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THE FOUR SPIRITUAL FLAWS
There are four rather common
misconceptions about spirituality
and Christian maturity that simply
do not hold water. Warning: They
might come as a surprise, maybe
even a shock.
So hang on.
Flaw 1: Because you are a Christian,
all your problems are solved.
We do a great disservice to an
unbeliever when we bait him by
saying, "Come to Christ and all your
problems will be over." The Bible
never says that. It promises that we
will be new creatures; it assures us
that we will have a destiny that is
secure; but it does not guarantee a
downhill slide once Christ comes
into a person's life. In fact, in some
instances problems increase and
the road gets rougher!
Flaw 2: All the problems you will
ever have are addressed in the Bible.
They are not. It is very unwise for
us to make broad, sweeping
statements in areas where
the Scriptures do not speak.
There are many times when we
don't find an explicit answer
in Scripture for our particular problem.
At such times we are forced to walk
by faith, trusting the Lord to show
us the next step as it is needed. The
Bible simply does not offer a
specific answer to every problem
in life.
Flaw 3: If you are having problems,
you are unspiritual.
Isn't it a shame that this idea is
conveyed in so many places today?
Having a problem simply proves
you are human! We all have
problems, and you're not
unspiritual because you are wrestling
with a dilemma. As a matter of fact,
some of the most spiritual men and
women I have ever known have
wrestled with some of the deepest
problems life ever offers.
Think of Job and his suffering. He
did not have an answer. He did not
understand why. His counselors, with
their severe and heady statements,
were grossly deceptive; they
didn't know the answers either.
Although Job was spiritual, he had
enormous problems.
Flaw 4: Being exposed to sound Bible
teaching automatically solves problems.
Bible instruction alone will not result
in instant solutions to problems. No
matter how reliable the teaching or
how gifted the teacher, the declaration
of truth does not provide the
removal of difficulties. Think of the
Scriptures as an absolutely accurate
map. A map tells you how to get to
a certain destination. But just looking
at a map won't automatically
transport you to Arizona or England
or Peru. Getting to those places
means you have to make the effort…
pay the cost…take the time for travel…
stay at it until you arrive.
So it is in the Christian life. God's map
is reliable and available. It is also clear
and direct. But there is not hocus-pocus
in it's pages that automatically sends
its reader by way of magic carpet.
Printed without permission from
"Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back".
By Charles R. Swindoll, 1980
  
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In Memory Of The Worlds Best Father and Brother
Gilbert Luther Howington
1935-1999
Gilbert (Bert) Luther Howington Jr.
1954-1993
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