Escaping Spiritual Anemia (Part 1)

What makes the difference between a mediocre, anemic Christian that looks very similar to the world and a vibrant, thriving Christian who inspires those around him? The world has no shortage of Christians who have neglected to climb upward. Even in what we would consider to be good, conservative churches, a large percentage of the church family doesn’t show up faithfully to all services or involve itself in ministry. I’m not trying to set a measureable standard for what a “good” Christian has to do, but at the same time, I think we can easily admit that something must be wrong when even our best churches see such tepidity. Even beyond the level of openly worldly Christians, there is a line somewhere between a “good” Christian (who basically says and does the right things) and one that is really alive. Why do so many Christians fail to cross that line?

Both the issue and the answer to it are more complex that what I have mastered, but I have a few basic ideas that I believe help to explain the difference. First, an “alive” Christian has an active relationship with God. For this person Christianity has become far more than praying a prayer, keeping a set of rules, or having a respected reputation. Instead, it is a very real relationship with a very real Person. This relationship is a 24/7 thing, not just a Sunday morning thing. It is something personal and distinct that is nurtured between the individual and God, and it goes beyond what is cultivated by a pastor or Sunday school teacher. How does one get to the point of having this kind of relationship with God?

First, he comes to know God. Knowing someone is fundamental to any relationship. Whenever someone gets to know God and understand how great and loving He is, there is a response of love; to know God is to love Him. Love is an important relationship word, and a Christian’s love for God helps to guide the way he lives. Knowing God well also creates trust, another great relationship word. As a Christian learns how great and how faithful God is, he learns to trust. He accepts the circumstances of life instead of fighting against God, and that makes for a strong and peaceful relationship.

The more a Christian knows God, the deeper the relationship will grow. Consider relationships; your special friends are the ones you spend the most time with and know the best. Perhaps with your dearest friend, you even reach the point that you feel like you could live with that person - and that is exactly what happens with God. As we know Him more, we appreciate Him more, and we want to spend more time with Him. In the process of pursuing that desire, our friendship grows to the point that we are with Him constantly.

So how do we get to know Him? There are many ways: through nature, as we see His magnificence; through history, as we recall His mighty acts; through life, as we experience His blessings and deliverance; through trials, as He goes through circumstances with us; through answered prayer, as we see His personal response to us; and through the testimonies of others, as they reveal what they have learned about God. Mostly, though, we get to know God through the Bible. In the Bible we read about God’s names, His attributes, His actions, and what He loves and hates. The entire Bible is about God; reading it and studying it carefully will help us learn to know our God.

The second way to build a relationship with God is to communicate with Him. Communication is another great relationship word. A profitable relationship requires time spent in communication. Our way of communicating with God is through prayer. Remember though, that this communication is part of a 24/7 relationship. We need to stop limiting ourselves to a tradition-based view of prayer – before each meal and five minutes when we get up in the morning. We need to get to the point that we talk to God constantly throughout the day. Instead of simply responding to life’s events or thinking through the issues that life presents, we need to direct our responses and thoughts toward God. At any point in the day, we should be able to very naturally share with God whatever is happening in our minds and lives.

The other direction of communication with God is through His Word. This is how God talks to us. We need to read the Bible slowly and carefully enough that we are able to see God's message. We need to read with a heart that is open and submitted so it can receive His message. As we read the Bible, God communicates with us, and then our thoughts should easily turn back to God in prayer as we respond to what He is showing us. This two-way communication helps to build the relationship, and the benefit to the relationship is proportional to the amount and depth of communication.

Any time we see a Christian who is vibrant and alive, we can be sure that person has established an active relationship with God. His relationship with God is not based on certain things he does at certain times of the day or on certain days of the week. Instead, he has a much more constant view; he has a friendship that is part of every day and every activity. That relationship was not formed overnight. It was built up over time – years and perhaps decades – of learning to know God better and of communicating with Him. Every journey of this magnitude begins somewhere; small steps and gradual growth add up to produce the end result.

“’But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:24 (NASB)