others. We encourage each other to protect against hearts that turn away from God's grace because they cannot see the very grace that God showers them with. We encourage to guard our very salvation.

(No, I am not saying that you can lose your salvation, but instead in the same way that we "work out our faith in fear and trembling" (Phil 2, emphasis mine) and are "all the more eager to make [our] calling and election sure" (2 Pet 1, emphasis mine), we encourage as a sign of a people changed by God's power and grace.)

There is total legitmacy to sharing your troubles and concerns with brothers and sisters in Christ as the body is one important way God speaks to us and works within us. Recently, however, I've been increasingly discouraged by the way people handle their frustrations in life. It is one thing to talk to your closest friends and your accountability partners and your mentors to work out the problems in life, but it is another to lash out at the world. Sometimes, these issues with life leak out so strongly that it affects everyone and everything around. But let's not get too accusational-sounding without mentioning of course, I am plenty guilty of this as well.

(I know to "lash out" is very strong language, but even in lesser degrees, to publicly broadcast your anger or frustrations is not wise, in my opinion.)

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
- 2 Cor 2:15 (NIV)

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
- 2 Cor 5:20 (NIV)

The reason I think this is because our every word and our every action is a testimony to who God is. We are supposed to represent Christ in all that we do and when we show our frustrations and our struggles so transparently to unbelievers, it may stumble them. "Why should I be Christian when it only leads to terrible things? I'd rather not deal with them at all!" Our lives are the the aroma of Christ, and Christ's ambassadors. God works and moves through us! Let us be true representations of God and take on His strength and joy throughout all things. In this way, may unbelievers see the goodness of God.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God -- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many so that they may be saved.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (NIV)

In the same way that our walks affect unbelievers, they affect fellow brothers and sisters. Let us not be stumbling blocks to each other, causing us to doubt the goodness of God and his sovereignty. It is one thing to be visibly frustrated and to be open to brothers and sisters, but when the issue remains inside tight lips, it serves no purpose to appear mad and angry.

We are human and we experience a whole host of problems, tests, trials, and struggles, but our God is a God above all these things. Over the past semester, I've tried to cling so hard to something Paul says in 2 Cor 4:17 - "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." Amidst all the things that go awry in our lives, remember these things. One, remember the reward/prize that awaits us in heaven (Phil 3:7-21). Two, consider Christ, who suffered and endured far more than anyone through His separation from God (Heb 12:2-3) and Paul, who took joy in His suffering (2 Cor 11:23-29). Three, trust in God's goodness (Rom 8:28).

I'm not saying to be fake, but instead to be cautious not to diminish God's power to other believers and to nonbelievers. One of the greatest testimonies to an unbeliever can be how God has brought us out of our trials and restored us. One may argue, let us be transparent and "real" with unbelievers. Let us show the true struggles of a Christian and not hide them. But I think when we do this, we tend to forget to include the essential message of the gospel. That while we were still enemies, while we were sinners, as we fall to temptations and struggles, as sin continues to stumble us, Christ still loves us and gives us the hope of future grace and glory in Him.

... let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
- Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Let's encourage each other in this way that we might lift each other up out of darkness and to pick each other up when we stumble and persevere with one another in this long race that we call life.