Category: Pastor’s Thoughts

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

– Acts 20:24

What do you picture when you hear the word retire? Most likely the first thing that comes to mind is someone who has reached a certain age and is leaving the job market. They have put in their years and have come to a place where all the toil of employment is now behind them and they can spend their golden years doing whatever their heart desires. At least that is the image that has been portrayed in the last century.

Now think about the word recess. What comes to mind? For most, it will harken back to the past years of elementary school. Those wonderful times the children took a break from the challenge of sitting still as the teacher attempted to shape their young minds. Recess was invigorating because it allowed a time for a break, a time to reset, a time to allow the mind to unfocus so it could then refocus. The really good teachers understand the importance of recess and strategically use this break time as a way to cultivate and focus the learning process.

Two different words that encourage very different initial thoughts. One is deemed appropriate for the older crowd and we tend to think they deserve it because they have earned it. The other, the younger crowd who needs it in order to keep them under control for the more important things.

But have you ever thought about retirement and recess from a Biblical and faith perspective? A Biblical view of retirement is much different then what is embraced today. The modern idea of a leisure-based retirement is a first-world cultural invention. On the other hand, the Bible views retirement as a reassignment, not a retreat. It is a transition of activity and the important use of experience. The transition into the more mature years of life should be a time for the sharing of wisdom and looked at as a shift in vocation rather than an excuse for withdrawal for personal enjoyment.

The idea of a recess is much different. The pattern of work and rest was established in creation. A recess should be thought of as a deliberate time of rest or in Biblical language a sabbath or sabbatical. It serves as a time of withdrawing from the day to day activities of ministry.

Numerous times, Jesus withdrew from the crowds to pray and spend time with His Father. There are three main principles we can learn from Jesus in terms of a recess. First, a recess protects us from burnout. No matter how much we love people and talking about Jesus, we need a break in order to keep our focus on the bigger picture. Second, a time of recess is needed to find and reestablish clarity and focus on the Holy Spirit. In silence, we position ourselves to be able to hear God’s voice. Third, when we place a priority on recess we demonstrate our dependence on Christ as our Lord and sustainer. Modeling the practice of dedicated rest is an example to others that the love of God includes His care for us.

To gain a complete understanding, we now must consider the word reassignment. Reassignment by definition is moving to a new role in order to complete a different task. Our purpose in Christ never changes, which is to glorify God. However our assignment does. Just like the changing of the seasons, the opportunities to build the Kingdom also changes. This is a lifelong process that doesn’t end until we step into glory.

Instead of taking a cultural approach to retirement, recess and reassignment, the faithful believer should always turn to the Scriptures when it comes to our next steps on the faith journey.

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

– 2 Timothy 2:22

Food is essential. We have to have nourishment if we want to operate correctly from a biochemical and physiological standpoint. But food is much more than simply an obligatory necessity. We also take pleasure in food. With all the different flavors, we develop preferences and cravings that bring a factor of satisfaction. In addition to that, meal time has a social and community aspect that all cultures partake in. We eat to celebrate, we eat when we are stressed and we eat when we need comfort. 

For restaurant chains, advertising their food is essential for their business. They take every part of the eating experience and use it for their marketing purposes. It seems like you can’t go through a commercial break without at least one of the advertisements being for food and most likely it’s cheaper and less quality fare.

As with most corporate advertising, the food you see on the commercials is never an accurate representation of what you actually get. Sure it may look good, however your past experiences always speak louder. Technology has yet created an accurate way to present a good product. You cannot smell, let alone taste the food through your screen. However, it is meant to entice your tastebuds and need for community to the point that your hunger overrides those past experiences.

But then something odd happens. There is a shift in how you process the food commercials. Instead of longing for their food and how good you think it will taste, you start thinking about how disappointing it actually is and how badly it would make you feel.

Temptation for the mature Christian works in a similar way. Temptation to sin is advertised and displayed all around us. It’s enticing because our human sin nature seeks, even craves the depravity of the perverted world. On top of that, like the commercials pitching substandard food, the temptation of sin never stacks up the actual engagement. The truth is, sin will always let you down and leave you empty, regretting those decisions.

When we seek righteousness and a Christ honoring life, we come to the realization that how good we think the sin would make us feel, we have a deeper Holy Spirit inspired understanding of how negative the results would be. 

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he conveys this principle of Christian maturity. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Don’t fall for the false promises of this world. Be careful with what the culture is pitching you, because the outcome   will never live up to the hype. Quite the contrary. The world can only offer a weak counterfeit of those things that only God can bring into our lives. 

Like the steaming pieces of pizza we see smiling people enjoying on a commercial, we come to the reality that the food not only disappoints us, it also gives little satisfaction. Add to the detrimental effect of low quality food and hopefully a lesson has been learned. How we look at and treat sin and temptation in our life should be no different. We must never forget our last experience with sin. The reality of the emptiness, disgust and remorse should be powerful reminders that draw us back to the righteousness of the Lord.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

– Philippians 2:3

The legendary Green Bay Packers football coach Vince Lombardi famously said, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” A simple motto that so many have subscribed to, it has changed the way the general population as well as business, politics and especially sports conduct themselves. 

In a competitive culture, winning equates to success and success has everything to do with power. Therefore, why would anyone want to be on the losing side? As a result, winning has become the ultimate goal. Tragically, far too many have falsely based their identity on their ability to win. To maintain that sense of identity, no cost is too great as long as a perceived win is possible. Lying, cheating, stealing and whatever deceptive tactics that are needed to win become acceptable when winning and the success and power that supposedly come with it are the objective.

The perception of winning actually triggers a chemical reward in the brain. However, as with any reward driven addiction, it cannot be sustained because no business, sports team or individual will always win. For many, the crash and subsequent letdown is a harsh reality that too often causes people to lose their rational thought. 

  

Take gambling for example. Winning is exhilarating. It causes the person to believe they actually continue on a “winning streak.” So they chase the win at any cost. In the process, something interesting happens. Winning just one time alters the brain’s reward system by triggering a massive dopamine release. That same dopamine release starts to occur during the anticipation of risk rather than just the win. This creates a powerful neurological loop driven by unpredictable outcomes, near-misses and the urge to chase losses. Instead of the belief they can win, the fear of losing begins to take center stage. 

Unfortunately this reaction is not simply confined to gambling. The reason an all or nothing focus on winning is so dangerous is because it has a 0% sustainability rate and will always descend into a fear of losing. Losing success, losing power, losing one’s self. Inherently winning is not a bad thing.  However, unlike Coach Lombardi, it can never become the only thing.

For the Christian, one of the sweetest moments in our public life is leading someone to Christ. We even call this winning someone to Jesus. But the motivations are much different than those of the world. To glorify Christ and testify to His wonderful sacrifice is the main motivation. That means the reward we receive isn’t for us, but for us to give to Christ. 

When we focus on Christ, when our desire is that our identity is founded in Him, our character, our encouragement, our ability to love and even our integrity is changed. We no longer have to win at any cost, because Jesus already did, once and for all. Through His example, we do not count ourselves better than others or see them as someone to beat, rather we see them as potential brothers and sisters in Christ. Success is redefined in our life based on God’s standards. 

The power that the world chases is eclipsed by the power of the Holy Spirit in our life. To say that our idea and motivation to win has changed is but a reflection of a changed and yielded heart to our Savior. Maybe the best way to say it would be, winning is everything because Jesus is the only thing.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

⁃ Philippians 4:8

Why do we wash our hands? That’s probably not a question we think about very often. As a child, we sing our A,B,C’s while making suds because our parents and teachers tell us to. Then we enter a phase where it is socially acceptable to wash our hands. When we get old enough and can comprehend germs and bacteria, we wash our hands because we know it will prevent illnesses. 

In third world and developing nations, many of the leading diseases that lead to sickness and death can be greatly diminished by simply being diligent in the washing of hands. By washing your hands, you physically remove bacteria and viruses, keeping them from entering your body and stopping them from spreading to others. 

Now of course the most effective way to wash your hands has to include soap. Soap molecules actively break down the invisible oily layers on your skin where germs, viruses, and dirt hide. Bacteria and viruses naturally stick to and live in the oils on our bodies. Because oil and water do not mix, rinsing with plain water simply doesn’t work for proper hygiene. When we use soap, it actively breaks up the surface tension of the water, allowing it to penetrate and wash away the trapped grime. Soap also destroys viruses and bacteria by rupturing there protective membranes rendering them harmless.

If you have ever had surgery or stitches or just about any medical procedure, you know that there are always strict hygiene practices employed. That’s because it is much easier and better to prevent illness than to have to treat an infection. Therefore many steps are taken to avoid what could potentially become a chronic or life threatening condition.

When we think about hygiene, it is almost always from a physical mindset. But we find many instances in Scripture that warn us of the dangers if we don’t look at hygiene from a spiritual perspective. Many of the physical dangers we can face from improper hygiene are similar to the spiritual ones that endanger us.

Our very thoughts, if unbridled, are like the dirty hands that bring sickness. If what we allow into our minds and thought processes are not filtered and cleaned, they have the potential to take root and cause us harm spiritually in the same way viruses and bacteria can take hold if we don’t wash our hands. 

Scripture is the soap that we need to keep our thoughts on God and that results in mental hygiene. Physical soap can be harsh because of its chemical make up. But it is that very make up that enables it to be effective. In a similar way, Scripture can seem harsh in how it brings conviction into our life. But it is that conviction that points out sin and temptation and draws us closer to Christ. 

We do not simply wash our hands or take a shower because we are filthy. Rather, good hygiene is part of our daily routine. How we look at keeping out thoughts pure before the Lord should also be a daily routine. Time in Scripture, prayer and surrounding ourselves with others who are strong in the Lord are all ways to practice good mental hygiene. 

Paul gives us appropriate hygiene instruction is 2 Corinthians 10:5-6, We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

1 John 3:1-2

If you have ever been to a third world nation or a reservation in the western United States, you have most likely noticed an abundance of stray dogs. Strolling around freely, sleeping in unlikely places, eating whatever they can find. To the visitor, it appears both unnatural as well as concerning. Looking a bit mangy, absent of a collar and perpetually roaming around, the loan dog wanders through life each day becoming more feral simply trying to survive.

Since dogs are naturally pack animals, the common instinct is for these strays to gather together and form groups. Now instead of the occasional loaner, these packs of stray dogs are seen with both contempt and caution. Ruled by dominance, a pecking order is determined by strength and control. Better than being alone, the prospects for these dogs are not favorable. Just like with humans, those they associate with determine their future. For the stray dog packs, that is a cruel and short life.

As once domesticated dogs with the intention as human companions, the unfortunate part  is when left to their own accord, all the negative traits of stray dogs emerge and are highlighted. The result is far from man’s best friend as they are quickly reduced to just another menace to society.

However, if you take one of these young strays and give them a home, something incredible happens. When they are provided with care and structure, they can naturally become a great pet and companion, loyal to their owner. 

A lone stray simply tries to survive, a pack of strays becomes a danger to the community, but one that has been adopted into a family becomes a treasured companion.

Interesting how dogs and people are quite similar in this respect. When we are alone in life, most of the time we are just exercising, simply surviving in a complex world. Instead of being alone, longing for community, we seek whatever is available. However, many times the groups we fall into out of loneliness or desperation only amply the dysfunction. What we really need is a home. One where we can, not simply survive, but thrive in hope and vitality. 

God’s plan for us is one of community and health. He calls us from alienation into adoption with Himself. He provides us with His Church, a place to belong and to be nurtured. He feeds us, takes care of us and even disciplines us when needed. Not only invited in, He pursues us, meeting us where we are, but loving us too much to let us stay there. We now have a home where we can feel safe and secure.

Most of all, we can belong. Belonging to the King and living in the Kingdom. This new reality of life causes hope to spring up in us. Unlike the stray dog that merely tries to survive another day, the hope that comes with being adopted into Christ is eternal. The confidence in knowing that we will be with Christ forever displaces fear and loneliness and in its place strength and purpose abound.  

If you have ever felt like a stray dog, don’t settle for what a pack can offer. Find your home in Christ and the family He provides.

He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control],
But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].

– Proverbs 14:29 (AMP)

If there is one certainty that we can all expect every single day of our life, it is the opportunity to become frustrated. It’s everywhere! From the long wait for the coffee maker to the traffic and all those people that just don’t understand your schedule. The beast within that we call frustration is ever looming in the background, waiting to be unleashed, ready to rear its ugly head.

But what exactly is frustration? 

Frustration is the feeling of annoyance, discouragement, or anger that arises when your efforts to achieve a goal are blocked or your expectations are not met. Quite simply, it is an emotional response emanating from when things don’t go your way. The inconvenient reality is that in life, much of the time things will not go our way. In many cases, we have little or no control over such things, but we do have control in how we choose to respond.

Patience reflects our choice in how we decide to react to situations and in the way we endeavor the trials, however big or small that we will constantly face. As simple as this definition is, the application is becoming harder and harder.   

According to a survey of 2,000 adults, all of the luxuries of modern life have made most people incredibly impatient. This is not confined to any one part of our life, but rather across pretty much every aspect of our lives. Three quarters of those surveyed said they believe the dominance of digital technology, such as smartphones and on-demand TVs are to blame for this ever growing lack of patience. The survey shows the average person grows frustrated after waiting 16 seconds for a webpage to load and 25 seconds for a traffic signal to change. We are living in a culture that wants what we want and we want it right now. Technological conveniences have become an expectation and it is taking its toll on us emotionally. The result is a selfish and self-centered mentality that elevates the needs of the one over a more harmonious outlook of community. The ensuing storm draws people into a place of anger and intolerance. Sensible and rational decisions are replaced by annoyance, dissatisfaction and resentment. 

The only cure is choosing to be patient in our frustration. Scripture helps us and guides us here. Proverbs 29:11 says, A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. What causes our anger? Usually it results from a building frustration that has not been addressed. Sideways anger is a redirection of frustration and anger away from its true source and onto an unintended target. The top blows and the full vent of that frustration erupts into outrage.

Patience is where frustration is allowed to mellow. Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delays, suffering, or annoyance without becoming frustrated, upset or angry. It combines steady perseverance with emotional regulation and gives us the ability to maintain a calm demeanor under pressure. Patience is rooted in our relationship with Christ. If we have found our identity in Jesus, a confidence comes which grants us a much longer line of sight. One that reaches all the way to eternity.  

Look at what Galatians 6:9 says, And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

In many ways, allowing our frustration to grow into anger is giving up on the process of patience. It is ignoring the leading of the Holy Spirit and Scripture and instead reacting to the situation. Paul’s words here help us to gain a more Godly perspective. We should never get tired of doing good because inherently when we are about our Father’s business we are inspired and energized. Even if we don’t see immediate results, we can have confidence that in due time, God will be glorified.

The Bible has the answers we desperately need when we are frustrated. We just need the patience to seek the Lord in these times.

…that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

– Ephesians 3:16-19

If you can remember back to high-school English class, there was always a segment taught on two opposing approaches to the human experience. Writers as well as artists would be categorized as either a romantic or a realist. 

Romanticism focuses on the inner life, personal freedom, and the boundless potential of the individual. Romantics often elevate human experiences through emotional depth, imagination, and a spiritual or idealized connection to nature. The romantic dreams big and the result in a literary sense is that everything turns out good. It is an idealistic approach that leaves the reader satisfied, elated and hopeful. In the end, the hero always wins and the people rejoice.

Realism on the other hand rejects idealization in favor of detailed observation and objective truth. Realists focus on the practical, social, and economic realities of daily life, shedding light on social issues like industrialization and the struggles of the working class. Because of this, the realist paints a seemingly more accurate picture, especially in terms of hardship. The result is often tragic, bringing a gut punch to the reader. The everyday struggles and realities of the normal person bring to light the difficulty of life and the eventual losses that inevitably occur.

Every person has a tendency to lean to one side or the other in terms of being a romantic or a realist. These mindsets influence how we see the world and others. They help determine our approach and the expected outcomes. For the romantic, there is the belief that all will end well, turning out for good in the end. The realist has a quite different approach. They are continually estimating the potential outcomes, but also the probability and possibility of dangers and pitfalls along the way. They take the approach that there may be a real probability of failure.

Most people float somewhere between the romantic/realist complex, sometimes week to week. Children are for the most part romantics simply because they have had few experiences to keep them from living life any differently. However as we go through life and experience more and more pain, failure and loss, we tend to gravitate to a more realist view.

But following Christ breaks the mold. It does this simply because God is neither a romantic or a relist while also being fully a romantic and realist. He encompasses the fullness of everything and His very will reflects this. To be a Christian is to follow Christ, being submersed in who He is. Our identity is therefore changed from our old-self to who we are now. Our very view of the world and even more so of God is changed through our born-again experience. Because we now see through the spiritual eyes of the Holy Spirit, to be a realist is being a romantic and to be a romantic is to be a realist. 

The nature of sin and the death that it brings through the separated state that sin brings is tragic and always ends in tragedy. The Righteousness of God can only bring His judgement on those who are deserving judgement (anyone who has ever committed sin). It is the nature of the common man’s struggle in this world with the only eventual outcome being death followed by eternal torment, satisfying a realist’s viewpoint.

The mercy and gracy of the Father as realized through the Son brings a complete and completed romantic aspect. Because of Jesus, we have a choice to embrace this wonderful gift and with it comes the ultimate hope. 

Christ the hero always wins. For the Christian we take comfort and have confidence in the Blessed Hope while we simultaneously understand the consequences of those who have not accepted Christ.

As in water face reflects face,

    so the heart of man reflects the man.

– Proverbs 27:19

Mountains are a splendor to behold. Very few people are not awestruck when gazing at the majestic, rugged beauty of the mountains. People from all different countries come to Montana each year to glimpse the unique and unrefined beauty of Yellowstone and Glacier National Park. The idealistic view is a high mountain lake providing a seemingly perfect reflection of a towing peak. This picture creates a mirror image that looks correct no matter which way you look at it. When we see such things, we are moved. Something with us stirs. Instead of feeling small and insignificant in comparison to something so looming and beautiful, we are inspired.

Mirrors are a strange oddity. They have become such a normal necessity in our life. We use them for a variety of different things. The obvious one is using it to evaluate how we look. Are we presentable to those we will encounter throughout the day? Does our shirt match and compliment our pants and shoes? However, beyond our grooming needs, we also use mirrors every time we drive. The awareness here keeps us safe, granting us an understanding of what cars or potential dangers are around us. Like many things in our life, we take for granted the importance of the mirrors in our automobiles. 

Mirrors are also used in architecture. Because of their reflective abilities, they can make a small space look big. They can help make a dimly lit room more radiant. When we go to the dentist or the doctor, mirrors are employed to help diagnose and evaluate, keeping us healthy and uncovering potential issues.

As beneficial as all of these things are, probably the best use of a mirror is self reflection. Not just looking at our physical reflection, but looking inside of ourselves. Looking at the true person we are. When looking in the mirror what do you see? More importantly, who do you see?

We all reflect something. It is important to discover what it is we are mirroring in our lives. This is deeper than just the image we see, it cuts to our heart, our true nature that is reflected into this world and those around us.

Within Christian circles, we would rarely deny that we are to be a reflection of the Lord. Look at what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.  

We want to believe we are reflecting Christ, we know that when we look in the mirror we should see Jesus, but sometimes we relate more to the words of James in James 1:23-24, For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

Without Christ in our life, without understanding our identity in Christ, we lose sight of ourselves. At that point, it is easy to be influenced to reflect on other things in our life. Because in reality, we are always reflecting something. When we were in the world we looked like the world, we thought like the world, we spoke like the world. In essence, reflecting the world into the world causes one to become camouflage to the world. You become absorbed into the world system, your identity lost, your uniqueness becoming little more than conformity. 

God calls us to so much more. When we reflect the glory of the Lord, our uniqueness shines and we extol Christ to those around us.

So take a good look, who are you reflecting?

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

⁃Romans 8:18

Summer’s coming and it’s time to plan a trip out of town. A not so fun doctor’s appointment is scheduled for tomorrow. Will it rain later or will the sun stay out? 

We don’t know what the future holds, so all we can do is imagine what might actually take place. Within this, we naturally build anticipation. Anticipation stems from being aware of future possibilities, preparing for them and the possible outcomes. 

Anticipation is a big part of our life. Since it’s a natural reaction to what and how we believe the future will unfold, we can naturally dedicate a lot of time to it. From anticipating what will come later in the day, to anticipating those things that might take place years from now, we cannot help but think about all the what if’s.

Anticipation is a two edged sword. It stirs all sorts of emotions in our life. Our anticipation can cause us to worry, fret and dread if uncertainty or a negative aspect of life seems unavoidable. On the other hand, we can become excited, even consumed as we anticipate a vacation, holiday or times with those we love. Many times our expectations are based on previous experiences and outcomes. Unfortunately, anticipation can cause us to react without thinking things all the way through. Many times when the anticipation gets too overwhelming, we can attempt to make things happen sooner than they probably should. 

God understands the effects of anticipation on our life. He also knows that in this world, we will have hardship, agony and trials. We will also have elation, happiness and bliss. The reality is, be it a positive or negative expectation, both can cause us to take our eyes off of the Lord. 

That’s why His Scriptures are filled with encouragement to set our minds and hearts on the only One who is above all things. The writers of the New Testament continually reassured their readers of the unbound reality of what is to come. No matter what life throws at us or seemingly gifts us, an eternal perspective grants us a stability and steadfastness to which nothing else can compare. Consider James’ words in James 1:12, Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. Even though life comes at us at a hundred miles an hour, we are blessed when we stay anchored to the Rock of our Salvation, knowing that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. 

Our faith should lead us to the greatest anticipation one can have. To be with Christ for eternity. If anticipation is affected by past experiences, then it is those very experiences we have had and are having with God, that builds our anticipation of all the glorious things to come to those who walk with and serve the Lord. In Romans 15:13, Paul admonishes the reader when he writes, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

How often is our anticipation built in hope? Only the promise of Jesus brings hope into our life. So if you have been distracted by anticipating all those great things that this world might provide or your anticipation is bringing on anxiety, maybe it’s time to just take a breath, reflect on Christ and consider the great joy that is before us in Christ our Lord.

 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

– Galatians 1:10

Let’s be honest, keeping your yard looking nice takes a lot of time and effort. In many places, the desired look that people are after runs contrary to the environment they live in. For example, should those living in a more arid or desert area really set an expectation of having a lush green lawn? Or are there better options, more natural options that that particular environment would better sustain? The problem has become one of general influence. Because a standard has been established as to how a homeowner’s yard should look, the majority of people attempt to live up to that standard without even questioning the reasons why. The issue arises when the wants, needs and practicality of a homeowner is replaced by the fear of having the worst looking property in the subdivision. 

Now there is no doubt that yard work and landscaping is a hobby to some. They take great pride in how their lush green grass compliments the meticulously groomed flowers and shrubs they have carefully selected based on colors and shapes. Landscaping rock and brick is laid out in a manner that accentuates and draws in the onlooker. Trees are carefully and systematically planted in spots to add a vertical contrast. And weekly, sometimes even daily, there is a required manicuring and maintenance process. These properties are nice to look at, but unfortunately set false standards within that neighborhood. However inadvertently this standard has been set, it becomes a very overt, green, insurmountable standard.

We can liken this standard to a form of adult peer pressure. Instead of enjoying the process and fulfillment of a “nice” yard, the burden of keeping up with the neighbors becomes a heavy duty many are unable to satisfy.  

    

This is similar to what can happen in churches. Within our faith, we need to have a solid understanding of God’s Word and who we are in Christ. This establishes our identity as a believer. As silly as relating yard maintenance to adult peer pressure is, Christian peer pressure is a dangerous reality. 

Asking questions needs to be a normal and integral part of our faith. What do I believe and why do I believe it are two of the core questions we need to ask ourselves. We also need to come to a defined and genuine answer to these questions. Too many people align themselves with Christianity simply because in the past there has been a Christian standard. In a more personal aspect, family and friends can greatly influence our idea of Christian identity. There are some who identify as Christian simply because they don’t identify with anything else. There might be a knowledge of who Jesus is and a Bible in the house, but actually following Jesus is abstract and absent. 

Christian peer pressure may influence the desire for a faith description, but there is a defined lack of dedication. Anytime a relationship with Christ is built on anything other than Christ Himself, it produces a false reality of who Christ actually is.

Even the dedicated Christian can easily fall victim to peer pressure. Unfortunately in many churches, good people and good pastors have established a perceived standard of how a Christian should look, talk and act. If not careful, we then begin to measure ourselves against this standard and not the standard of Christ. Why we look, talk and act differently from the world has to be because of the power and fruit of the Holy Spirit in us rather than a man-made standard set before us.