Selfish Christianity

A last thought of the weekend before the work week offically begins tomorrow. Really, I guess I'd call it a warning and a call to action to all followers of Christ.
-Selfishness. We know all about it. We've been told that its bad and wrong and that the world doesnt revolve around us since most of were about two years old, but theres a new concept I've recently learned about and its called 'selfish Christianity'.
The definition, as explained to me, of 'selfish Christianity' is to use God as our own personal source of good fortune and in your relationship with Him- its very one sided/all about number 1 with the person treating God more like a genie than God. I beleive this is something every Christian fights daily- because of our inherent fleshly nature. But let me sound the alarm now, this way of thinking and interacting with Christ is wholly unrighteous of us- as real Christians seeking to constantly be more like Him, we need to rexamine the very nature of our Savior. He was the most unselfish human to ever walk this Earth. He bled and died for us, yet do you know who He was praying for as He hung upon that cross? Amist all His pain-which is usually when we are the most selfish- He prayed for us. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they have done." Luke 23:34
*disclaimer: Jesus does care about us and what is going on in our hearts and lives, I'm not saying to not talk and pray to Him about yourself. I'm saying Jesus doesnt want ourselves be our only focus- He can handle our problems, and other people's too. :) *
However, the most important point I want to make tonight is that I think this form of "selfish Christianity" is yet another scheme used by Satan to blind us to other hurting people. You see, his plan is brilliant, because we never have to take our focus off ourselves and yet we can rationalize our self-centered perspective by throwing God in the mix. You see, when praying for only ourselves and praying for others in ways that benefit us we end up taking ourselves out of the fight and off the battle ground of the war against satan. There are injustices occuring around the world right now that must be stopped, but the powers of darkness wont vanquish themselves- we must come together as Christ's church, raising up our hearts and our prayers and calling and crying out on the behalf of the oppressed to the One who covets our prayers and can destroy satan with the stroke of his finger. Dear reader, whoever you are, Jesus is pleading for us to follow in His footsteps to stand in the gap for the sex-trafficked, the hungry, the lonely, the hurting, the dying, the violent, the abandoned, THE LOST.
They are all around us, the battle is all around us. You have a choice reader, no longer allow yourself to be taken out of the battle- we cant act as if there aren't millions of people who need Christ with every fiber of their being. We have righteous and powerful prayers that the Father can barely wait to answer on their behalf- the same love abundant love that He has for us, He is yearning to pour over the wounds of the millions of other lost on this Earth. And dont let the vast need for Christ discourage some of you, our Savior has OVERCOME THE WORLD (John 16:33)- no we personally cant reach every person on the planet, but Christ can- a million times over, and the best part is, HE's DYING TO DO IT! Your prayers are urgently needed.-if I knew a more desperate term for "need" I would use it.- Have you seen the state this world is in?! THE WORLD NEEDS JESUS AND WE'RE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN GIVE HIM TO THEM!
We must turn daily from our self seeking nature and pour our hearts out to the One who can bind up the wounds of the many victims of evil. Who are we church if we aren't loving others as Jesus loved us?

"By Our Love"- by Christy Nockels

Brothers, let us come together
Walking in the Spirit, there's much to be done
We will come reaching, out from our comforts
And they will know us by our love

Sisters, we were made for kindness
We can pierce the darkness as He shines through us
We will come reaching, with a song of healing
And they will know us by our love!

The time is NOW
Come Church arise
Love with His hands
See with His eyes
Bind it around you,
Let it never leave you,
And they will know us by our love

Children, You are hope for justice,
Stand firm in the Truth now, set your hearts above
You will be reaching, long after we’re gone,
And they will know you by your love!

"The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective." James 5:16

Battling in prayer,
Kate