Christians religiously rebelling

Trying to fit in during middle school on was hard to do... I remember being watched by every eye to see if I would join in on the "cussing"... simple thing... but the temptation to do it was there, and the eagerness to fit in was wanted... and to be honest, I joined in a time or two.

When I became a "new creation", a child of God saved by His grace,...things changed.  I started understanding that I couldn't be what I was before.  The lifestyle wasn't easy... trying to say something good about somebody instead of trash talking them and tearing down their character, was very challenging... I started to realize that it was not so bad if I asked for help from the Holy Spirit (my saviour).

Being set apart, being holy, would not be easy in the coming years, it would only get more difficult and challenging...which would urge me to lean more and more on my Jesus for strength and help.

But now... I see it is most difficult to set ourselves apart, to be holy, when we are surrounded by believers, with no challenge.  Its as if we are hungry for social entertainment:  we grow closer and closer to wanting to be "like the world".  Its as if we are setting our journey out to make peace with division among Christians and worldly ways by "religiously rebelling" against our own teachings... because we have a small understanding that we are FREE, but this is what Paul says:

"Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.  But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble."  -1 Corinthians 8:8-13

So we are free to do many things, but we don't want to cause another to stumble and grow week from not understanding.  And especially an unbeliever.

What is your weakness when around others, that's easy to fall into?

I'll make a list of examples: (and I even fall under some of these categories)
1.  Gossip
2.  Bragging about your vices
3.  pushing to see how "bad" you can be while still being "good"

???

Let your standard be set high, and stop trying to always be cool... or fit in... or be accepted by the crowds.. you are not of this world, but a sojourner.  You have found the reason for truly living and are out now to set the example to others on how to find, accept, and live this same truth.

JUST SAY NO

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

FLEE FROM TEMPTATION

** Find a motto to follow and hold yourself (and here's the tricky part) and others ACCOUNTABLE.

simple

"Searching the Soul" by: Jamie Cook

I just wanna run away

find a place were I can pray

To flee from the peoples

and their scruples

I just wanna hide

with you beside

and dig in your word

study Your ways

clean my heart out

give you praise

I just wanna get back to the basics

to a little girl that I was

asking a simple question

who are you God?

why am I here?

and God answers me

"I am that I am"

"You were designed for me"

simple:  I understand

I love You my Beloved Saviour

and I desire to live for You.

and I want to share this great love with others

SIMPLE