response to the first question

This Sunday at church we did something a little different which from all the feedback that I am getting worked well. As part of this we gave the option for people to write out questions in response to the sermon. The next few post will be a response to some of those questions. All the questions asked we anonymous...

Question 1: "Why do I feel uncomfortable everytime I come here? Could you explain if someone is unrighteous by living with another person and they have no other home to go to, do they just up and go and put themselves on the street risking being raped etc, just to be right with God? You have to understand not everyone was brought up in a perfect little family and it is not easy to just up and leave."

Response: Firstly I would like to thank you for your honestly in regards to your situation and I in no way want to just give a flipant response. I will do all I can to answer with grace and truth.

In response to your first question about feeling uncomfortable. There could be a number of reasons for this. Maybe this uncomfortable feeling could be the conviction of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit works to bring freedom and whilst at times this can be uncomfortable it is ultimately for our good and God's glory. Maybe you could ask the Spirit of God what He is saying to you about this?

The situation that you find yourself in is not an uncommon one. I know that not everyone was raised in a "perfect little family" because actually there is no such thing. However I do know it is God's design for man and woman to live together in a relationship within the context of marriage. I would want to ask if you see yourself with this person for the rest of your life; why do you put off getting married?Is it something you have discussed? Do you want to get married? Is the other person as committed to you as you are the them? Or do they want the benefits of marriage without the commitment? I feel that these are helpful questions to ask. As Christians I think we are to seek to live according to God's design for our lives with the help and empowerment of the Holy Spirit and we know that design by reading and applying the bible.

I certainly would not advise you just to up and leave and go to the streets that would be irresponsible and I don't believe it is the answer! But I would advise you to ask what do you think Jesus would want you to do? I think you need to work out what you want in to relation to God's design and God's best for you. I would want you to know that God loves you and knows the reasons why you find yourself in this situation and the decisions and choices made that have got you to this point. But he also knows your future and your future does to have to be defined by your past! If a child/children are involved then you need to make sure that they are provided for and safe so just to up and leave would not be an option without having worked out provision for the future - in all of this if you seek to be obedient to what you believe Jesus is asking you to do he will provide a way for you (Matt 6:25-34). Wisdom and obedience. I pray that you will know what it is that Jesus would have you do - if would like to speak to me then I would love to speak to you about this issue to be able to help you through this. Please contact me via the church office - 0121 580 0068.

In John 8 there were a group of men who had lined up a woman to be stoned to death because she had been caught in adultery. Jesus points the finger back at them and they realise their own sin. Jesus is gracious and merciful to the woman but say's to her to leave her life of sin as part of his mercy to her. As a church I want us to be like Jesus in our response to people which is ultimately to point people to freedom and life in God.

I believe that is our cheif aim as Christian's is to remain in right relationship with God and be obedient to His word. If Jesus is our Lord and God and we want to honour Him then we must be obedient to Him. We are made right through the cross of Christ, He did what was necessary for us to be right with God, our response is to put our reliance and faith in Him (John 3) throught repentance which means to turn away from our way to follow His. Having come to accept this it is our responsability with the help of the Holy Spirit to live a life holy and pleasing to God (see Matt 10:34-39; 2 Corinthians 5; Galatians 2:15-21 also chapter 5; Ephesians 4:17-5:21; Phil 3; 1 Peter 2:1-12; 2 Peter 1:3-15).

Hope this answers your question...