How often have you seen someone “stay on track” until college, or twenties, and then "go off the deep end"? Christian faith seems to have all but disappeared and they seem to be embracing their new found “freedom.”
Sadly, I’ve seen that exact scenario happen over and over and over again.
Somewhere along the way we, as Christians, may have missed the point of why we do what we do.
To some, the Christian life has become a list of rules containing do’s and don’ts, and sadly we’ve left our Savior completely out of the picture.
A lot of people view Christianity as restraining them from the “real” fun.
They view Christianity as a list looking something like this…
Don’t have sex until you are married.
Don’t watch bad movies.
Don’t have boyfriend/girlfriend until you are ready to get married.
Don’t curse.
Don’t lie.
Don’t cheat.
Don’t steal.
Don’t drink.
Don’t, don’t, don’t.
The list of don’ts continues on and on and many of us have no idea exactly why we shouldn’t do those things. Much less a real heart conviction on our own.
That list of don’ts is an excellent list containing some excellent advice. That is if it’s viewed from the right perspective. If it’s not viewed from the right perspective, Christianity is nothing more than a rule book with checkboxes to mark off and good works to fulfill. There are very good and Biblical reasons to avoid all of the above, and a Christian should avoid those things.
Over the years, I have come to understand the “why” behind the do’s and don’ts.
In Matthew, part of Jesus' great commission is to go out into all the world and lead others to Christ. I have also learned that true evangelism is not always "doing", but praying. Praying for opportunities to witness to people and praying for God to be working in the hearts of everyone we meet, even before we share the gospel. Later on in the Bible, Paul states that "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."
Not all things a Christian does is rightly percieved. Some believers are trying to minister to others, yet they have been "written off" by others or perhaps Christians take up a hobby that doesn't seem right to their Christian friends, but are then seen as "gone off the deep end".
Being mission minded is being made aware of the ultimate mission and goal, making Christ known.
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