Spirituality #3

One of the great dangers any army faces is attrition. Christians can suffer from attrition as well. That is why we can't take spirituality for granted. Today we will take a look at the dangers facing the Christian's spiritual life.

Worldliness or the works of the flesh is a real enemy of spirituality (Galatians 5:16-17). Of course, the flesh and spirit are always at war against one another (Romans 7). Paul even told us that our battle is against "spiritual wickedness" (Ephesians 6:12).

Take a moment to consider some signs of spiritual decline. I found this list in the Brownsville Church of Christ bulletin from when Howell Ferguson was the minister there. I do want to change that list up a little bit. Remember Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a redneck" jokes? Well, I would like to say it this way... You Might Be In Spiritual Decline If...
1. You dislike religious conversations or company of Christians (1 Cor. 15:33).
2. Stay away from worship by willful choice (Heb. 10:25).
3. Worry more about a clean conscience than a clean heart.
4. Fear being called "over-strict" more than honoring Jesus Christ.
5. Trifle with temptation or think lightly of sin (2 Tim. 2:22).
6. Condemn in others what you tolerate in yourself.
7. Impatient and unforgiving toward others (Mt. 6:15).
8. Confess but don't forsake sin.
9. Shrink from self-examination (1 Cor. 13:5).
10. When you "strain out the gnat and swallow the camel."

Just remember, spiritual decline, unabated, will always result in spiritual death. What does it mean to be spiritually dead? It means to have stopped trying. It means to have stopped feeling. It means to have stopped thinking. It means to have stopped repenting. May we do all we can to avoid spiritual decline and spiritual death.

I hope you have benefited from these posts about spirituality as much as I have by writing them.