Dissatisfied with Your Christian Life?

These comments are not for those who carry a constant sense of low level guilt for "not doing enough". It's for those who are pridefully "self-satisfied".

“If any Christian is in danger of getting a swollen head about their Christian condition, take James 1:26-27 twice a day for three weeks, and you’re certain to be cured…certain to be cured. Because whenever I look at those two verses I feel very dissatisfied. And, by the way, don’t be depressed about being dissatisfied with your Christian life. That’s normal. I was saying that at our [recent] businessmen’s evangelistic talk. ’The man who is not regenerate, the man who is not born again, is satisfied about his religions condition, isn’t he? He’s quite satisfied; and he’s dissatisfied about his material position: always wanting more, always wondering why he doesn’t have what others have.’

When we’re converted that’s marvelously turned the other way around. It’s one of the real signs of the new birth. On the material level we’ve become much more contented, much more restful. But on the spiritual side we’ve become very dissatisfied. It’s actually one of the marks of being a genuine Christian.

So as you read James 1:26-17 and find that you’re very dissatisfied with your Christian life, that’s a sign of health, of growth. Because James is out to shoot down those who are self-satisfied.”

~ Dick Lucas, Rector Emeritus of St Helen’s Bishopsgate in London, England

(HT: Dan Cruver)