Low Road to New Heights What It Takes to Live Like Christ in the Here and Now

chapter one how can I become more like Christ? "God . . . gives grace to the humble." --1 Peter 5:5 Jeff is just about ready to give up on trying to live the Christian life. Everywhere he goes he keeps running into the same problem. People can be impossible to live with--forget trying to treat them as Jesus would treat them, in a way that honors God. Ever since becoming a Christian several years ago, Jeff has tried hard to be kind and patient, even with the most difficult people. But then something catches him off guard. A degrading comment. A thoughtless act. In a split second, a flash fire of anger blazes up inside of him, and he lashes out. Yesterday, during a staff meeting at work, Jeff was trying to explain a new plan he wanted to try, when Bill started asking questions about the idea. Instantly, Jeff's anger flared, and he said defensively, "I'm not sure you're in any position to cut me down. I haven't seen many good ideas coming from your direction lately." Bill's face reddened with embarrassment. "I wasn't criticizing you, Jeff," he said quietly. "I think you have a great idea. I was asking questions because I really want to understand your whole plan, so I can know how to support you." Ever since that moment, Jeff has wondered what it is going to take to make him a better Christian. Nothing he does seems to change him. That old excuse he's used for himself--"Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven"--isn't working anymore. Privately, he thinks, If people can't see Christ in me, I might as well shut my mouth . . . and quit trying. Jeff thinks that Cheryl is the finest example of a Christian he knows. Cheryl never opens her mouth to cut people down. He thinks, I've never even seen her get angry. I wish I knew her secret. Cheryl's "secret" is that she feels like a spiritual failure, too. True, she doesn't lash out the way Jeff does. Her tendency is to harbor negative thoughts and feelings about people inside. These negative feelings turn into bad attitudes--like envy and jealousy, or judgmentalism. Actually, she is lashing out. She just does it in the form of quiet rejection. She knows she's not the "nice" and "loving" Christian others think she is. Once in awhile, in a church service, she will hear a convicting message that makes her feel guilty about her attitudes. But when she tries to change, nothing seems to work for her. When Cheryl thinks of how defeated she is, she thinks about Pastor Smith. He seems like such a good man. She wishes she could be half the Christian he seems to be . . . And at this moment, sitting alone in his study, Pastor Smith wonders why he ever got into the ministry. He thinks, Some of these people I can't even deal with. In fact, a lot of them make me want to get in the flesh and just boot them out the door. Something inside him wants to rise up and say, Look, this is my ministry. If you don't like it here there are plenty of other churches nearby. There are two deacons who always have axes to grind. About a dozen people in the congregation rub him the wrong way. And one woman in the church always seems to have some kind of high-pressure agenda. Pastor Smith hesitates to talk openly about his spiritual life with other pastors. They always appear to be so together, and he doesn't like to admit things aren't working for him. Some voice inside says, Just act cool. Never look weak. In calmer moments, however, he thinks, Didn't I follow this "calling" because I wanted to help people change and grow spiritually? How can I help others change, if I'm not becoming more like Christ myself? All three of these people share some things in common. All of them feel as if they're in a war. On the one hand they want to grow in spiritual strength, love and maturity, but on the other hand, a very un-Christian impulse seems to win most of the time. SomewhBoone, Wellington is the author of 'Low Road to New Heights What It Takes to Live Like Christ in the Here and Now', published 2003 under ISBN 9780385500883 and ISBN 0385500882.