Forum 1 | Biblical Spirituality

If Christlikeness is the goal, what is our biggest obstacle

-1) culturally, 2) personally
250 word post
Mycountry has beenRoman Catholicby tradition from colonization. The first
evangelical Protestantsmissionaries arrived late by 1800. From this time, the
Protestants expansion was developed in a slowly way. Nevertheless, in the last
three decades the church has experienced an exponential growth;by June 2012 the
45% of the population professed to be Roman Catholic and a 40% Protestants (Cid
Gallup Latin-American, 2012).
This could be considered as a Christian advance, but the trueis that evangelical
churches are fighting againsta nominal faith progression.Considering this context,
both, culture and personal issues are real obstacles to be Christlikeness.
The culture or better said, the invasion of many cultures trough the music,
television, movies, etc., have created a Christian lifescosmovisionmixed with the
world viewpoint, so the core biblical principles became grays, negotiable or
replaced according person convenience.
By other hand, the new Christian culture characterized by a prosperity
perspective, make the relationship with Christ like a commercial transaction, where
the revenue or what I can get from this life style, seems the main motivation of
some churchs attendants.
But individually is a stronger obstacle than culture. Wemake decisionsin our inner;
we decide if we willsuccumb before culture or not; but most important, we decide
inside us to follow Jesus or not, to be like Him or not.
If following Jesus is a personal decision, how do you believe that we could be
effective impacting the warmest Christians adapted to a lite discipleshiptoday?

Replying to Classmates
6 replies of 150-200 words.
Christlikeness
by Marshall Lillie - Saturday, August 31, 2013, 09:23 AM
If Christlikeness is the goal the biggest obstacle in the culture today is the lack of
contact and recognition of Christ as a factor of any level of value in the lives of the
unchurched society. As I visit from home to home I have noticed the regardless of
social or socio-economic standing there is a missing element in today's homes - the
Bible. Without a concept of the biblical Jesus there can be no search for
Christlikeness. Without a copy of the Scriptures to read and study, there cannot be
an awareness that Christlikeness is necessary in life. I have found little
understanding of who God is from a biblical perspective, much less who Jesus is and
can be in a person's life in most of the homes I visit in my hospice ministry. These
families have no basis to know that becoming more like Christ is what we should be
about due to the absence of the inspired, written Word that will give them God's
direction on becoming more like the Son. The only avenue for God to enter the
home is on Sunday morning when a television preacher talks about God. Then
sports comes on and God is forgotten until next week.
If Christlikeness is our goal the obstacle for me personally is one of the will. If God
should show me the next step to my becoming more like Christ, it is for me to say
"yes" and to willfully take the steps He has shown me toward that goal. Is it possible
that my willingness is related to the culture's obstacle?

Reply
Is interesting that you mention that the Bible is the key missing element in our
society today, and Im completed agree with you; by other side, is paradoxical that
never as today, the people could access to the Bible in many ways: hard copy,
electronically, on line, audio, or video; and not only that, we can obtain the Gods
Word free; every people if they want it, they can have the Bible in their phone. But
unfortunately, probably we are witnesses of the major Bibles illiteracy of all the
times, and Im thinking on some churches levelalso.
I believe that your willingness is related to the cultures obstacles depending on
what extent your willingness is under control of the culture. Many people live their
livesguided by the cultures mandating: being in shape, having the new car, the new
phone, etc. I have heard in many times people saying I deserved to enjoy the life
because Im a hard worker, and this became a license to a licentious life; in these
cases, I consider, that the persons willingness is surrounded to the culture.

I have been crucified with Christ

by Robert Stevenson - Monday, August 26, 2013, 04:59 PM
I believe that Christlikeness is our goal but not only for personal gain or satisfaction,
but, Christ in us is what the world needs to observe.
The values and world view of the cultural within which we are called to live and
influence are opposed to the Kingdom values that the Word teaches us. Cultures of
the world differ greatly even in their definition of what is right and wrong. For
example, in Mexico lying is not a sin in many contexts but not greeting a friend or
neighbor is an offensive and totally unacceptable behavior. For an older man to
have more than one woman (if he can provide for her) is considered success. The
examples abound of how our surrounding cultures do not align with Gods purposes
for humankind. True disciples of the Lord Jesus in all generations and cultures must
swim against the current in order to be faithful to One who called us.
The obstacle to Christlikeness in my personal life is that old Robert which at times
wages war against the Spirit filled life. Sometimes, I have wished the old doctrine of
entire sanctification in this life were true. In many years of ministry I have come to
realize that you cant crucify a demon you have to cast it out, likewise you must
crucify the flesh it cannot be cast out something that some ministers vainly attempt
to do.
As Gods word has penetrated my heart and I have come to understand my identity
in Christ , I have been greatly strengthened to walk in freedom and holiness. Early
on in my Christian walk I received that revelation that Jesus must be Lord of all of
my life or He cannot be Lord at all. First thing in the morning, everyday, I need to
seek His face and spend time in His presence, in other words as Jesus said, without
me you can do nothing.

Reply
Yes, Christlikeness is a way to be read letters to the world. You mentioned
something real important, the kingdoms values, or as John Stott called the
Christian counter-culture (1978); it is one of the biggest challenges that we face as
XXI centurys Christians. The apostles said: Do you think God wants us to obey you
rather than him? (Acts 4:19), so we would paraphraser Do you think God wants us
to obey you CULTURE rather than him? Definitively, this is a big challenge, for all of
us but especially for young people.
You are not alone in this war Robert, like you I should recognize that I need Jesus
every day if I want please Him; fortunately the fact that we cant do anything
without Him is encouraging, because implied that Jesus is more interested in a
constant and intimate relationship with us than being perfects in this world, and
Im convinced also that when we sincerely are looking for to obey Jesus,He helps us
to grow in perfection daily.

Blinded by goals
byCyd Landing - Thursday, August 29, 2013, 07:54 PM
If Christlikeness is the goal, what is our biggest obstacle 1) culturally- Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the
hearts. Prov 21
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own
eyes. Judges 21. These are two verses that our culture is still proving true. The way
of man is opposite of God. No one wants to be told what to do and so they rebel and
allow society and its rules to be what governs their lives. In our cultures search for
identity they lose sight of who they were made to be and allow popular thought
control them. The fashions of the world has dominated mankind and our way of
viewing life. We want to live acceptable to the majority while denying the spirit
within.
2) personally- Allowing self to get caught up in doing life instead of living life as God
intended. Priority is sometimes a struggle and I find myself putting more energy
into earthly things and needs instead of spiritual. Christ taught the opposite. I am
challenged with drifting from the spiritual disciplines I desire to have in my life to
the physical needs and wants which take priority. I am thankful to God that he
answers my prayer to not let me stray far from Him and to keep me humble and
focused on what He has purposed my life to be. He always reminds me of my life
verse (Gal 2:20) when I lose sight of my most important goal.
Which obstacle do you feel does more damage to Kingdom work as a whole, our
cultural or personal struggles?

Reply
Your post defiesme to think in others kind of sub-cultures; more specificabout
Christians sub-cultures. During this discussion my tendency has been only to
consider the worlds culture as the unique obstacle in the develop of our spiritual
disciplines; but inclusive into the church environment, we could be considering our
way right in our own eyes
Probably this is more subtle, and easier to overlook because usually we dont have
any problem rejecting the customs or habits that clearly oppose to the kingdom; but
when the obstacle coming from inside the church, could be harder to identify, and
avoid them.
For instance, in my country has been an accepted practice the religious activism
instead the practice of a personal relationship with Jesus. Is normal to see people
involve in many Christian activities and culturally is assuming that this imply the
practice of spiritual disciplines, because people use a Christian jargon, carry on a
big Bible or a Cellphone with the ultimate Bibles apps or is well recognized into the
denominational circles; and all of this is Christian-culturally acceptable.

Christ likeness is the Goal

by Michael Bonacum - Wednesday, August 28, 2013, 06:48 PM
The desire of a disciple to conform to the image of our Master may be great, but
the degree to which we are effective in that goal will always be affected by the way
that we perceive and respond to external influences, and how fluidly we adjust to
the direction of the Holy Spirit.
As I reflect on both cultural and personal obstacles to obtaining this goal, I am
mindful of 2 of the Beatitudes.
Cultural obstacles:
Blessed are the poor in spirit. This position of being humble and teachable is
clearly not a strong emphasis in our culture. We are a prideful people, convinced
that our opinions and our right to live as we choose are of paramount importance.
We have adopted non-scriptural positions and political policies in the name of
progress and tolerance. Our culture has even taken the position of couching
Christians as being ignorant, narrow minded, or intolerant when we side with Gods
word against public institutions and conventions. This type of antagonistic (or at
least dismissive) external influence can wear on our personal discipleship, and our
ability to lead others to Christ.
Personal Obstacles:
Blessed are the meek. Painful as it is to admit, I have problems taking my
hands off the wheel sometimes. My personal obstacle in Christian growth is my
inability to fully submit and release myself to His authority and to His timing.
Allowing sanctification to be fully a work of the Holy Spirit is still a work in
progress for me.

Reply
You mentioned two beatitudes, and quickly came to my mind the others, and I
thought where Im in my practice of the remained beatitudes; sincerely I need a
work in progress sign for my life also, and as you said, is painful and not easy to
admit it.
But, if we really want to be Jesus disciples, we cant decrease the Lords standards.
Precisely, this is the world need; and a Christian not committed with the kingdoms
requirements is not impacting our society, or is impacting negatively.
However is hard to recognize that we need to live our lives guided for the Holy
Spirit, we need a humble and teachable spirit to admit it, and this can be applicable
to the church as a body also; but at the same time I consider it is necessary,
because it reminds us daily that is not something that we can achieve trough our
own efforts, skills or gifts; is something that only God can do Purify me from my
sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalms 51:7)
Shalom

Obstacles
by Aaron Williams - Sunday, August 25, 2013, 09:24 PM
The biggest obstacle, culturally, would be that of multiple religions. Christ is not,
according to our culture, the only way to make it to Heaven, Paradise, Elysium or
wherever the religions of today say good people end up taking residence. With so
many religions to choose from, how can one really know that following Christ is the
only way? One must wade through so many truths, half-truths and non-truths that
the truth may not even be truth to anyone who believes the truth.
Choosing the correct path in today's culture is about as confusing as the previous
statement. For the sake of argument, we will say Christ is the only way to make it to
Heaven. Christ-likeness IS the goal. The problem, culturally, is that there are so
many things, people, images etc... that deter man from becoming more and more
like Christ. Too many things that pull ones attention from who Christ is and, in turn,
forces us to create, if you will, our own Christ.
It is hard to separate the biggest obstacle culturally and personally when one drives
the other. Without a personal on-purpose decision to be Christ-like, our culture
suffers. If one is living a purposed life trying to be Christ-like, not on our on, but by
the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God, our culture as a whole, bit by bit,
begins to shift from that of negative to positive.
What is the overall point of Christianity?
Is becoming Christ-like important or can one make it to Heaven without being
completely Christ-like?

Reply
I dont mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have
already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which
Christ Jesus first possessed me. (Philippians 3:12)
Based on that I could answer your concluding question with an emphatic Yes!
Probably Im wrong but it is difficult to me distinguish any exclusion between
becoming Christ-like and completely Christ-like (remember that Im continue
learning English); but going far than grammar or language issues, I imagine
Christlikeness as a continuum, that includes the becoming as the daily goal or
daily steps to be like Jesus (once day at the time), and the completely that implies
the end of this continuum, the perfection. But the only way to walk through this
continuum is recognizing that Jesus is going with us on it; probably this is one of the
biggest differences from other paths preached, we can gain perfection not for my
own efforts or sacrifices, but for what Jesus already did!
I agree with you, for all Jesus disciples this is a non negotiable personal decision, it
doesnt matter whether it is accepted or not by the culture or even by myself (my
ego).
Shalom

Growing Up in My Faith with Devotion

by Noriko Ito - Thursday, September 5, 2013, 04:21 PM
In my culture the biggest obstacle being Christlike is that they do not want to know about other religions. If
someone believes Jesus, non-Christians will judge that the individual is weak and refuses to have a relationship with
the individual. They also think that believing in a religion means you should pay for it; they also believe Christians
are deceived by religion. I am a pastors kid. When I was a child, some of my classmates did not play with me
because my home is a church. Some parents would say, Do not play with pastors kids to their children. Living as
a Christian is very hard for in Japan. My brother and his friend were hit in a school because they are Christians.
Finding job, making friends, making relationships with caseworkers and fellowship with neighborhoods are hard to
Christians in Japan. So, maybe many Japanese cannot say that I am a Christian if they believe God. Therefore,
culturally I feel the biggest obstacle is the ignorance of acknowledging the beliefs of the Christian faith.
Personally, the biggest obstacle for me being Christlike would be within the realms of my devotional life. I need to
work on spending more time with him reading, studying, praying, and most of all discerning the voice of God. This
also means discipline with time. I need to strategically plan out my hours of the day and devote more time to
getting to know Him by being with Him. I understand if I am able to do this, I can display more Christlikeness as well
as hear the voice of the Father.

Noriko san,
I cant imagine the level of rejection of the Christians in Japan; I believed that
Christianity was more tolerate. Thanks for share it.
Your make me think that we can face two types of Christianity rejection according
the cultures; first, a clear rejection. In this case Christians are challenged to pay a
high price to maintain their faith (inclusive their own lives), however the level of
commitment and devotion is high also; is difficult to imagine somebody proclaiming
himself as Christian, if is not ready to pay the price.
The other rejection is subtle, and common within Christians cultures as LatinAmerican or USA; we believe we were born Christians, we dont need to declare us
as Christians because we think we have always been. By and large, you will not be
rejected for being Christian, and in some circles is a special status; but at same time
this acceptance, dont challenge your faith grow, as if being Christian is something
genetic!
Both extremes are not easy, we need the Gods guidance for modeling
Christlikeness. Jesus was the best example how to live and impacts others in a
culture that rejected him, but at same time was called religious.

Responses
David:
The prosperity gospel is indeed a serious problem, particularly in the developing
world. What are the key strategies for overcoming the appeal of that heresy with
the poorer peoples of the world?
Matt
Response
Its not an easy question, it implies the need of a change of mindset (povertys
culture), and is something so difficult. The good news is: Christ makes us new
creatures, and it includes a new mindset also.
From my experience working alongside the church; I could suggest two key
strategies:
1. To confront people with the unavoidable need of a real repentance. Maybe it
could sound so spiritual, but arent the external changes that produce real
Christians. Yes, we need to help people to cover their basic needs (food, health,
protection, etc.), but it is not the key element. The people could have a stomach
plenty or be healthy but anyway continue going to hell.
2. To treat the people as Christ does, with dignity. Many people try to fill their
internal vacuum with things, for this reason when somebody came with a heresy
offering things to them, it becomes so attractive. But Im witnesses that people
living fulfilled life among poverty, but seeing themselves as Jesus sees.
Obviously, these people work and look for leaving poverty as a consequence of
Jesus transformation.