Question:  Dear Greg,

            I recently met someone who has introduced me to a local Christian church.  As a new Christian I feel blessed to be where I am with God.

            I should be able to answer my own question, yet I do require another opinion to direct me rightfully.

            This person who introduced me to Christianity has tempted me into sinful acts and has promoted them with assurances that we will be forgiven.  I have made wrong choices and I do know better than to be naïve.  I cannot change the past and I do vow to do better for my future.

            My question is why would a good Christian tempt another to begin with?  Why is he lacking and what good conversation or verse can I use to guide us?

            Linda

Answer:  Dear Linda,

            We often have expectations that “good Christians” will do or not do—behave or not behave—in certain ways.  When those we trust do not respond accordingly, we are hurt, not simply because of an act or action, but betrayed by their failure to meet our expectations.

            Human suffering, at all levels, is something God takes seriously.  He takes suffering so seriously that he has not deserted us to a planet of pain and heartache while he declares himself immune from the hurts we experience.  He loves us, willingly and voluntarily--so much that he risks hurt.  He sets himself up for disappointment from us.  The Old Testament tells us that God stretched out his hands to Israel and called to her, but she rejected him.  He married her, and she was unfaithful.  In the person of Jesus he came to us, but as John 1:11 says, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”  His disciples betrayed and deserted him at the time when he was dying for their, and the world’s, sins.

            Then Jesus founded his church, a very human church.  Jesus’ church is filled with human beings who staff it, work with it and within it, lead it, and time and time again we prove to God that we are what he has created us to be—human and imperfect.

            When we accept Christ we are counted as righteous by God.  The righteousness of Jesus is imputed to us, but that is a positional reality.  God calls us “saints” because of what Jesus has done, and what Jesus does in our life.  But, he also knows that as long as we are in this body of flesh we will occasionally fall—all of us will.

            There are those, of course, who think they are Christians, and say that they are Christians, but are not.  The fact that Jesus is not living his resurrected life in them will, over time, become clear.  I do not know the exact circumstances to which you have reference, and that has enabled me to say some things you can apply as they fit in your circumstances.

            I pray that God will comfort you—he is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht