Shades of Gray

What does the life of Christianity hold for the believer? Is it so black and white that there is a dividing line between the struggles of this walk with no gray areas in between?

In today's modern Christianity, people seem consumed by critiquing the lives of Christians who do seem to be struggling in the gray area. I find that those who are weak in biblical understanding do not comprehend why so many Christians can be hurting or struggling with certain problems or sins. They think that so and so must really messed up and they are so amazed at why the struggle seems so difficult and long. They think that after all they are a Christian and they shouldn't be having all these problems. I was of this mindset about myself at one point because I wondered how in the world can I be battling these kinds of things? In my own understanding I concluded that there must be something really wrong with any Christian who could walk in such unjoyful melancholy. I struggled with putting up that perfect image that portrayed unbridled happiness because I was a Christian. To struggle against sin certainly seems like it portrays weakness when in the worldly view all Christians should be strong.

My understanding of this certainly has changed because I know why there is a battle.

Why do we see this struggle? Because we live in a depraved world and we battle sin just like anyone else does. It is a learned process sometimes to believe in the grace of our Lord and Savior. It is part of our sanctification that we learn and grow in this belief and sometimes it does not come easily but through continual prayer and studying the Scripture.

I don't believe that we should walk in constant sorrow by any means. There are countless people of God who battled sin including David who I think is the greatest example of one who went through some very despairing times. He was constantly crying out to God to restore his joy because of his conflicts with sin.

So, we know that Christians do sin. Even Paul in Romans 7 says that he battles with the things that he does not want to because there is ongoing conflict with two natures. This is why we must be careful with how we label Christians. The battles they face can be far and wide but we must remember to show compassion and love for those who are struggling.

For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For that which I am doing, I do not understand, for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing that I hate.
(Romans 7:14-15)

A believer does not have the mindset to just chuck sin aside like an unwanted toy. Instead, we set forth to go into battle with our sins. In our own strength it is too hard. We can't stop it ourselves but must receive the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in order to change our minds about our sin. After all, if it looks like it is so easy then how will the sacrifice that He made for our sins be seen and understood? He sacrificed His life for us -- that could not have been an easy task to take on the wrath of God for our sinfulness. The difference now for a believer is that we have the power to resist the sin even if at times it seems daunting and difficult. And, as we grow in our sanctification we will see more of that sinfulness revealed.

In Romans 6 Paul says this:

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2)

Paul goes onto say in Romans 6:11 that as believers, we are dead to this sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ. But we must know that because of our depraved situations there will be ongoing battles with our sinful natures. In his article Gospel-Driven Sanctification Jerry Bridges explains it this way:

"But the question arises, 'If I've died to sin's dominion, why do I still struggle with sin patterns in my life?' The answer to that question lies in the word struggle. Unbelievers do not struggle with sin. They may seek to overcome some bad habit, but they do not see that habit as sin. They do not have a sense of sin against a holy God. Believers, on the other hand, struggle with sin as sin. We see our sinful words, thoughts, and deeds as sin against God; and we feel guilty because of it. This is where we must continue to go back to the gospel. To consider ourselves dead to sin is to believe the gospel.

This doesn't mean that we just believe the gospel and live complacently in our sin. Absolutely not! Go back to Paul's words in Romans 6:1-2. We died both to sin's guilt and its dominion. Though sin can wage war against us (hence our struggle), it cannot reign over us. That is also part of the gospel. But the success of our struggle with sin begins with our believing deep down in our hearts that regardless of our failures and our struggle, we have died to sin's guilt. We must believe that however often we fail, there is no condemnation for us (Rom 8:1)."

We must continually lift up our brothers and sisters in prayer who are battling some of life's harder moments and to remind that we are not under the condemnation of sin and darkness instead of criticizing. Because through criticism, whether it is of ourselves or others, we are not showing the love of Christ.

As believers, let's keep our faith in the saving grace of the gospel!