“When asked by one of the teachers of the law, “Of all the commandments which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O’ Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

If your deacon is right, then the vast majority of christians might just as well start buying their anti-depressants in bulk.

...but he's not right, in fact his sin is brutal in nature.

For a deacon to make a remark so injurious, challenges his qualification for the post. Men like this actually destroy the necessary hope we count on, and that Paul assures us of, that they are not alone... that others struggle.

If Christianity were so easy, everyone would be doing it. In fact, it is a battle....and not of flesh and blood, but much more elusive and desperate....A BATTLE AGAINST THE SIN NATURE. ..and non believers are non believers partially because they want nothing to do with something so difficult, so self denying.

I of course did not hear your sermon, but it appears that the deacon you are speaking of was either in denial, or not being realistic. I am finding more and more in Christianity that being REAL is tough, but at least it is honest. Too many times it seems that Christians cannot admit they are not perfect, when an unperfect world is looking for people just like themsleves. People with whom we can all identify, not perfect, still sinners, but saved and changing by the grace of God.

I guess, it is unadulterated joy "whenever you face trials of many kinds" James 1.2 I would imagine it is unadultered joy because Jesus experienced that kind of joy..."Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" Hebrews 12.2
I will "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5.11
I don't know what the deacon meant, but I know I hope to find Joy in all of the above.

May God be with each of us as we journey down the road of Christlikeness. And when we come to a trial of any sort, may we know His presence and be joyful

You are loved.

While I do agree that we, as Christians, have joy in our hearts and should share that joy with others (no matter what), I do not see the Christian life as "pure, unadulterated joy".

The above sentence is how I started this comment. I was going to respectfully disagree with the Deacon mentioned above. So I started to write and got a nagging feeling that we may be looking at this from a different angle than it was intended.
Do I feel every day that my life is perfect and without struggle now that I have given my life over to God? No. Do I think that there is nothing in this world that will ever affect me because Jesus Christ is the King? No. But, this is do know...the word "joy" is defined as "Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness." and to have joy in my life means "To take great pleasure; rejoice.".
So, although my life is not easy, my path is not always perfectly smooth and the enemy will attack as often as he can, I know that I am filled with something that allows me to be above that. I am filled with a joy that makes all of the rest of life livable and tolerable because I know that this life is not the end.
The way that the statement was made may have seemed casual and a bit snobby, it may have been meant as "all else pales in comparison to the joy that is in the Deacon's heart.

Just my thoughts.
God bless,
Gary

The deacon in question was poo-pooing the idea that there was anything difficult or that one might consider a struggle in the life of a Christian.

I profoundly disagree. Paul wrote of times when he despaired of life itself. There are repeated cries in the Psalms, asking God where He is and why He is silent, especially in difficult times.

Satan is our enemy, and would destroy us if he can. But if somehow Satan were suddenly taken out of the picture, and I no longer faced his inducements, I suspect I would still have problems with myself.

There is, Paul said, a raging conflict within us (Romans 6-8), and he cried out, "O, wretched man that I am!" Certainly, for anyone who reads the Bible even a little, and takes following Jesus at all seriously, it's a struggle, and sometimes a very difficult one.

I think that christians deserve a lot of love and respect for staying true to there beliefs and having such faith in something without any solid evidence. Do I think its easy? Not at all but I do know that it gives people comfort and shelter when nothing else seems able to. Am I a christian? No.
I am an atheist. I find it hard to put my faith in anything that doesnt have concrete proof backing it up. Does that mean that I lead an immoral life or find it easier? No. I try to be respectful and loving to everyone because someday I may need their love and respect. I am a married woman with 3 young boys and each day is a struggle.
In the case mentioned above, I dont believe there is a truly right or wrong answer. People take there own experiences and opinions from everything and some will find treading such a differcult path harder than others.

The bible actually presents both sides of this argument. Jesus said 'take my yoke upon you, my burden is light' as well as comparing the christian life as 'taking up your cross' and going out as 'lambs among wolves.' To a non christian this would probably make no sense; being very easy and very difficult at the same time. However most christians will know exactly what you mean! On the surface being a christian can be excruciating; resisting temptations, forgiving people who have hurt you, getting marginalised (and in some places persecuted and martyred) for your beliefs. These things in themselves are anything but joyful. However we have peace and joy in the assurance that we are pleasing our creator and that he will bless us for remaining faithful in these struggles, if not in this life then the next.
If i was not a christian and i observed christians putting themselves through these struggles i would think they were either crazy or stupid. But that's because non christians dont understand the depth and intimacy of the relationship we have with God. The more challenges we face, the more we lean into God and hence the more we understand him. We learn that other people's opinions of us are meaningless compared to God's. The circumstances of our life change by the moment, but God's love is forever.
I only know these things because I struggle every day. 'Pure, unadulterated joy' does not mean the absence of struggles but having hope and peace in God in spite of them.

I believe the deacon knew little, if anything about the joy of God becaused he based his mood on circumstance. This is exactly the same kind of happiness the world so dilligently pursues. Your message exposed this to the deacon, so it's no wonder he didn't take kindly to it.

But, there will never be a solution unless the problem is acknowledged, and the problem will never be acknowledged unless it is exposed.

So take this as affirmation Larry, your message was obviously relevant and challenging. It is also something the rest of us should do some serious thinking about!

I find it hard being a christian at church. I go to a church in Atlanta. Well a korean-american church. A lot of my friends spend their weeks looking forward to the weekend where they go out spend $15 to get into a club and drink most of the night to just "relax." I dont get it. Maybe I am just off.. I dont know but it is so hard to be a Christian in church.

If anything... I have lost so many friends recently. I mean... no one calls or wants to connect with me since I am not a "social drinker" or "Clubbing" type of person. It just makes things tough. People I thought I could trust or draw close to are so far out there.

I see them on a sunday morning and see them either hung over or just standing there unable to enter into worship because guilt binds their hands and arms.

My heart breaks.. not because of a lost friendship but because I see someone that sees God's grace as a free pass to do whatever they want. People call me and ask.. why dont you go out? Why don't you go out dancing with us? My answer to the dancing question is...Sorry, I wouldn't dance with my sister like that.

It just seems that being a Christian in a church itself is so difficult. People ask me questions then smile and say... "I respect your convictions, but everyone has different convictions." My response is generally... yeah but the bible is the same. No matter how your try to interpret it.

I am so torn... can anyone offer any advice? Sometimes it just seems so difficult...

Hi AJ,

I am just writing to offer a little encouragement to you. Keep on serving God as you are shown to do in His word. I know how you feel about clubbing, I feel the same. I don't think I can be salt and light in a club. But I know my own weaknesses and I know that it would almost impossible for me to glorify God in that kind of situation. Does that mean it's impossible for everybody else? No... but it would take a special kind of person to minister in a club. So keep on living a pure lifestyle and pray for your friends to be sold out to God too.

Love in Him

I had a friend who called herself a Christian. But I think she is what one would call "double minded". Perhaps someone could define what being "double minded" is in a biblical sense. In fact, I think there is a verse in the bible somewhere about it. If someone out there knows what and where that verse is concerning "double mindedness", please share. Thanks.

James 1:8

One thing I've been learning is that if your really serious about giving it all to God, you pretty much have to forsake reputation in this world. If you really love Jesus in our world today, alot of people may think your crazy or will hate you for it.
In other countries the persecution gets really harsh, and in America, not so much. But if you really are living for Jesus in America, where pretty much everyone calls themself a christian, you will still get persecuted in some way. Maybe not so much physical, but verbally and also being rejected. 2 Timothy 3:12- "All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." I've heard it said, "Why do so few suffer persecution? Because so few live godly in Christ Jesus."
If we are seeking Jesus with every aspect of our exsistence, we will face rejection. Let's take heart though, we're going to be with Christ FOREVER!

i love jesus with all my heart i,ll stay with him for ever people in this world allways trying to pull me and i hope iy never happens.itry day after day trying to have better self controlmy god be with me and people through out the world before its to late.....................

Well, how long can you take it when everybody thinks you are a weak person, dead, not strong and a piece of shit just because you wanna give all to Jesus???
I have been rejected so many times, i saw people disrespect me just ignore me. Really hard... but let me tell you, the sun you see over there can't be there by itself, the ocean, the moon...they can't be there by themself. Someone has to think, if i put the sun to close to the earth everybody will be burning, if i put it to far, it will get damn cold in here. God has to think and create everything we see dear christians friends. So when he tells you be pray and constanly seek his face, just pray and do it. People will rejected you, just go through it and be more strong. Why Satan is working so hard to pull us in the wrong direction, if God is not and the bible and all the promesses are simple an illusion stuff why he just don't close his big eyes and let us live our christian life.

Let's God us

just wan,t to say i really love jesus with all i mean all my heart. iam trying to deal with all the rezentment in my life. just that every boby trys ya every day constantly day in and day out. just a incosentail spirt not very posive. i try to have a better out look on life i,ll don,t know my be its just me looking at things the wrong way i,ve ben though alot in my life.honesty i,ll stay more focus,on godly things instead of worldly matters.thank you who ever can help me out love you love god....dbanuat

want to say with alll my love to the lord.

Living the christian life is definitely difficult but one that is worth it. Christians are not supposed to be comfortable on this earth b/c this is not our real home. We all have struggles, faults, and weaknesses in our lives. I firmly believe if you are living for Christ in a REAL way that there will be difficulty. Christ did not call us to comfort but to committment. When times are difficult, remember God's love for us, remember our mission(to spread the gospel), and remember our future/destiny(heaven).