Welcome!
It is my desire to spark some conversations and think about what it means to be a Christian in the world today.
Recently, I was walking up the hill of a local ski area with a friend. I asked him the first thing that came to mind when I said “Christian.” He said, “Rules.” We talked a long time about keeping rules and avoiding sin. To him, the Christian life, although the right life, was a life filled with rules and restrictions. It was not fun or freedom that came to mind first, but drudgery. Then we talked about the kind of life Jesus offers so we can live, laugh and love.
Ezekiel 36:24-29 Talks about God giving a heart of flesh to the Israelites, replacing their hearts of stone. God will also give them the ability to live a life that is pleasing to God. We are transformed so the things that used to have our attention longer interest us. We have a new heart and desire new things. That sounds like a wonderful life.
If we don’t get a new heart, we have to insulate ourselves from the world and the people in it. We avoid sin because we can never have real victory over it. All we can hope for is to manage the damage of sin in our lives. However, Jesus said that he has come to give us abundant life and to set us free.
Personally, I want an abundant life and freedom. How about you?
How do we get there? Is it enough to confess Jesus as Lord and go to Church, or is there something else? I am not talking about works righteousness. I am talking about beginning a journey in following Jesus. What needs to change? What can we do to foster spiritual growth in our lives?
Have you been frustrated in your spiritual life? Why, or why not?
Pastor Dave