As I look at the world today I see a humanity that cannot stand for anything to be politically incorrect. There is absolutely no tolerance for intolerance. The biggest argument individuals have is that we are oppressing people when we tell them they should not be themselves. Everyone should just be who they are, and follow what their heart tells them. My argument is against this for I know the natural state of the human, and the heart will always lead you down a path of unrighteousness. Christ does not call us to just be ourselves. Actually, quite the opposite. Christ continually asks us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily to follow him. (Luke 9:23). Everyone feels oppressed if they are unable to pursue their own attitudes, sexual desires, greed, and selfish ambitions. After all this is the American dream. However, let's look at a little bit of what scripture has to say about human beings, and their heart they want to follow. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This does not sound like something I want motivating my decisions. In James 1:14-15 it says, "but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." Okay so we are seeing here that when we sin it is only because we cannot curb our own stinking human appetites. Why in the world would you want to be yourself? You can only find reconciliation with God through his son, nothing you do by "instinct," or "feeling," or because you were "born this way." Sorry Lady Gaga. However, this is an okay thing. I am not saying that any one person is a worse sinner than any other. WE ALL ARE! This just shows how very badly we all need Jesus Christ. It may be harder for some people to curve some appetites more than others, but we are all hopeless without Jesus Christ. Yet with Him we are unable to fall. "What then shall we say? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) This is most helpful in Christian leadership, discipline, and growth when we realize that it is not just going to happen. You will never reach a state where Christianity is easy. No matter how close to Christ you grow you will never just naturally want to pursue what is good in all things. Your human. You have a human heart. Nothing about Christianity agrees with the flesh, and if you choose this lifestyle then you will be at constant war with the heart that fell so long ago. Galatians 5:17 says, "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." This is why we need our hearts reconciled with Christ's through his saving grace. Through Christ you can deny yourself, your human nature, your evil desires, your deceitful heart, and all things contrary to Him. Through Christ you can have daily quiet times, you can memorize verses, you can evangelize outside of your comfort zone, you can make disciples, and you can most certainly flee temptation. "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, and with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape so that you may endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) There is hope in Christ, there is hope for humanity, there is hope for love, there is hope for understanding, there is hope for me, and there is hope for you. Please just put your trust in Christ, whose love never fails, and do not be yourself. With love for all.'
-Joshua
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