11.4.10 "The Boring Christian Life"

"The Boring Christian Life"

Ezekiel 10:1-11:25
Hebrews 6:1-20
Psalm 105:16-38
Proverbs 27:1-2

When I was a kid I had heard why it was good to become a Christian: You go to heaven and get a white robe and spend all your time worshiping God... Ok... You can imagine that for a active young guy that wasn't a great thing to put in the brochure. At my level of understanding all I could picture was wooden church benches, and being sleepy. It sounded boring.

There is an interesting verse in Hebrews 6:12: "Then, knowing what lies ahead for you, you won't become bored with being a Christian..."

The writer of Hebrews is dealing with people who are "bored with being a Christian". Who wants to live the Boring Christian Life? What causes that? We'll have to look at the preceding verses. Verse 1 says, "Let us stop going over the same old ground again and again, always teaching those first lessons about Christ. Let us go on instead to other things and become mature in our understanding, as strong Christians ought to be."

One of the first ingredients of the Boring Christian Life is to get stuck in a rut. A rut comes from driving in the same path over and over and over again. Too many believers stand on the shoreline of Christian maturity. There is an acceptance of Christ, but as far as relationship goes, it's more a matter of ritual. Go to church because you should. Do enough to look like a Christian, but there's no diving in to the deeper things of Christ: The discipline of daily time in the Word, the devotion to discipling relationships.

Another ingredient to the Boring Christian Life is the calloused heart. verse 4-6 "There is no use trying to bring you back to the Lord again if you have once understood the Good News and tasted for yourself the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, and know how good the Word of God is, and felt the mighty powers of the world to come, and then have turned against God. You cannot bring yourself to repent again..." We've talked before about being "moved and not changed". The hardening of the Boring Christian's heart comes from knowing the right thing to do, but in spite of the Spirit's prompting, ignoring it and going through life without being obedient to the Lord's direction. We've all heard someone say, "I'll follow God later". That presumes so much. That presumes that there's something WE do to save ourselves. We cannot come to Christ unless his Spirit draws us. That's why it is SO important to respond to Him IMMEDIATELY when he's calling us. Otherwise we lose our sense of direction and purpose. We walk alone... in the Boring Christian Life.

The fruit of the Boring Christian Life is thistles and thorns. It's dry. It's desolate. Who wants that?

There's good news! It doesn't have to be that way. Let's get away from the Boring Christian Life.

"Dear friends, even though I am talking like this I really don't believe that what I am saying applies to you. I am confident you are producing the good fruit that comes along with your salvation. For God is not unfair. how can he forget your hard work for him, or forget the way you used to show your love for him - and still do - by helping his children? And we are anxious that you keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, so that you will get your full reward. THEN, knowing what lies ahead for you, you won't become bored with being a Christian, nor become spiritually dull and indifferent, but you will be anxious to follow the example of those who receive all that God has promised them because of their strong faith and patience." Heb 6:9-12

Living the Christian life according to God's plan is anything but boring. Being in right relationship (obedience) produces good fruit. Loving one another brings rewards. Fulfillment comes through following Godly examples. It takes strong faith and patience.

The next verses use the example of Abraham and how God was faithful to His promise to him. God will be faithful to his promise to you. Your faith becomes strong through storms and trials that seem too great to handle. It's in those circumstances God comes through "... so that those he promised to help would be perfectly sure and never need to wonder whether he might change his plans." Heb. 6:17

Growing in faith isn't easy. It comes through some turbulent times. When floods of adversity come those caught in the rut too often get swept away. But applying scriptural principles in every area of our life keeps us secure in him regardless of the circumstances. verse 19 says, "This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven..."

God has a plan for you, and if we surrender to His direction, He will come through. He is faithful!


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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