Just A Thought

I have to wonder sometimes how many of my Christian brothers and sisters are running the treadmill of the life of faith because somewhere along the road, a well-meaning author, pastor, friend or radio talk-show host made them feel like they just "had to keep going."

It's so easy to be drawn into a set of beliefs that says the only way you can be a "real" Christian and get any benefit out of your spiritual walk is if you never say "No." Buck up, take a deep breath, keep chugging, don't give up now . . . you're almost there.

Good grief. I get worn out just thinking about it. And I'm utterly convinced that Jesus never intended anything of the sort for his followers. Obedience, yes. Exhaustion, no. Will he fill us and enable us to complete ever task he sets before us, yes. Will he come to our aid in our weak flesh and make us strong to walk in his calling, yes. Is every thing set before us his calling and his task for us, no. I say again, no.

On one hand, it could be considered encouragement to tell another . . . "keep going" . . . and somtimes it is, and it is needed. But I'm wary of a tactic used by some to offer encouragement (truly, admonition) that is really a disguised method of "tisking" the believer who fails to adhere to silent rules and demands.

There are times to sit down, to prop your feet up, to take a nap. There are times to have a quiet evening with your family instead of piling up in a car and driving to a church event. There are times to realize that the urge to slow down is really a deception of the Evil One to keep you from simple obedience, but failure to act (saying "no" or maybe just "not now") isn't automatically and absolutely disobedience. Discernment is key.

I pray God always leads me in this delicate balance. There's potential to become dull to his nudges and just as great a potential to run myself in the ground because I want those around me to think I'm toeing the line -- which is merely conformity and doesn't please Christ in the least.