Circumstance makes you a Christian?

Alright, A lot of my blogs get inspired by conversations I've had, people I'm around, different things I see or experience.

That being said, I've had a lot of conversations about where life heads and whether certain decisions decide if we've backslid or not.

I get so annoyed by people who judge other people. I've had friend after friend who has told me that if I'm having a bad day, I'm struggling with my relationship with God. First off, if I choose to confide in you, just LISTEN don't tell me I'm a sinner. Does anyone else experience and understand it?

That being said a situation in particular that sticks out in my head is when I was just really down about not having a job, I'd worked odd jobs here and there after graduating college and getting rejected by church after church for being a female in youth ministry. So I just went to a friend, one I thought would listen. All I said was "I'm having a bad day. I don't know what's going to happen, but I need a job." And instead of empathizing, the next statement out of my friends mouth lit a fire so hot under me that I'm sure if she could have ran away from me she would have. She said to me. "Lynnea, in your depression, I know you are slipping from God. Just pray."

First off, duh that I'm ALREADY praying, secondly... going through a rough moment or two does not mean your faith is slipping.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but be careful who you are concerned about in that. I have been a Christian for 22 years. I walked away from God once and I know what that feels like. I never want to feel that again so a bad day or 200 isn't going to make me back out of being a Christian.

This goes for life in general. Just because someone says "it's been a tough day" doesn't give you a right to preach to someone about the fragile state of life! ESPECIALLY if it's someone who is VERY familiar with it due to a loss close to them. It's rude and insensitive.

Now, How about I get to the point of my post. I do believe everyone sins. I'm guilty, we all are. Do I think actual circumstances make us Christian. No. As long as we listen to what God's path is for us, and stay true to who he calls us to be, that makes us Christ followers, and circumstance has nothing to do with that. God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called. I grew up hearing that.

I've been told recently that being with a non-Christian makes a person a non-Christian automatically. Told that if I were to date a non-Christian I'm going to hell! Um... NO!

If you are careful to do as I said above, stay true to who God calls you to be, and to His path for you... As long as you continue to pray and read the Bible, to spend time and grow your relationship just like you would any other, and yes even going to church... you will be fine.

Circumstance does not make a Christian. If it did, we would ALL be in a world of hurt.