So… If I’m a fleshly person, I get the upside of a renewed spirit, but the downside of all the conflicted/stressful thoughts and emotions of a natural (unsaved) person? That doesn’t seem like a nice place to live.
And yet, here I am. At times, anyway.
When I read the part about Neil asking 50 Christians (who, incidentally, were seeking help for big issues) if they suffer from inferiority, insecurity, inadequacy, guilt, worry, and doubt, I got a little miffed. My first take was that he expects me to be an Uber-Christian (dang – how to work the oomlot? How to spell oomlot? Oh, umlaut – thanks, wikipedia) who has a bit of an ego problem, and is waaaay out of touch with reality. Can I have a costume? Do I get a cape? But I digress…
After mulling it over, overnight, I’ve come up with this: I will always tangle with those negative feelings from time to time. As long as I’m here on earth, I’m not perfected yet.
The crux is whether these are my overriding feelings about my life. To what degree do I believe these things about myself – that I’m inferior, inadequate, insecure? To what degree do I get bogged down in the Molasses Swamp of worry and guilt?
How can I live above all that? According to Neil, by denying what feels good in the moment, and investing in obedience. By knowing God’s word and by knowing His voice. By spending the time to understand and accept my position in Christ, and live as a child of His, not as a creature of Earth.
I guess this means I don’t get a cool uniform…
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