Looking at Other Christians Hindered My Faith

When I first became a new believer I was excited to get back into the church and begin fellowshipping with other believers. I was looking forward to getting into topics and digging deeper into the characters of the Bible along with other believers. My curiosity couldn’t wait to know other believers’ perspectives on the Word of God. But what I really encountered only hindered my faith.

After my rebirth in Christ, I was on fire for him. I wanted to do anything and everything to express God’s love to others. One of the pastors from the church would say that my love for Christ was ‘puppy love’-that now I’m so fond of God and soon I will not be. I was confused by his statement, but I didn’t allow myself to dwell on it. So, I pressed on to get involved with a group from the church. I found a group that would gather weekly for bible studies and slowly I began hanging out with them more frequently. It was when I started to ‘chill’ with them that my love for Christ weakened.

I began seeking material things

Everyone in the group was amazing. They all were so kind and welcoming to me. However, the more I hung out with them the more I felt judged by the clothing I wore and the car I was driving. I didn’t think much of it at the time. But as time went by, I started to spend more money on my clothes and arguing with my parents for a nicer car. Which led me to have ‘comparison talks’. The funny thing was that I was praised by doing this within the group. Our bonds felt stronger and more alive because it felt as we had more in common but what really was happening was my faith was being hindered.

My conversations weren’t godly anymore

The ‘comparison talks’ didn’t last long. The talks became old and we all were up to date with our fashion, cars, and praises for one another. Apparently, we were the ‘top of the line group,’ causing our conversations to die out about Christ replacing him with material things. Then our gatherings began with 15 minutes of Bible talk, 0 minutes of prayer, and 3 hours of jokes, gossip, and lies. 3 months in the group and I lost all sight of God. I caved into the gossips, into the dirty jokes and lies that we were above everyone else in the world because we ‘believe in Jesus’.

Our gatherings no longer were about us being sinners but about us being too ‘holy’. I didn’t even feel the need to talk about God or pray. I only wanted to partake in being involved with the group. My faith was hindered and my goal for not failing Christ led to not want to fail the others in the group.

It became a popularity contest

Our good deeds were only meant to compete. Slowly, bitterness entered and jealously was born. We all began to compete with one another, ‘who did what and who did it better.’ Letting our right hand know what our left hand did just for the glory. Our charities weren’t meant for charity anymore but for popularity. It wasn’t Christ’s name we wanted to make known but our name and It felt so good to get all their praises. Everything that was done in God’s name went in vain because we seeked approval in people rather than in Christ.

I created division

As the group was isolating others from joining, I began doing the same. I had a close friend who was struggling with gay feelings and because of the thoughts of the other members in the group; I created a division in our relationship and fled from being friends with him. My focal point of unity wasn’t found any more. I was ‘too holy’ to be friends with him. I left him alone in the darkness to fight his own battles. Let’s face it, the church doesn’t agree with it anyways so why be friends? My faith was completely lost. It hindered me to the point where I didn’t even believe in salvation from sin. I didn’t see Christ anymore, I saw only pride and self-righteousness.

Empty Fulfillments

6 months, too long. I was done and finally the pastor’s comment became reality to me. The ‘puppy-love’ I once had turned into a hungry pit-bull. I felt empty with everything I was filling my life with. The group broke apart because we weren’t equally yoked anymore. Everyone went their separate ways leaving us angry with one another.

That is it, the enemy has won us over.

The Power of Repentance

I ran back to where I first started fighting.

On my knees.

I cried out to God, asking Him to forgive me. To help me. And I finally understood the power of repentance.

I had to repent from my ungodly ways.

I gave away many of my clothes. My parents sold my brand new car and told me to work on buying my own. I fought against ungodly conversations and fasted to break the chains of negative thoughts towards the world.

I called my friend and asked Him to forgive me, but the time was too late. He came ‘out the closet’, stopped attending church and stopped having faith.

I have another battle to fight. At that moment God gave a mission and I’m still on that mission today. That being, to lead others to Christ and not away.

I refuse to look at other Christians and only look at Christ.

The Word of God Speaks

For months I was isolated from having friends. But I didn’t lose all friends, I had and still have one true friend, Christ. He led me to desire his Word again. Speaking and revealing to me the Pharisee and Sadducee in myself. I had to learn that only God can remove my fig leaves and cover me with his blood (Genesis 3).

He washed, renewed, and gave me a new heart.

Dear Christian looking at other Christians

Don’t.

As I read through many threads on Reddit, I realize how many Christians astray other Christians from believing. Hindering their ‘puppy love’ from growing more for Christ. But instead, be the Christian that is found in Christ; that draws others to seek more of Jesus and less false doctrines that the world teaches.

We all are humans, we all will fail each other’s expectations. Instead of following other Christians, follow Christ. When your friends are being led away, God is calling you to help them turn back to him. Don’t fail as I did by allowing them to fight alone and straying along with them. We are called to carry one another’s burdens (read more about it here). How beautiful it is that Christ warns us about hypocrites and the lukewarm, he even gave us his Word to help us fight against this nature. Don’t get caught up in craving people’s approvals. The only approval you need is Christ’s approval. Everything else will only lead you to emptiness, but fulfillment is found in the Savior’s love.

Lead by the example of mirroring Christ and as you do so, you grow into the man and woman after God’s own heart and being the Christian the world really needs to see.

I’m sure you’ve stumbled upon this video before. But it’s so true how ‘religion’ can remove our eyes from Christ.

Be watchful.

‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.’

Romans 12:2