Learning to walk the way of Christ

Thu, Sep 1st 2011, 12:18 PM

We've all heard the worldly saying before, "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, do no evil", but not many take it seriously, especially when it comes to applying it to your spiritual life.
Ministers of the word say although most Christians want to be more godly and be able to turn away from evil thoughts and deeds it is our natural predisposition to do wrong that makes this desire seem impossible to accomplish.
"Many times Christians assume they cannot be like Christ and just give up and that is not the point of Christianity," says Rev Daniel Simmons, senior pastor of Carmichael Bible Church.
"Christians need to understand the road to being godly is a long one that no one will travel perfectly.  There will be backsliding and mistakes but it is persevering through it nonetheless that brings us closer to our true potential."
Pastor Lynden O. Williams, of the New Englerston Seventh Day Adventist Church and Redemption Seventh Day Adventist Church, says many people limit themselves by assuming they cannot achieve "Christ-likeness" and often fail to try.  Although it may be hard, the minister says it is making the choice to persevere and try again every day when you fail that makes all the difference.
"Many of us don't recognize the fact that we were not designed to be perfect.  It is something we have to work daily to achieve.  Once you know that you are a sinner, and even so you are still made in the image of God you can accept we have a lot to do to overcome our natural predisposition to fall into evil," says Pastor Williams.
"The cure for this is in Christ Jesus and it requires a total surrender to him.  This is where many of us go wrong.  We believe if we just say we believe and are saved on the altar everything should be easy from there, but that is wrong.  Professing God is just the beginning."
Christians need to feed their spirituality and receive good guidance, he adds.
"Just like a child will not grow to his full potential if he is not fed good food and given good guidance the same is true for a Christian," says Pastor Williams.  "Your aim should be to be at a better place spiritually each and every day."
Although "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, do no evil" is a secular saying, Father Peter Scott, rector at Holy Spirit Anglican Church says it does have some relevance spiritually because Christians should always be working harder to be more Christ-like.
He says what holds most people back is that they still have one foot in the world and do not whole heartedly embrace accepting God and His ways.
There are so many temptations and pressures that distract Christians.  While it is not easy to walk the path of following Christ, the priest says it is important to try.
"Christians need to continue to strive to be more Christ-like and in doing that we need to let go of the world. We have to learn how to hold onto God more and see that this world is a test.  If we really want to be more Christ-like we need simply to continue praying and worshipping God each and everyday," says Father Scott.  "We may not see it or feel it at times but we do draw closer to God and open our eyes to his mercies more and more as we continue his work."

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