"I Don't Know If I Can Make It"

by Chris Carter

I’m discouraged. I’m not going to give up, but I am discouraged. Am I struggling spiritually? Truthfully yes, but it’s not because I’m wallowing in sin (though I know I have much room for improvement). It’s because the greater majority of the studies, sermons and bulletins I hear and read are centered upon a seemingly endless stream of warnings, admonitions, pricking the heart and calls for self examination, and of a truth, I can’t live on a steady diet of this stuff.

How could I possibly be hurt and offended when someone warns me of the dangers of sin? Don’t I want to avoid sin? Of course I do! I want to be as good at any aspect of godly service, conduct and living as I can be, but I’m beginning to doubt my ability to make it. I am fully aware that the men who teach and preach are trying to help us all aspire to and maintain a state of righteousness, but I also remember that we are to do as Paul instructed in Philippians 2:12 “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. Without a doubt I ultimately am responsible for my own spirituality, but other influences can make it more difficult.

You see, I know myself. I know my struggles, my deficiencies, and my failures. I know all too well how weak I can be. There are times when I’ve worked hard to correct some spiritual defect and think I’ve triumphed over it, only to fail later in that very point, which shames me deeply. It’s neither the way I want to be spiritually nor the intent of my heart, but I know I have failed God, so I repent, ask His forgiveness, pick myself up and move forward until some semblance of confidence is restored and I feel capable and useful again.  

When I go to church though, a place where I should be strengthened, edified and be able to experience times of refreshing, I hear a nearly constant steam of admonitions, warnings, heart pricking and promptings to examine my spiritual walk, level of faith, commitment, personal nature, whether or not I’ve given myself to God fully or if I’m focused, centered, zealous, hungry, diligent, effective, prayerful, humble, and on and on. Even the bulletins contain nearly the same things, and I wonder if many who preach and teach see only a great spiritual lacking among the brethren instead of the potential we represent. My point is this; the bar of righteousness can be raised so high that it can seem unattainable, rendering what are meant to be easy yokes and light burdens into things that are difficult and heavy.

From the newest Christian to the most experienced elder, everyone has room for improvement, and any Christian would be wrong to ignore obvious sin in another. But if someone is found caught up in unrighteousness they would be better served with individual study than trying to preach them back into righteousness by constantly tugging at their heart from the pulpit. I’m not suggesting that preaching be limited to kool-aid and candy canes, nor that the service be turned into some kind of pep rally. I’m talking about remembering the rest of the church, and providing the strong meat of instruction necessary for everyone. A preacher may reason that everyone can benefit from harsh preaching, but such emphasis reduces the bible to being used like a rolled up newspaper on an untrained puppy. “Bad Christians! Bad!!” 

Let me cite this example. One man can preach on David going up against Goliath, and present it two different ways. One would be to relate the event, comment on David’s remarkable faith, his disdain for Goliath and his desire to stand for God. He could then say “Let us be the same way for God, and go forth as soldiers of righteousness in His holy name, under whose mighty hand we cannot fail!” This approach provides a bit of real history, a demonstration of righteous faith, an example of what happens to Gods opponents and encouragement for us to be brave and stand as David did.                                                                                                                     

He could also relate the same event and ask “Do we have the same faith as David? Would we stand for God the same way? Do we demonstrate the same level of commitment as David did, or are we weak and fearful as was Israel?” Neither method is wrong when correctly applied, but the difference is unmistakable. The latter prompts the listener to soul search, (nothing wrong with that) and an emphasis on this approach may influence us to question what we are to God and what He is to us. Too much of this can actually tear us down. We end up focusing on our deficiencies (real or imagined) and not on God who can strengthen us.   

If we are to be taught from Gods word, it must be taught in its fullness. All of it matters, and all of it should be utilized (2^nd Tim 3:16). If the emphasis of teaching and preaching frequently excludes history, encouragement, confidence and assurance, and is limited mostly to our being warned as if we were just a bunch of misbehaving children who will be in trouble when dad gets home, that’s how we’ll remain. We’ll always be recruits, never soldiers. We’ll stay in boot camp, and never even want to see frontline service.  

   

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