I have heard a few stories, over the years, about miraculous conversions.
Wicked people, like me, being transformed, in the blink of an eye, into Christ-like figures with all trace of addictions gone. I have never seen this happen. I have never spoken to one of these people, and, personally, I find this hard to believe. I think these people were just swept up in the moment. I'm sure, that when the power of the Holy Spirit is felt at it's strongest, there is no desire to sin. But time has a strange way of cooling even the most ardent flame and it is then that the real evidence of true change can be seen.
For me, at least, change is occuring at what seems like a maniacally slow pace and daily I struggle with old habits deeply ingrained from my sinful life. Take this week, for example. I think I used the f- word about 20 times, though I'm careful only to say it in front of my husband because it's only with him that I can be truly honest about the kind of person I am. I made sure not to say it out in public because I don't want to give a bad impression to work-collegues and the like. I am, after all, an ambassador for Christ and I'm pretty sure he doesn't condone the use of even the occassional swear word. But even if I didn't say it, I must have thought it at least twice that amount. I really was having a bad week!
Are Christians allowed to be pre-menstrual? Besides giving my husband hell, there were times, when I was driving along the road, or walking through a supermarket, when I wished everyone would just drop dead. I glared at anyone unfortunate enough to catch my eye with a death stare certainly not becoming of my saintly position in Christ. Good thing I didn't meet anyone I know. I'd hate to have them change their mind and decide not to give God a go just because I displayed such aggravated behaviour. Or worse yet, think that the Bible was a complete lie and that God was a total myth because of my lack of restraint.
Sometimes being a Christian seems all about 'keeping up appearances'. There are times when I daydream about going to church and responding to that time old question, "How are you?" with an honest answer. Just to shake things up. Maybe I'd say something like, "Horrible, actually. I've had a rotten week struggling with PMS and was on the verge of losing my sanity approximately three times. I spent Friday relentlessly torturing my husband about how he doesn't understand how much I hate my job and it's not fair because he likes his, and then I cried myself to sleep, only to get up the next morning to have a fight with a co-worker about the laundry. Sure, I apologised later, but it's just not the same, is it? Your credulity as a 'good person' is blown and how can you witness about God then? I did, though, manage to get a bible reading in each day, though on some days I would have preferred to read the cooking magazine my husband bought me, but I stuck with it and it gave me a bit of peace. Didn't pray much, though.... How about you?"
At least I wouldn't have to hear that question again... not for a long time.
Miraculous conversions? Yeah right!...
Wicked people, like me, being transformed, in the blink of an eye, into Christ-like figures with all trace of addictions gone. I have never seen this happen. I have never spoken to one of these people, and, personally, I find this hard to believe. I think these people were just swept up in the moment. I'm sure, that when the power of the Holy Spirit is felt at it's strongest, there is no desire to sin. But time has a strange way of cooling even the most ardent flame and it is then that the real evidence of true change can be seen.
For me, at least, change is occuring at what seems like a maniacally slow pace and daily I struggle with old habits deeply ingrained from my sinful life. Take this week, for example. I think I used the f- word about 20 times, though I'm careful only to say it in front of my husband because it's only with him that I can be truly honest about the kind of person I am. I made sure not to say it out in public because I don't want to give a bad impression to work-collegues and the like. I am, after all, an ambassador for Christ and I'm pretty sure he doesn't condone the use of even the occassional swear word. But even if I didn't say it, I must have thought it at least twice that amount. I really was having a bad week!
Are Christians allowed to be pre-menstrual? Besides giving my husband hell, there were times, when I was driving along the road, or walking through a supermarket, when I wished everyone would just drop dead. I glared at anyone unfortunate enough to catch my eye with a death stare certainly not becoming of my saintly position in Christ. Good thing I didn't meet anyone I know. I'd hate to have them change their mind and decide not to give God a go just because I displayed such aggravated behaviour. Or worse yet, think that the Bible was a complete lie and that God was a total myth because of my lack of restraint.
Sometimes being a Christian seems all about 'keeping up appearances'. There are times when I daydream about going to church and responding to that time old question, "How are you?" with an honest answer. Just to shake things up. Maybe I'd say something like, "Horrible, actually. I've had a rotten week struggling with PMS and was on the verge of losing my sanity approximately three times. I spent Friday relentlessly torturing my husband about how he doesn't understand how much I hate my job and it's not fair because he likes his, and then I cried myself to sleep, only to get up the next morning to have a fight with a co-worker about the laundry. Sure, I apologised later, but it's just not the same, is it? Your credulity as a 'good person' is blown and how can you witness about God then? I did, though, manage to get a bible reading in each day, though on some days I would have preferred to read the cooking magazine my husband bought me, but I stuck with it and it gave me a bit of peace. Didn't pray much, though.... How about you?"
At least I wouldn't have to hear that question again... not for a long time.
Miraculous conversions? Yeah right!...
