LIVING THREE LIVES?

After much procrastination, i decided to meet my dear friend and brother in Christ yesterday afternoon. I met Paleri at about lunchtime hoping he would accept my invitation to lunch with me but then we decided not to go out as he was expecting someone who needed counsel (It is amazing just how many people he has counselled in that little bookstore! He has a God given ability to read into peoples' lives and counsel them purely from the Word of God).Our topic of discussion centered around the 'number of lives' people live when a Christian is called to live only one - The God kind of life - ZOE!

Being planted right in the center of the Trinity church compound, he observes hundreds of people and from the words they speak, surmises that most Christians lead three lives -

Life at Home

Life in the workplace

Life in the Church

Life at Home: Christianity makes a home — a Heaven. A Christian home where all is love and tenderness and devotion — is the sweetest and most sacred spot on earth. A home where Christianity is crowned a queen in every heart — is an Eden. The heart of God is filled with delight as he looks down upon such a home. His presence dwells there and causes this home to be a beautiful oasis in this wilderness world of sin. Alas, that such homes are so few! Sin destroys the happiness of man and makes many a home a hotbed of contention, strife, and confusion! Jesus came to put away sin and establish "on earth peace, good will toward men."

Life in the workplace:  PeterWagner warns that although there are several opportunities for Christians to stand out in the workplace, it’s important that it’s not done in weird ways ...

• Do you fake happiness even when you are sad about something?
• Have you ever shared a personal concern with a co-worker?
• Have you openly spoken about how God helped you during a tough time?
• Do your actions at work reflect your Christian principles?
• Are you pursing excellence, as working for the Lord, not for men?
• Do you have a vision for your workplace?

 “Learn how to draw the line. There are times to cut some slack and allow the system to operate. But you have to adapt before you have a chance to change them. Otherwise you isolate, and hide in a cubical with Bible verses pinned to your wall.”

Life in the church: Unfortunately, one obstacle to the acceptance of Christianity that is often raised is provided by Christians themselves. Phrased in many ways, the core of the objection is, "If Christianity is true, why are there hypocrites in the church?" In other words, if Christianity is really supposed to change people, then why do some who profess to believe in Jesus set such bad examples?

We are all called to live a true Christian Life... Why?

Del Tackett (President. Focus Leadership Institute) in his 'Truth Project' summarizes it beautifully:

1. Living from a Christian viewpoint means that what you do aligns with what is true, and the Scriptures are the ultimate authority on Truth.
2. God's Truth lays a design for every area of life. Whether for economics, history, politics, family or church, God has given us a design, governed by His nature and Truth, that we are to follow. When we follow His design, we can discern what is good and right and holy. When we don't, suffering and immorality result.
3. The process of transformation occurs through the renewing of our mind, and in that process we learn to discern between good and evil. As Romans 12:2 tells us, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will."