This post is part of a discussion on Craig Groeschel’s book, The Christian Atheist, covering chapter 7: When you believe in God, but don’t think you can change. Add to the discussion in the comments or add a response post from your blog to the link widget on Sarah Salter’s post.
Sometimes I wonder what outsiders think as they peer into our churches, read our blogs, follow our online conversations, or even overhear us in a restaurant. Do we sound like a big bundle of issues and nothing more? Do we profess to know a God of limitless power and never bother to be transformed by the amazing grace of which we are so fond of singing?
Don’t get me wrong. I love that we can be honest with our struggles in our church community as well as online. I don’t want that freedom and openness to go away, but if we are never making any forward progress or don’t even acknowledge we’re wrong, we have to examine that and ask why?
As Craig Groeschel points out in this chapter, we’re living as Christian atheists. We believe in God but we’ve bought into a lie that “this is just who I am and I can’t change.â€
I have to admit this one bugs me a lot. I’m the first to admit and be honest: I’ve got plenty of issues. I just don’t believe that they’re going to be there forever. Some drop off in moments, days, or weeks. Others may be around for years, but I’ll keep trusting and looking to Him throughout the process. That’s the power of grace!
That doesn’t mean it’s stroll-through-the-park easy, of course.
That doesn’t mean it’s stroll-through-the-park easy, of course.In his own struggle with being a workaholic, the author admits “my thoughts made me a prisoner.†When we come to the place where we believe God will change us and begin to deal with things, the excuse monster will be quick and vicious.
- You’ve always been this way
- It’s just your personality
- It’s your genetics
- You’re too old, you can’t change that now
- You’re young, you can deal with it when you’re older
- You tried before and failed, just give up already
For the most part, we know what our problems are, but it takes a lot of perseverance to get us to the place where God can transform us. It takes trust, surrender, and a deepening relationship with our God.
If you believe you can’t change, you’re right—sort of. You’re strength is limited. Your willpower isn’t bottomless. Your determination will eventually run dry. That’s why to change for good you need the power of the only one who is good—Christ!
–Craig Groeschel
Have you battled any of these lies before? Have you accepted this is “just the way I am� Which excuses seem to hit you the hardest when you step out in faith to believe change is possible with God?
17 Comments
I think pride comes into play in both situations. When young you don't think you need to change and when you get older it is hard to see the need to change. And yes I have struggled with both.
Ungodly thoughts like your list above will freeze you in your tracks and keep you from being free. Need to combat them big time! Good thoughts bro'
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV
I know I have:
# It’s just your personality
# It’s your genetics
# You tried before and failed, just give up already
Plus one more lie: "There is nothing wrong with me."
Through God's grace and power I have overcome a lot, but there is still a lot left to change.
Bill, I think we all do! That's why surrender and the work of the Holy Spirit is so important. Thank you…
It's crazy, isn't it? And the more I keep going I'm amazed by the thoughts that are in there and I didn't even know it. Like you mentioned with Romans 12, we have to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Those thoughts we dismiss as nothing really are extremely important! Thanks Jay.
"Through God's grace and power I have overcome a lot, but there is still a lot left to change." Boy, am I with you on that one! The one I forgot to write in my list was "it's not as bad as what other people are doing." All these lies try to keep us away from Jesus, but He'll have none of it! The Spirit inside us envies intensely, but He gives more grace. Thanks Dusty.
It's so easy to say we are who we are and there isn't anything we can do about it. It's even easier to say that's okay because we're covered by grace. But in the end, God expects us to get up each day and be the best possible person we can, and then get up the next day and try to be even better. Thanks for the kick in the pants, Jason.
And that's what grace is for in the first place! It's the power and favor of God WORKING inside us to bring about His righteous life.
Your words reminded me of Hebrews 10:29, "How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?"
God does take this seriously so we may as well trust Him and experience the life change He wants for us. It will only be to our benefit! Thanks Billy.
Delighted to stop by today. I popped over from Getting Down with Jesus. I hope you don't mind if I splash around a bit to get to know you. THis looks like a nice place to slip off my shoes and soak in serious goodness.
Splashin,
Sara
Sara, so glad you came! I hope you are blessed by what you find and I always look forward to new conversations. Thank you…
Jason… I'm writing today. I thought I was going to skip this one, just because it hits a little close to home. But I can't. It's time for a bit of change. So I'm going to post it later this week. I guess better late than never. Your post was very inspirational and is the sword I'm carrying today as I write my post. Thanks for being you.
Thank you for the encouragement. Glad you're writing and look forward to reading it. Blessings to you!
I'm sorry it took me so long to comment today! I've been obsessing about change ever since I read this chapter over the weekend and so by the time I posted today, I was just weary and ready for this chapter to be over! Probably a bad attitude to have, but I'll be honest about it.
I always obsess about change, but it's when I relax and let the change happen that relief comes. So, I guess it's time for me to just relax and let it happen, huh?
An interesting observation I made to myself this morning on my way to work was the difference between the two books we've discussed. The last book was really good for me in an encouraging and affirming way. It validated what I was going through (and have gone through in the past) with burnout. But THIS book is kickin' my tail! Every chapter is a challenge that has to be not just read but fought and pressed through and prayed through. And as much as it's kickin' my tail and as much as I enjoyed the first book we did, I'm thinkin' that at the end of the trail, this is going to be the book that changed me the most.
Just some thoughts…
That sounds just like God. He heals then He releases us into a greater victory. I don't either one was by chance and you needed the first before you could get to the second. It will be interesting to see what the next book will be!
I was thinkin' the same thing. In fact, I randomly asked God what the next book's gonna be, but He must not be ready for me to know yet.
I'm ALWAYS wondering if I can change, or if it's "just how I am." I don't like a lot of things about me, but like Paul, I do things I don't like. I guess that's a good first step, but when you're stuck on that step for a long time, it's easy to buy the idea that change isn't possible.
Stuck is no fun. Stuck sucks actually. I definitely know what you mean. Some things become such a part of us and we even identify with them (even if it's bad) that we can't imagine being any different. Sometimes others identify us by these traits, but that doesn't mean that the God of the universe isn't big enough to reach out and fundamentally change us if we let Him. It may be a long process, but I know if I really desire intimacy with God it's worth it. Thanks for joining the discussion Matt.