Stress And Slippage

Worldly Stress and the Erosion of Faith from Slippage.

Friend, the growth, or maturity, or manifestation of Christian graces in your life (if you have been reconciled to God through Christ) and the longevity of these graces during your life are not automatic nor a given. What is a given—something which continually presses against and stresses the Christian’s life and the working of God’s graces in your heart—is the presence and influence of the world and those of the world. These worldly influences and their affects most readily and frequently come through people you deal with in all forms of contact. They are constant pressures which can naturally erode faith, if not recognized and counteracted continually.

The Apostle Paul counsels Timothy to be aware of the attitudes and actions of others which, if not understood and counteracted, could lead to the erosion of his faith. Similar to Timothy, you and I (if we have been reconciled to God through Christ) must always pay attention to what and who we relate to, their affects on us, and constantly view our lives as primarily being lived or defined by our relationship with God instead of the world and those of the world. The stress, or pressure, of our worldly interactions pushes against all that is of God in our lives. It is as if darkness is seeking to once again overcome that which is now light. In Christ, we have been transferred from darkness to light, but we live in a world of darkness where we must live preserved from darkness as true light. If we do not remain vigilant against this worldly stress, we are subject to being overcome by it and our lives (practically) could become “faithless.”

Consider the following passages from 2 Timothy:


“BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].” (3:1, Amplified Bible)

“For men will be lovers of themselves . . .” (3:2, NKJV)

“. . . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (3:4-5)

“. . . these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith” (3:8)

“. . . evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (3:13)


Friend, the way the Apostle Paul counseled Timothy indicates to me that Timothy himself was dealing with these very stresses during his life and ministry. Context supports a view that Timothy’s relational stresses stemmed from those of the world but also within the visible Church. These strains seem to be the same stresses you and I contend with constantly (especially if we are sensitive to the Spirit’s work in our own lives and the workings of evil in the world).

We may differ from Timothy with respect to our vocation and ministry, but we share with him the same onslaught of pressures from the world and the same need to watch over and preserve our faith. To set perspective and direct Timothy, the Apostle Paul contrasts Timothy’s life as a Christian with those stressing him and who are worldly:


“But you [Timothy] have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance . . .” (3:10)

“But you [Timothy] must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. “(3:14-15)

“But you [Timothy] be watchful in all things” (4:5)


Paul’s counsel to Timothy for the preservation of his faith and effectiveness in ministry is, on one level, quite simple: Be Watchful In All Things. Don’t Forget Your Christian Life and Remember The Lives of Other Christians Who Have Struggled Severely For The Same Faith. Do Not Neglect God’s Word. It Gives You The Right Perspective.

Paul seems to guide Timothy with respect to the items above because here is where the pressures or stresses of the world primarily take their aim: Be Distracted With All The Pressures And Stress In The World. Your Christian Experience Is False, Or Else Your Life Would Not Be So Troubled (You Are Alone!). Why Spend Time In God’s Word? What Good Has It Done You? Stare At And Remain Overwhelmed With Me—The World—And All That Is Going On In The World! That Is All There Is And You’re Helpless!

Reader, we too easily submit to the world’s voice, pressures, and we too readily receive the stresses which lead to the erosion of our faith. This eroded condition need not be a description of your or my life though, and there is a remedy if you have experienced erosion of your faith from slippage. Movement from light to darkness often occurs incrementally and without our notice. We suddenly awaken (by God’s grace) and realize how far from a stable and passionate living faith we’ve moved. But the remedy, repentance, unlike the cause, is immediate. Employ Paul’s counsel to Timothy. Rely on God and get in the Word of God! Understand what is going on and remain diligent, watchful and engaged in the life with God in Christ Jesus that you were called to, and every moment of every day be on guard for the stress of the world and the erosion and slippage of your faith!

May the graces of God through Christ Jesus be manifest in your life and be a witness to those in darkness.

Carl


“O Love divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my willing heart
All taken up by thee?
I thirst, I faint, I die to prove
The greatness of redeeming love—
The love of Christ to me.

Stronger his love then death or hell:
No mortal can its riches tell,
Nor first-born sons of light:
In vain they long its depths to see;
They cannot reach the mystery—
The length, the breadth, the height.

God only knows the love of God;
Oh that it now were shed abroad
In this poor, stony heart!
For love I sigh, for love I pine;
This only portion, Lord be mine—
Be mine this better part.

Oh that I could sit
In transport at my Saviour’s feet!
Be this my happy choice;
My only care, delight, and bliss,
My joy, my heaven on earth, be this,
To hear my Saviour’s voice.”

(Charles Wesley, d. 1788)