“He also learned that sometimes the Holy Spirit asks us to violate our conviction for a season in order to live the faith, not just talk about it.”
-Mike Yaconelli Messy Spirituality
I picked up this book at NYWC because we did a series based on this book at The Connection. I have been going through a rough time lately and I remembered that I had liked this series of teaching. I really was interested in what this book may hold for me.
It was something I needed. I always feel like a failure when it comes to being a christian. I’m always failing and am not able to be “spiritual” and read my bible and pray everyday like I’m supposed to. It sucks and has gotten me down. It always gets me down because I have been struggling and trying to get closer to God through this time, yet I still am not able to take the time to read the bible, meditate, and pray. I remember a time where I felt so close to God and had no doubts in his hand in my life. Now, I can barely see my next step.
This book gave me some hope. Spirituality is more than reading your bible and is more than what I have been told. Spiritual growth and the whole life I’ve been told to live, may not be the correct way. The book seemed to be a contradiction to what I’ve always been told and I like it. The ideas of how Christianity is, makes me feel that I am doing something right and that I am not a failure.
This quote really got me. Many of the things said were awesome, but this one cause me to stop reading and really pause. What does it mean? What kind of idea is this?
I really haven’t wrapped my whole mind around it, but I can tell you some of my thoughts. It is a very interesting idea. Christianity is always about being courageous and never backing down on our stands/beliefs. How many of us know someone who will never violate their beliefs or ideas for anyone? How many have shunned people because they have done things wrong?
I think this question is what draws me to this quote. I have been seeing some of my “friends” exclude people who had left our church, but are trying to come back. It has made me so upset to see this type of exclusion and, in my opinion, unGodly behavior. Christ was all about love and forgiveness. How many times did Christ have prostitutes, thieves, etc. following him and spreading the good news? How many were following him and working in his “ministry” and in his “service”? Yet, we have the gall to say no to people who truly desire to work in God’s service because of some things in their past. Are we better than Jesus? Can we truly be so picky? We were sinners and then forgiven. What gives us the right to judge? Nothing does.
Another thing is, where is the love? I think that that is also something that is important about this quote. Should I do almost everything in my power to make someone feel more comfortable with me and more accepted which therefore makes them feel love? The answer is yes. Yet, sometimes I feel that people are so ready to judge and make people feel uncomfortable.
It is only for a season. It’s not permanent. If it has someone come to Christ and see God’s love through me, then I know I should do it.
