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Dear struggling Christian, God isn’t threatened by your questions

Toye Akinoso
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Dear struggling Christian, God isn’t threatened by your questions
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I think if we are being honest with ourselves, a lot of us as Christians, are afraid of questions. How often do we shy away from our duty to evangelise under the guise of “What if someone asks questions I can’t answer?”. In some instances, we can even be afraid of the questions we ask ourselves. We are afraid that under interrogation, our doubt may cause our faith may falter.

When I became a Christian, I used to think I’d have to leave my brain and the door when I entered Church. I found the way we treat doubt and doubters quite worrying. Questions always seemed like the enemy of faith. “Just focus on God and the questions will go away”, or “Take God as His word” or “God’s ways are simply a mystery to us”. Phrases like these were ones I often heard when I would raise my doubts. These are sentiments which are I understand and are sincere but often leads to a mass of nominal Christians unaware as to why they believe what they claim to believe. Fortunate for us, we serve a God who isn’t afraid of our questions but instead invites us to ask them. God isn’t threatened by your doubt, nor does he get mad at you for asking questions. When we read the Bible, we find a God who is far more comfortable with our doubt than the Church is today. A God who doesn’t want our mindless obedience but rather our thoughtful Worship.

To have doubts is not unusual to experience for the Christians. The Bible is filled with stories of men and women of God who wrestled with their doubt. It is inescapable. The important thing isn’t to ignore our doubt but rather, how do we deal with it? Here are four ways which have greatly helped me.

Acknowledge your doubts

What separates Christianity from every other world religion is that we serve a God who knows what it’s like to feel. There is not a facet of life which anyone reading this article has experienced, which Jesus in His thirty-three short years on Earth did not Himself experience. If you feel abandoned? Jesus was abandoned. If you feel rejected? He experienced that also. If you face temptation? Jesus was tempted in every way. Do you have doubts? Jesus knows what that feels like. As the writer of Hebrews says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus knows how we feel and have a unique understanding of our weakness (Hebrews 2:18). God already knows that we have doubts. The Christian is not called to pretend as if they don’t exist, but to instead trust Jesus with our doubts. We do ourselves a huge disservice when we try and brush our questions under the carpet in the name of faith. Once we acknowledge them, Jesus deals with our doubts as he did with dealt with the disciple Thomas’ doubt in John 20, He reaches out to us. The Christian shouldn’t run from their doubts or deny them, but like the man who sought Jesus’ healing for his suffering son in Mark’s Gospel we ask, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

“Doubting God is painful and frightening because we think we are leaving God behind, but we are only leaving behind the idea of God we like to surround ourselves with—the small God, the God we control, the God who agrees with us. Doubt forces us to look at who we think God is.”- Pete Enns

Doubt your doubts

When we have doubts, we should start by questioning them. As Graham Ryken once said, “Some believers spend too much time doubting their faith, and not enough time doubting their doubts.” Very rarely do our doubts occur in a vacuum. More often than not, there are external pressures that fuel our doubts. The doubts we hold are typically tied to false beliefs we may have, misconceptions or wrong expectations. As Christians, at some point or another, we will face doubts. However, there some questions we should raise about those doubts.

  • Have I been compromising with sin in ways that make it harder for me to see God and hear his voice? (Matthew 5:8)
  • Are there any books or teachings that you have recently been consuming that might have contributed to your wavering faith?
  • Have there been some changes in circumstances in your life that have caused you to doubt God?
  • How does my expectation compare to what the Bible says I should expect?

Don’t doubt alone

You are not alone in your doubt. There is nothing new under the sun. The same questions and doubts we have today regarding faith, are the same questions and doubts fellow profession Christians have had in 2000 years worth of Chruch history. More often than not, there is someone in your Church, small group or fellowship who is wrestling with the same questions that you are. It is vital to find a Christian community which nurtures and helps us through our questions and doesn’t shut them down in the name of faith. Find those you trust and are grounded in their faith and share your questions with them. When faced with doubt, our response shouldn’t be to wallow in self-pity but invite someone in to help us bear it. Find those who won’t just give you short and quick answers, but those who will do life and walk with us through these difficult times (Galatians 6:2).

dont doubt alone

Doubt to the Glory of God

God is not offended by our doubt. God designed us to seek truth, that we might grow in our knowledge of Him – Sheri Bell

There are God-glorifying ways to deal with our doubts. When everything makes sense and life seems to be going our way, faith comes easy. But in those moments when life is challenging, trusting God, and having faith is all the more difficult. It is in these moments when God is most glorified. I have found that the periods of doubt in my life have actually played a significant role in the strengthening of my faith. This is because when we have doubts, the deficiency is in you, not in God. This deficiency isn’t meant to discourage you, but rather encourage you to seek the answers in the God of truth. God doesn’t run away from our questions but invites us to ask then to him. When David had his doubts, and there were numerous of them, he always spoke to God about them in prayer. When the doubting father in Mark 9 questioned whether or not his son would be he healed, he went to Jesus and prayed for the gift of triumphant faith. When the Psalmist Asaph had his doubts, he ran to the temple and worshipped God. When he did so, he then perceived correctly (Psalms 73:16–28). Our doubts should make us run closer to God as opposed to away from him.

So dear struggling Christian, acknowledge your doubt. But that isn’t enough. Doubt your doubts, tell others about your doubts and most importantly, tell God about your doubts. As you ask for His help remember, God “will deliver the needy when he cries” (Psalms 72:12).

How to love Christians you don’t like

Emmanuel Ayoola
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How to love Christians you don’t like
Prefer to listen? Listen here

Of all the things that you will learn in your Christian walk, one thing is for certain…Christians are messy. As much as we expect that the new birth (2 Corinthians 5:17) would iron out all the flaws in our brothers and sisters, there remain many quirks, tendencies and annoyances that cause people in our churches and circles (including me and you) to be insufferable.

Every Christian (and even the staunchest of atheists) has heard Jesus’s command to love our brothers and sisters. I’ve often heard it said that “you can love people, but you don’t have to like them“. This sounds reasonable, but is this the attitude that Christ has towards us, and is satisfied with us having towards others, especially those whom he died for? And we all know that without the motivation, our “love” for messy Christians will be no more than an “I’m praying for you” occasionally, without truly serving them practically (James 2:15).

It is crucial for us to not only treat others the way Christ calls us to, but to think and feel about others the way Christ wants us to. To help create this attitude shift, let’s look at 4 things Paul teaches us from 1 Corinthians 12 that will motivate us to love Christians that we don’t like.

1. Focus on the common ground

– For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. – 1 Cor 12:12

For all our differences, the one thing we have in common is the most glorious thing about us. Our identity in Christ. The same Spirit has brought us all into communion not only with Christ but with each other.

A great way to demonstrate this communion is to understand the redemption of our sin. You could write all your known sin issues on a piece of paper (and if you do this honestly, it should cause some discomfort). The lying, sexual sin, greed, jealousy, cheating, stealing, anger issues, bullying… the list goes on. In our salvation, we hand the record of our sin over to Jesus and in his death, burial and resurrection, he pays the price of it all, tears up the paper and says “You are forgiven. You are clean. God and sin no more” (1 John 1:9, John 8:11).

He does the same for the Christians that you can not stand. You could also write every flaw of other believers on a piece of paper, hand it to Christ and He tears that up also. How wonderful is that! Let’s focus on that common ground – our common salvation (Jude 3). In your thoughts and prayers about others, don’t be more concerned with what you wish they would be than you are thankful to God for who they are. Just like you, they are redeemed.

As Christians, we are all united by the work and purpose of Christ.

2. Look at what God is doing

For the body does not consist of one member but of many… But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. – 1 Cor 12:14, 18

When God calls us to commit to a local church (Hebrews 10:25), He’s aware of our flaws, and intentionally placed us together as one. This is not accidental. The same way that the Lord is intentional in weaving our physical bodies (Psalm 139:13), He is intentional in the weaving of the body of Christ.

By putting together incompatible people, God provides the context for us to fulfil our purpose as Christians. We often think of purpose in the sense of career or achievement. But how often do we consider our purpose to forgive those who wrong us, encourage the unmotivated, help the seemingly useless, show kindness to the mean, be generous to the needy? Don’t think that the perfect church for you is one where everyone fits your preference. God has intentionally placed you with those you can’t stand, so you would learn to humble yourself as Jesus does (Romans 5:6-8).

3. Weaker does not mean worse

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honourable we bestow the greater honour, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty – 1 Cor 12:22

The word weak is the same word Paul used in 1 Cor 8:7. He describes a Christian with limited theological knowledge and a weak conscience. Often, our reasons for not liking certain Christians are because of ways that they do not live up to our expectations of them. Yet the weak Christian is indispensable according to Paul. This means more than just “being welcome” to come as they please. Paul is telling us that as a body, we cannot do without them, even with their flaws and quirks. You may be put off by their lack of wisdom, lack of patience, lack of optimism, lack of self-control, “extrovertedness” or “introvertedness”. And yet, they are still indispensable to God, and so should be indispensable to you also. Likewise, you, with all your flaws, are indispensable.

Although people are weak in some areas, we shouldn’t only focus on what they or we don’t bring to the table, but celebrate and focus on what we bring to the body.

As Christians, we are indispensable to God

4. Do it for the glory of God

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. – 1 Cor 12:27

The body is the representation of Christ on Earth. This means our role as believers is to live in a way that demonstrates our faith which we can explain through our testimony. If Jesus gave his life up for people he didn’t “click” with (Ephesians 2:1-3), then we can and should desire to do the same.

Imagine if you were to invite a close secondary school friend to church. They’ve known you well and know your preferences to some extent. If they were to see you showering another believer with loving-kindness, knowing how incompatible you are with that person, how great of a gospel witness would that be? If they ask you about it, you now have a great illustration to show them practically how Jesus change lives. It’s a beautiful picture of the gospel.

Don’t see this as something you just have to put up with. See it as a way to fulfil your calling as an ambassador of Christ and pray that your attitude towards the intolerable would reflect that.

If we are to truly obey the commands of Jesus, we have to go past mere tolerance of others and pursue the desire to serve them no matter how intolerable they are. Through prayer, scripture reading and investing in the local church community, our attitude, and therefore our actions, to Christ’s people will overflow with Christ centred love. We must lean on the same Spirit that baptised us into one body to empower us with a beautiful attitude to members of his body, no matter how little they suit our preferences.

Mental Health and The Gospel

On Mission
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Mental Health and The Gospel

Joke: Photons have mass? I didn’t even know they were Catholic.

Some of the words and phrases in common use – like ‘mental health’ – don’t occur in the Bible. We, therefore, need to pause and think: Do we all mean the same thing by the phrase? And, what are the contact points between this phrase and the Bible?

  • Let’s think about this phrase ‘mental health’.
  • Take 2 minutes to come up with some descriptions of what this phrase means to you– Compare your description with the other people doing this study

Look again at your list – mental health is more than not having a mental illness, isn’t it? Good mental health is characterised by a person’s ability to fulfil a number of key functions and activities, including your ability to

  • Develop emotionally, creatively, intellectually and spiritually
  • Initiate, develop and sustain a mutually satisfying personal relationship
  • Face problems, resolve them and learn from them
  • Are confident and assertive
  • Are aware of others and empathise with them
  • Use and enjoy solitude
  • Play and have fun
  • Laugh, both at yourself and at the world

What is also likely to be evident from your list is that no-one is perfectly mentally healthy – we are all on a spectrum – and we may move up and down on it from day to day

Some background! 

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, director-general of the World Health Organization, reported in 2000 that “five of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide … are mental conditions” ( Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2000, 78).

The five conditions she listed are major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, alcohol abuse and obsessive-compulsive disorders. In addition, significant mental-health disorders plaguing humanity include phobias, generalized anxiety and panic disorder. Any of these maladies can be disabling.

Worldwide, mental-health afflictions are increasing. The total share of disability caused by them increased from 10.5 percent in 1990 to 12 percent in 1998 and is expected to increase to 15 percent in 2020—almost a 50 percent increase in only three decades. Depression, currently the fifth-leading cause of disability, is projected to jump to second place by 2020.
While treatment options—including medication and counseling—are available, prevention is the better choice.

Why is prevention preferable rather than treating a problem after it arises? Although treatment often works, it usually is much more costly. The costs often include financial losses, physical-health deterioration and trauma to family members—sometimes resulting in family disintegration.

Many mental illnesses can be prevented, and the Bible provides helpful information to that end. After all, it is a handbook from God on what we should think and how our minds should work. Among other things, the Bible tells us how to relieve stress and the kind of stimuli we should allow into our minds. Here are some crucial biblical keys to mental health.

Discussion

  • What are your thoughts on this?
  • How do you deal with your mental health

Here are some helpful ways of addressing mental health.

1. The power of a positive attitude

We start with the obvious merits of simple positive thinking. In Philippians 4:8 the Bible instructs us in proper thinking: “And now, my friends, all that is true, all that is noble, all that is just and pure, all that is lovableand gracious, whatever is excellent and admirable—fill all your thoughts with these things” (New English Bible, emphasis added throughout).

Those who consistently apply these positive words will practice positive thinking, a habit crucial to mental health. “A positive outlook is known to improve recovery from surgery and the immune system’s ability to fight off disease as well as aid in cancer recovery, to reduce the fight-or-flight response and hence stress disease [and can] … restore our tranquillity and turn our unhappy, anxiety-producing hormones into happy ones” (Archibald Hart, M.D., The Anxiety Cure, 1999, p. 217).

The characteristics of an optimistic mind-set include the ability to focus on the positive when the negative seems overwhelming. The key lies in turning a problem into a challenge and then working to meet it.

Negative thoughts are often the product of established patterns that are related to our belief systems. This could be about a variety of things, such as self-esteem, productivity, finances, relationships, a career, or anything else.
We also must avoid filling our minds with the negative and degrading aspects of the world around us. The apostle Paul wrote that some things are so shameful we should not even speak of them (Ephesians 5:12). Yet many of the degrading things to which Paul referred fill our print and electronic media.

If we want good mental health, we should discipline our minds to avoid a degrading mental diet. The principle of “garbage in, garbage out” certainly applies with respect to our minds. The net effect of what occupies our minds—and often comes out of our mouths—will be as pure or as corrupt as whatever we let enter our minds. We jeopardize our mental health when we subject our thinking to mental trash. To remain psychologically stable, we must discipline our minds to avoid thinking in the gutter.

  • Often criticizing people
  • Being attracted to drama
  • Having a victim mentality
  • Always expecting the worst
  • Feeling depressed
  • Taking things personally
  • Dwelling on bad news

IN PLACE OF THIS WE CAN

  • Spend less time with negative people
  • Don’t feel guilty
  • Like attracts like
  • Reprogram your mind
  • Practice Gratitude
  • Celebrate Small Wins
  • Say LOVE more
  • Say Thank you more

2. Reining in feelings and emotions

Where do feelings and emotions come from? 

When God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27), He included the human personality, which can express godly feelings.

The primary characteristic that summarizes God’s very being is love (1 John 4:8, 16). 
But Paul describes a greater range of godly characteristics and emotions as aspects of the fruit of His Spirit. They include “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, New International Version). 

The Bible exhorts us to be full of this Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

If these traits are dominant in our personality, we are less likely to suffer from mental aberrations. Such a mind will be self-controlled; it will be stable and able to endure the difficulties of life. It will be optimistic and optimism is a vital part of a healthy mind. “Optimistic people are more able to roll with life’s punches and slough off stress—and they live longer” (Bradley Wilcox, M.D., Craig Wilcox, Ph.D., and Makoto Suzuki, M.D., The Okinawa Program, 2001, p. 273).

Conversely, “a person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls” (Proverbs 25:28, New Living Translation). This person will be vulnerable and driven frequently by negative emotions. His outcome is described in Galatians 5:19-21. His accompanying problems can include adultery, sexual immorality, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, envy and drunkenness. Living this way exacts an automatic penalty that makes one a candidate for instability, unhappiness and mental problems.

We choose our emotions, and we live with the consequences. The types of emotions that prevail in our minds are a major determining factor in whether we succeed at life itself. “Emotions are a mixed blessing. They are responsible for many of man’s finest and greatest achievements. They are also responsible for some of the greatest tragedies in our world” (Norman Wright, The Christian Use of Emotional Power, 1974, p. 13). If we choose healthy emotions, we can be happy and achieve success in life.

3. Taking time Out 

We live in such a fast-paced world that it is essential to schedule breaks from our routine. “Taking time to rest is not an option in today’s world; it is a necessity. Yet more people struggle here than in almost any other area of their lives. It is perilous not to take time to rest” (Hart, p. 118).

Even Jesus and His apostles felt this need. Notice one such occasion in Mark 6:31: “Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.’ There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat” (NLT).

For mental rejuvenation and avoiding stress overload, we need daily rest. Especially as we get older, an afternoon nap can rejuvenate us. We also need regular vacations if our financial circumstances and work situations permit. Even if one does nothing but stay at home on holidays, breaks from our routines can be beneficial.

In addition, God tells us we need to schedule one day in the week for rest. After completing His work of creation, God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). The Hebrew word for “rested” is shabath, the verb form of the noun translated as “Sabbath” in Exodus 20:10-11, where God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel and commanded the Israelites to keep His Sabbath holy by resting on the seventh day of every week

4. A social support system 

“… Woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up,” says Ecclesiastes 4:10. 

Good mental health requires contact with other people. One of the first revelations of the Bible is that God designed us to need other people: “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

See our previous study on Fellowship

The need for emotionally supporting family and friends is scientifically established. “What happens if we have no close relationships? The message that emerges loud and clear from scientific evidence accumulated since the mid 1970’s is that having a reasonable quantity and quality of social relationships is essential for mental and physical wellbeing” (Paul Martin, M.D., The Healing Mind, 1997, p. 157).

Human interaction spawns growth and is essential mentally and physically. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (NIV).

Perhaps the chief benefit of uplifting social contact is that it provides us the opportunity to learn how to love and serve. This is vital to mental health. “I have never met a person who is genuinely focused on helping others who is unhappy or dissatisfied with life … I can assure you that they are happy because they are directing their attention away from themselves” (Hart, p. 223).

Jesus recognized this and demonstrated that love and service are keys to happiness and mental health. He performed the menial task of washing His disciples’ feet to demonstrate that His disciples were to serve one another as He had served them. After washing their feet Jesus said, “Now that you know these things, happy are you if you do them” (John 13:17, Twentieth Century New Testament). Later in the same chapter He told them, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (verse 34).Jesus earlier said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

Discussion

  • What stands out?
  • What additional ways can we look after our mental health?

Why don’t Christians evangelise anymore?

On Mission
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Why don’t Christians evangelise anymore?

During this week’s episode of On The Table, we bring to the table, Evangelism! As Christians, we all know that we need to share the Gospel, God has equipped us and commanded us to be witnesses of what He has done for us in our lives. However, a lot of us make excuses as to why we don’t share the Gospel as often as we ought to. So, how can I better share the Gospel?

Guests: Toye Akinoso, Deborah Suen, Rufaro Jerahuni , Jireh Antwi

Join the discussion online using #OnTheTable


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How do I discern God’s will for my life?

On Mission
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How do I discern God’s will for my life?

On this weeks episode of The Pulse Podcast, we aim to tackle a question which most of us have wrestled with at one point or another, “How do I discern God’s will for my life?” For many people, the answer to this is a lifelong pursuit which often leaves us frustrated. Mike Omoniyi provides some encouragement and some key principles to help us better answer this question.

Join the discussion online by using the hashtag #ThePulsePodcast.

Join the conversation online using the hashtag #ThePulsePodcast

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Soundcloud: CLICK HERE

RECENT EPISODES

How do you know Christianity is the one true religion?

On Mission
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How do you know Christianity is the one true religion?

The Pulse Podcast is back with a brand new season, season four! On our first episode back, we discuss the matter of truth. Even in a post-truth world, there is still value is seeking the truth. There is still value in pursuing clarity in the person and work of Jesus. “how do you know Christianity is the one true religion?”

Join the discussion online by using the hashtag #ThePulsePodcast.

Join the conversation online using the hashtag #ThePulsePodcast

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Soundcloud: CLICK HERE

RECENT EPISODES

“Why can’t Christians be rich?”

On Mission
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“Why can’t Christians be rich?”

During this week’s episode of On The Table, we bring to the table, the taboo topic of money! As the old adage goes, money makes the world go round. We can’t avoid it. In today’s ages, there seems to be no facet of life which is untouched by money and the pursuit of it. So how then, as Christians, should we view wealth and materialism.

Guests: M.T Omoniyi, George Obolo, Deborah Seun, Caleb Sekitto


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10 Ways To Overcome A Spiritual Drought

M.T. Omoniyi
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10 Ways To Overcome A Spiritual Drought
Prefer to listen? Listen here!

We will all go through spiritual droughts, but they do not need to take over our lives. Sometimes great victories are followed by great temptations. I remember after preaching at large conferences or singing at large concerts worrying about the impending crash that would come. Moments of euphoria and exhilaration would be tempered by a persistent lull that I just couldn’t explain. If you can empathise with me, firstly, breathe. It’s normal and there is a way out. Even Jesus went through the wilderness after great glory on the river Jordan. During Joseph time, 7 years of plenty quickly turned to 7 years of drought. In this post, you will learn practical tips on how to get through your spiritual drought.

1. How you respond in the drought will determine how long you will stay there. Israel had a journey in the wilderness that was supposed to a last short time, but because of their wrong reaction to the wilderness, that journey lasted 40 years. Jesus on the other hand, went through the wilderness in only 40 days because His response was epic. He spoke the word, whereas Israel complained in the wilderness.

2. The Holy Spirit can lead you to the wilderness, but only the Holy Scriptures can guide you through it. Jesus was led to the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, but He battled through it through the power of the Scriptures. Rely on what you KNOW from the Word, and not on momentary feelings when you are in spiritual wilderness. (Psalm 1:2 -3)

3. God’s silence is NOT God’s absence. Like a teacher is silent during a test, God may be  ‘quiet’ while you are in the midst of a test. During a physical test in a class, one must rely on what was already learned and what a student committed to memory while the teacher was speaking. Then the teacher speaks again as soon as the test is over. Likewise, during God’s tests, He can be quiet. A believer must rely on God’s prior teachings to get them through the test, and God WILL show himself. (2 Chronicles 32:31)

4. If you’re going through hell, keep on going. David said; though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death. Walk through, don’t live in it. Paul said; put on the armour of God to withstand on an evil day. Don’t let an evil day or the valley of death become your life by building a tent. (Psalm 23:4)

5. God does not just reward us when you find Him, but when you seek Him. “Blessed are those who HUNGER and THIRST for righteousness,” not those who ARE righteous. Just for pressing into God through fasting and prayer and seeking Him, God will reward you and give the breakthrough you need. God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. David was called a man after God’s heart, it does not mean David had God’s heart. It just means that David was after it and God blesses that. (Matthew 5:6)

6. Suffering is not an excuse to stop serving. For example, Job prayed for his friends when his own life was in shambles, and Jesus healed even while he was getting arrested. Abraham prayed for healing for others when his own wife was barren. We do not serve for ourselves, but for God out of obedience and love for Him. Life is like tennis; those who serve well seldom lose.

7. Sometimes the best thing you can do on your worst day is to take a nap. When your body is tired, emotions take over and affects your spiritual life. The enemy WILL take advantage of your weariness. When Elijah was running from Jezebel, the angel of God offered him nothing but food for strength and sleep for rest. Jesus also napped, and He was the only one who was able to calm the storm. Be refreshed. Get rest. Nap.

8. If you miss devotions, that does not mean you have lost your devotion. Devotions are your time spent with God, and devotion is the life you give to God. If you question your devotion for missing a few days of reading the Word, it is a lie of the devil. You are in a RELATIONSHIP with God, not a CONTRACT. Christians should not feel guilty when they miss a day of prayer, but they should feel hungry! Devotions are your time spent with God, and devotion is the life you give to God.

9. DO NOT make permanent decisions when you are spiritually dry. Decisions like relationships, moving, career, and other commitments need to be made when you are out of that brokenness. It is when your mind is alert, your spirit is receptive and your emotions are stable.

10. Develop stamina and patience. God allows dry seasons in our lives to establish the fruit of patience to make you complete. A fruit develops from sour to sweet, and that takes time. Likewise, patience needs time. Therefore in the midst of dry seasons, do not complain or give up because God is making you more complete. You become a person who is not swayed by emotions or circumstances when patience grows to ripeness.

Ultimately remember that God is still on the throne, however, this doesn’t mean he is far away from us. God is not on some mountain, He’s not to be reached for. For the believer, God is very present and he is with us. In over 98 Places in the Bible, God speaks about himself as being with us and not some abstract thing we have to find.

Here are some examples:

  • Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
  • Joshua 1:5 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
  • Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
  • John 15:14 – We learn about the deep and abiding presence of the holy spirit which will follow the believer wherever he goes

The feeling you feel will move on, just like every other feeling! God will never leave you.

When Our Leaders Disappoint Us

Tobi Oludipe
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When Our Leaders Disappoint Us

The topic of leadership has always been central to the church. Jesus Christ, the ultimate leader was described as the ‘good shepherd’ (John 10:11) and as Christians, we are tasked with emulating Jesus Christ and becoming ‘good shepherds’ within our own communities. Throughout the Bible we see Jesus Christ lead the disciples by example, through service and in love. In Jeremiah 3:15 God promises us ‘shepherds’ who will ‘lead with knowledge and understanding’. The word for pastors in the Greek is ‘poimen’ meaning a shepherd: one who takes care of the sheep and tends to them. Our pastors are highly important in our spiritual journey. For many of us, our pastors are the ones we seek advice from, they inspire us to go deeper in our relationship with Christ, live holy lives and feed us with the Word of God on a weekly basis. The question is what happens when our leaders disappoints us in their actions.

The nature of man

For I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 51:5

“Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard” James 3:1. The Word of God already points to the expectation that is put on those who are in ‘official teaching capacities’ be that as a pastor, bishop etc. When people are on a pedestal in whatever capacity there is a pressure for them to remain faultless as they preach on (the word of a) faultless God. This, however, is unrealistic and condemnation of those who fall is unbiblical.

James continues from His acknowledgement of the pressure on leaders in James 3:2 where he says: ‘we all stumble in many ways.’ The reality is we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Any man that says he has not sinned is a liar. (1 John 1:10) As humans, we are all under the temptations of the flesh and a title does not absolve any man from this. The failings of a church leader should humble us into seeing our own frailties and our great need for God’s strength in striving for a holy life in a fallen world. Resist the temptation of pride to enter your hearts and gossip to form on your lips about those we are called to honour (1 Pet 5:5).

Facing Disappointment

Don’t let your faith be wounded, God is not limited by the actions of man. If our faith was rooted in the actions of man and how they portrayed the Gospel and carried themselves, then our faith would be fruitless. Satan is well aware of the impact of a leader on a congregation and when said leader falls into sin especially publicly, it can have a humongous knock-on effect on the church members and leave many feeling confused and broken.

After the Lord withdrew his favour from King Saul because of his disobedience, He had Samuel the prophet anoint David as king. During a time of war and Philistine intimidation towards Israel, David killed the giant Goliath, Philistine’s most prized warrior, and the Jewish women sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:7, NIV). This caused Saul to become increasingly envious of David and plot to kill him. David, however, despite several opportunities, refused to harm Saul. In the midst of pain and hurt, we can take an example from David’s own experience of disappointment:

  • He believed God was the ultimate judge and feared the Lord: “May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. (1 Samuel 24:12)
  • Tarried in prayer: Throughout David’s journey, we see him constantly communicate with God and seek His help for his next steps. “Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him” (1 Samuel 23:4)
  • Humility to accept an apology: After Saul was confronted by David, Saul “wept aloud” (1 Samuel 24:16 and said “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.” (24:17) David did not reply with arrogance but instead gave his oath to Saul not to harm his descendants. (1 Samuel 24:22) 

Communicate

Having open communication with your leader is important. When your leader disappoints
you, you can often be left feeling confused and insecure in your relationship. This feeling
needs to be confronted. You can only pretend for so long and if you are not fully convinced
of your leader’s integrity, you will leave said leader at some point. Let your love be honest
(Romans 12:9) and your speech gracious (Ephesians 4:24,29). You should be able to speak to your leader or other church leaders when you feel troubled, not forgetting their past labors of love .

Grace

Intercession refers to prayer that goes far beyond a person’s needs or burden. The first response to any form of disappointment should be prayer, not condemnation. We should all endeavour to have relationships with our pastors/ leaders that are strong enough that they are in our prayers even before a fault is expressed but it should be reflexive when we see our spiritual leader in trouble.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed…

James 5:16

Further denouncing leaders is not the way Jesus taught us to live, He, himself is the epitome of grace so what ground as Christians do we stand on to further condemn? Our ultimate leader, Christ, was crucified for our sins, showing grace to all humans despite our continuous shortcomings. He loved us even though we could never deserve it.

We are all called to lead in some way whether that be in the home, church, work or as we lead people to Christ. Within these roles and in our personal lives we all fall short, some privately, others publicly. It is only God’s grace that sustains us and allows us to continue to press towards the mark. Giving grace whilst being open and honest with your leader as well as seeking God even in the midst of confusion are all necessary steps to overcoming disappointment.

The Importance of Paying Close Attention to Worship Lyrics

Rebecca Dada
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The Importance of Paying Close Attention to Worship Lyrics

The Christian worship music scene has become more and more populated over the last few years. With some of the more contemporary songs, it has become difficult to reconcile their message with the Bible. The adverse effects of poorly structured worship songs do not just impact the body of Christ but also unbelievers who are on the outside looking in. How must we evaluate the lyrics of the songs we sing to ensure they maintain biblical integrity?

Worship over time

Over the years, worship music has changed in various ways. The style of music coming from the church has evolved from a focus on hymns to a more contemporary style. There has been an introduction of new genres, new instruments, and new expressions of worship. The most notable difference, however, is their lyrical content. The songs we have today are less wordy and catchier, making them easier to remember. However, in some cases, these songs are also less accurate when relaying theological truths.  For the most part, yes, worship songs are still about God, but it seems as though poetic licence is held in higher regard than the Bible.

There are worship songs that leave you guessing what the writer meant and make it difficult to reconcile their description of God with the God we see in Scripture.  The lack of clarity and consistency can make worship a perplexing experience.

Worship is for God

Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well presents us with the type of worship God requires (John 4:19-24). We are to worship from our hearts and with full consideration of God’s words in the Bible about both His character and His actions. Our emotions should respond to what we have understood in our minds about what He has revealed about Himself. The use of poetry and imagery is an integral part of any song. However, the priority for the believer is to use their words to rightly proclaim the nature of God.

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.

John 4:23-24

It has been argued that if we understand what the writer was attempting to relay, then it should be okay that the lyrics are slightly ambiguous. That would be an acceptable stance if these songs were merely for our pleasure, but they are not. Worship is for God, so we should desire to give Him our best. This means avoiding compromising lyrics at all costs.

Our worship is at its best when it is shaped by who God has objectively revealed Himself in the Bible. Worship lyrics must reflect a firm grasp and understanding of the nature of God; otherwise, we risk offering a sacrifice that is not pleasing or acceptable to Him.

The problem with ambiguous lyrics

Aside from directly affecting our worship, ambiguous lyrics leave us with a warped view of who God is. We can walk away from a worship set believing God’s love is “reckless”. Yet the reality is, God’s love in saving us was carefully thought out and executed from the beginning of time. When writers, intending to share how they felt about God, fail to give proper attention to the appropriateness of the lyrics used, they misrepresent God and paint a false picture in the mind of the Church.

In an age where Christian music is becoming more and more evangelical, the unbeliever is also adversely affected by lyrics that inaccurately and ambiguously present God’s nature. These lyrics are almost synonymous with the act of speaking in tongues in a corporate gathering (1 Corinthians 14). An established believer may be able to make inferences from a song that enables them to understand God rightly, but the unbeliever can only take these songs at face value. Suppose songs, to be poetic, lose the integrity of sound doctrine. In that case, we rob unbelievers of the opportunity to know who God is through our songs.

Listen intently and write faithfully

Do we then conclude that hymns are good and contemporary Christian music is bad? No! We must practice active listening when choosing the worship songs we sing. We shouldn’t just be drawn by a nice beat or a catchy hook. We need songs that stand upon the word of God, clearly and rightly describing His nature.

This generation has often neglected hymns, but they are an excellent source of biblical truths. There is also a world beyond mainstream Christian media. There may be a brother or sister in your community that has released a single might surprise you. There are songs outside of the spotlight that are not only well composed but also rich in biblical truth. Be diligent and make the effort to seek out these songs.

To the songwriters in the church, your songs are to aid the body of Christ offer up worship to God. Your songs inform people of who God is. They are more than expressions of your heart, they are the very words we use to exalt God. So, when you write, be faithful to scripture and do not compromise.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Colossians 3:16

The songs we sing must be deeply rooted in God’s word. To truly magnify God and give Him the worship He deserves we need to pay close attention to the lyrics we sing. It’s not good enough to have “nearly there” lyrics, the songs we sing must hit the mark every single time.

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