Saturday, January 31, 2009
Struggling with Living Life in God's Image?
I am struggling with living life in God's image. I sometimes do fine but then i put on my music and it gets me pumped but its all about getting with girls and cussing and protecting your reputation. It has a really good beat but it gets me mad and then I go do things i shouldn't. I know I should stop but this music is everywhere and when i hear it I instantly go to that place.
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3 comments:
Yo,
Thanks for sharing your struggles. Let me begin by letting you know that you're normal. Living out your faith is something that you will never "perfect." That being said, I want to be lovingly honest/blunt with you for a moment. The problem is not the music. The music doesn't cause you to do things that you shouldn't.
What if I told you that music made me brush my teeth the wrong way? Every time I listen to bad music before I brush my teeth, it makes me brush my teeth wrong and I end up with the toothbrush in my nose as opposed to my mouth. I say that to make a point.
We have responsibility as Christians. If you know that the music is influencing you in a bad way, then you've identified it as a temptation. It sounds like you don't have the spiritual maturity to handle it right now. I realize that bad music is all around you, but the solution is not to leave the world.
The spiritual water that we swim in is dangerous, there's no way around it. God teaches us how to live in the world but not be of the world. The only way to do this, is by following Jesus. The solution, is not to get out of the water, but to learn how to swim where God wants you to swim and how He wants you to swim.
(I might as well beat this metaphor in the ground ;))
Sometimes life will take you to choppy/dangerous water, sometimes it will be calm, but if you don't learn to swim, you won't be able to stay afloat.
I understand your desire to live in accordance with your faith and I commend you for it. But saying that "I know I should stop...but" makes me think that you're not taking responsibility for your actions.
Its like saying that you see danger ahead and that you know that you should swim away from the "sharks of music" because thats not where God wants you to go, but you're gonna swim over there anyway. Well, I bet 9 times out of 10, when you swim to these sharks, there gonna bite you.
So, first off, quit listening to whatever it is you're listening to (unless its suburban legend.haha) And also, quit blaming the music for your sin. Here are some verses that deal with temptation.
James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil,15 and he himself tempts no one.
James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.
James 1:15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.
1Cor. 10:12 So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.
1Cor. 10:13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others.9 And God is faithful: He10 will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear,11 but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.
God will always give you a way out of the temptation.
From the outside of this situation, its easy for me to see that you're putting yourself in temptations way when you listen to whatever it is that you're listening to. It is most likely enticing you to focus on worldly things. It doesn't sound like you have the spiritual maturity to handle listening to it right now.
My suggestion is that you quit listening to it, start asking the Lord to deliver you from this, and in this process you'll be growing in your faith. But, you've gotta be willing to say no.
Secondly,
Remember the 4 questions of life? Well here they are...
1) Where did I come from? (Gen 2:7) GOD
2) Why is the world such a mess? (Rom 6:23, Rom 3:23) SIN
3) What is the solution/Is there a way out? (2 Cor 5:21, Rom 10:9, Rom 6:23, Rom 3:23-24, 1 Cor 15:1-8) A SAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
4) What is my purpose? (1 Cor 10:31, John 4:23-24, 2 Pet 3:9-10, John 3:16-18)
• (GG) Man’s purpose is to Glorify God with all the gifts that He or She has been given, to offer their lives as a sacrifice to Him in response to the sacrifice of Jesus. When we do this, then we will actually find the TRUE MEANING of LIFE.
1Cor. 10:31 ¶ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
• (WG) Man’s purpose is to Worship God
John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
• (RG) Man’s purpose is to be in a relationship w/God which only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ
2Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2Pet. 3:10 ¶ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare
John 3:16 ¶ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Practically speaking, I apply the biblical answer to #4 to every situation in life. I'm not saying that I don't screw up, man do i ever, but in situations like this...whether music, decisions, dating...etc. ask the following.
When doing (fill in the blank)
Am I GG: Glorifying God?
Am I WG: Worshipping God?
Am I RG: Displaying or living in accordance with my Relationship with God through Jesus Christ my savior?
It sounds like when you're listening to this music, the answer to all of those questions is no. So, quit.
You know what you need to do. God will give you the strength to do it. Hit me up at youth group or reply if you wanna talk further.
I love you in Gods way and I'm proud of you for asking the question,
Derrick
I'm a sinner, and know I'm a sinner. I've made people mad and also been blamed for things I haven't done. For the people who have blamed me for things: Do I apologize to them or do I point them out on their flaws and wait for an apology. I don't believe it's right to say I'm sorry though, because I'm not sorry and saying you're sorry when you're not is a lie (which is a sin). I also don't want to point them out on their wrongs because I don't want them to think I'm judging them. What should I do and what's the point in doing it?
Hi,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, there isn't enough information to be able to comment effectively. I can say this, it seems that you're angry and that you're struggling with forgiveness. I've heard it said that "true forgiveness is like setting a prisoner free, only to find that the prisoner is yourself." I'd encourage you to continue to pray specifically about the situation. God knows your heart, motives, and the entire situation. Seek His guidance in this and if you feel like giving more info, then please comment again.
Thanks,
Derrick
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