Are you a miserable Christian? Do you feel like you are disappointing God because you can’t seem to live up to the expectations of those in leadership at your local church?
In Philippians 3 the Apostle Paul said, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” If you are miserable as a Christian, perhaps you need to look at what is influencing you or what is being expected of you by others and make sure it is not interfering with the simplicity of knowing Jesus.
The local church is vital, but sometimes can put its needs ahead of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus, making some Christians miserable.
There are many positives that are associated with being a part of a local church. In Hebrews 10:25 we are encouraged to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.” Encouragement, the corporate manifestation of the presence of God, and teaching that builds our faith are keenly important.
But, if the expectations of others are making your Christian life miserable, ask yourself if you have moved away from the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus your Lord.” Nothing is more important in your life as a believer that knowing Jesus.
Sometimes being a miserable Christian stems from not really knowing that we are forgiven. This too is something that spending time knowing Him will help. Seeing His eyes of love and grace and knowing that we are forgiven will definitely move us from misery to joy.
Jim Johnston, senior pastor of Tulsa Bible Church wrote in 2015 that the most miserable Christians are “those who live with a foot in both worlds.” There is certainly a lack of joy that accompanies a believer’s doing things that are “of the world,” but this is primarily because it distracts from the great worth of knowing Christ.
In Episode 4 of Fueled by Grace we will be encouraged to make sure that knowing Him is priority number one. There is no intention to put down the importance of the local church, but rather to encourage us to keep knowing Christ Jesus at the forefront of our lives, and not allow the expectations of others to make us a miserable Christian.
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