Pendulum

I could be off, but it seems that there is a view of complacent Christianity that is a pendulum. On the one hand there is a lot of pride that oneself is generally good. That person does not do x, y, and z, and as a result are a generally fine person. On the flip side certain sins, like pride, fear, lust, bitterness, gossip, etc., etc. are constant bondages, and cause an intense amount of guilt, shame, worthlessness in view of self, the "I'm messed up but so are you so that's just the way it is" crap, etc. As a result, there is a pendulum that swings back and forth. This can take place in people's view of healing, "I'm generally good, so if I don't see healing happen today, it must just be that God doesn't work that way anymore." But on the flip side, it seems almost a borderline hopelessness. Walking according to the flesh is just something that will happen some think. There is no hope of getting free. Bondage is the way of life. There is no hope for change. There is this idea that if one has prayed for God to change but it doesn't miraculously occur right away, that God really doesn't care a whole lot about the bondage. As a result doubt creeps in about faith in general, and complacency becomes a way of life.

But the true Christian life is not the pendulum. It is not rationalizing sin and seeing certain sins as no big deal. Is this how Peter reacted to sin in Acts 8:20-23? He seemed to think bitterness and using God were BIG deals. HUGE Deals. Repent! Fall before God and cry out to Him! Where is the pressing into God so that as a result of being around Him change occurs? Where is the transformation through constantly being in His Word (Rom. 12:2)? Get rid of the complacency!

Does this mean perfection can be achieved? Obviously not. But there is a big difference between rationalizing bondage or as Peter says, "being captive to sin," and seeking after God constantly until weakness becomes strength by God's own hand.

I think it is crucial to not underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. The annointing breaks the yoke of bondage. It is His filling that is needed to walk in constantly to have victory. And He does do it. But where is the desire at? Are Christians gripped by Him? For certainly all will be gripped by something...