The worst kind of wrong assumption …

Not everything is a spiritual battle!

That’s right, there isn’t always something wrong. But you wouldn’t think that by watching how Christians tend to want to find some area of weakness in everyone or everything.

For example, today I read an article about a couple who had endured infidelity in their marriage. They have re-built their relationship and things are going well for them right now. In fact, their relationship is probably at its strongest point since its early years. Yet, instead of saying that, the writer rambled on about how they aren’t perfect, etc.

Why is it that we seem to be so uncomfortable about saying things are great! I’m strong right now! Through Christ I have slayed my dragons and I’m not struggling right now. It seems like we just don’t feel “Christian” if we aren’t saying that something is wrong, that we’re battling something in our lives. The Christian life isn’t just about enduring, there’s far more to it than that.

Of course we aren’t perfect. None of us are. But the Bible teaches us that God is transforming us to be more and more like Jesus Christ; that He has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to live in us to enable us to live for Him and to His glory. God is willing to use all of His limitless power to enable us to stand for Him. With that kind of power supporting us, and the very Holy Spirit of God living in us, I’m actually more concerned about the person who perpetually complains about constant spiritual struggles than the one who has enough courage to say “spiritually, things are awesome right now!” and mean it!

A primary difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is that Christians no longer practice sin. Because of that, we really should be enjoying more times of victory than defeat, more times of strength than weakness, and more times of contentment than confusion. If we are walking with God every day, then spiritually we should know wholeness more often than not. Sin should be the exception, no longer the rule!

I think life is more full, more honest, when in those times of good spiritual health we rebuff false guilt and say, “This is great! I’m doing well spiritually and I’m enjoying walking with God every day.”

One other thing: don’t think you’re always helping a fellow Christian by asking them what’s not going right in their spiritual life. It seems the first thing we want to know about another Christian is where they are messing up, as if they must be fumbling something. But maybe they aren’t! Maybe they’re in a good place with God right now, and they don’t need you assuming they’re in a sinful place. It’s fine to ask how someone is doing spiritually, but if things are going well, celebrate that fact with them rather than assuming otherwise.

God changes our lives. He makes us better, more like His Son, and enables us to live in victory over sin. Maybe we need to acknowledge and celebrate that reality more often with each other.

Scotty