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This article is called “Spiritually Disabled Believers.” I will state from the beginning that I am talking about Christian Believers. But this also applies to every human. I think we all know someone who is disabled or has a disability. I also think there are too many disabilities for us to name all of them. I was born with polio and spina-bifda. My right let is 1 1/2 inch shorter than my left leg. I am not complaining at all. When I was 16 years old a doctor did test and told me this. “Boy, you better get a good education and do it fast. By the time you are 30 years old you will be crippled in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. “

I am an old man now, and I still have not seen that wheelchair yet. I may one day but not yet. I worked very hard all my life, even in construction walking steel. I did get a good education also. My point is this. My mind would not let me sit down and simply give up. I did not play the poor little me game.  I will admit I have a handicap, but I am still moving on. There is a very big difference in having a handicap and having a disability. My children say I could give “STUBBORN LESSONS” to mules. I take that as a compliment.

SPIRITUALLY DISABLED BELIEVERS

Most people have seen or knows a disabled person and understands their limitations. It happens to people more every day. I am not and will not ever make fun of any physically or mentally disabled person. I want to start with a few definitions: Dictionary. com says, “physically or mentally impaired, injured, or incapacitated. not working or operating properly, or at all; incapable or made incapable of functioning.”

Now I ask you to apply these definitions to the Spiritual life instead of the physical life. Yes, I am talking about Christians, Saved, born again believers in Jesus Christ otherwise known as believers but are they truly, SPIRITUALLY ALIVE (IN CHRIST) OR STILL SPIRITUALLY DEAD, IN SOME RELIGION? JESUS CHRIST WILL SAVE YOU BUT ALL RELIGIONS WILL KILL YOU.

CHRISTIAN GROWTH

I do understand a newborn Christian is Spiritually a baby in Christ. I understand Spiritual growth in the Lord, is similar to that of a child growing. And sometimes we do refer to a new Christian as a babe in Christ. But when you have been saved for 10, 20 or 30 years you should be a mature fully grown Christian. I found this quote, but no author listed “spiritual growth is the process of awakening, becoming aware, or becoming more like your real identity as a spiritual being or as Jesus Christ. It involves going beyond the mind and the ego, realizing some Universal truths, or living more godly lives. 

Spiritual growth is of great importance for everyone and leads to more harmony, happiness, and responsibility. It does not require seclusion or strange behavior, but some time for solitude and connection with your inner soul. Spiritual growth also develops your inner power and strength, and your ability to distinguish good from evil.” Maybe I used the wrong term of “DISABLED” when referring to Christian growth or relating it to physical disability also. At what age Spiritually, does a person become “MATURE” Spiritually? 

Maybe I should have said, “SPIRITUAL MENTALITY. Not Spiritually Mature. I want to share what I have seen over many years in churches. I call this “THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.” Church members come to church on a regular basis. The come, they sit, they listen then they leave. In simple terms they have done “THEIR SPIRITUAL DUTY.” They do not come praying or seeking for God to work in their life or teach them. 

The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian Church this. I Corinthians 3:1-3 ” And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. ² I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. ³ For ye are yet carnal (FLESHLY): for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

EXAMPLES OF SPIRITUAL DISABLED BELIVERS

I have been preaching and teaching since 1975. I am nothing special, I am simply a sinner saved by the grace of God. My church I would consider what we call a good church. The Pastor would preach downstairs in the main auditorium while I was holding children’s church upstairs. My kids loved children’s church, they were very sharp and learned well. Each Sunday morning when church services were over, we would leave to go home, and meet each other in the parking and talk. 

I would talk to friends in the parking lot and fellowship with them. I would ask different one this question. “Did you have a good service downstairs, this morning? The response would always be, Oh yes, we had a great service! Then I would ask, “What did Pastor Johnny preach on this morning and what was his message?”  They would stand there and stutter and turn purple, then finally say, I have to go.” Understand church services had only been over for 5 minutes and these full-grown Christians, could not remember what they had heard that morning, just 5 minutes before. This happened with numerous people each week. 

Soon I was being avoided by many that I had asked. Was God’s Word not important to them? What would you call that dear friend. Now these are people, who are Saved Christians, say they Love God. But they would never stand up and testify about what God had done in their life. Is that Spiritual Blindness, Spiritually Disabled, or Spiritual lack of desire and knowledge? 

Think about this one. Each person has a knowledge base within their own minds. People can tell you about their favorite movie or television program, they would never miss. They can tell you their favorite episode, who the character is and their real name. They can even quote from the series or movies like, “I’LL BE BACK.” This has their interest. Yet people who have been saved for 20 and 30 years cannot name 5 books in the Bible or quote 4 verses of scripture. They have jobs and have immense knowledge of their jobs. Do you see anything wrong with this picture? People do what they want to do, and people do what is important to them.

My opinion is this. Do they see church as nothing but a social gathering?  They come, they sit there, they listen, and they leave, that means they have done their duty, as a church member. They have become comfortable with their “SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.” Feel free to give me your opinion in the comment section below. Do you really think I am being too hard on Christians?

NEXT EXAMPLE

My Pastor is God’s man. I was his assistant Pastor for a long time. Our church went through a bad period. We had some leave that wanted to dominate and take over the church, so they left. We had very few deacons or anyone who would teach a Sunday school class, few who would sing in the choir, and no musicians at all. I led all the singing Acapella for a long time. The pastor had a very sick son who was bed fast, and could not even walk, he also took care of him with his wife’s help. The pastor kept up all the duties of the church, preaching, teaching, visitation, nursing home services, hospital visitation and much more.

He would NOT, take one penny from the church, not even his salary. He had to make sure the bills and payment of the church were paid. He has always been a giver not a taker. He started selling cookware at night to support his own family and pay his bills. He was stretched to the limit in time. Not enough hours in a day. This went on for months. One Sunday morning he got in the pulpit and told the church he wanted to talk to them personally. 

Brother Johnny said this to the church. “I have a very long list of people’s names who are lost and are not Christians. These are names of your friends and relatives that you want me to visit and try and lead them to the Lord. 90% of these people I do not know, and I do not recognize. I am telling you right now that I will visit them all, but I ask you one favor. You know them and I am a stranger to them, you have more influence over them than I do. I ask you to witness to them first. If you cannot win them to the Lord, then I will go to them.

If you KNOW HOW YOU GOT SAVED, then you know enough, to tell them how to be saved and become a Christian.” So, what happened? The people got, mad, angry and upset with the pastor. Dear Reader, what would you call that. No Spiritual Commitment? No Spiritual Knowledge? No Spiritual Experience? No Spiritual knowledge of the doctrine of Salvation? Spiritual Fear? Or Spiritually Disabled in their minds?

CONCLUSION

I guess some will think I am being very hard on Christians. Sometimes, telling the truth is hard to accept or offends people. In all honesty, please tell me what God thinks of what I have stated. What does he say in His Word about being led by the Holy Spirit and your service to Him? No one will ever stand before me on Judgement Day, but ALL CHRISTIANS will stand before Him. Maybe the real questions of this article should be this: “WHERE IS THE REAL CHRISTIANS HUNGER FOR GOD? WHERE IS THE REAL CHRISTIANS HUNGER TO SERVE GOD AND KNOW HIM PERSONALLY?

 The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:10 “That I may know HIM, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” If you do not know Jesus Christ personally, then you really need to. He is the one who came to earth for the purpose of being put to death on a Roman cross. He is the one who gave his very flesh and blood to pay for everyone’s SINS, and it is our sins that separated us humans from God. Look in the mirror then tell me the person you see, has never done wrong or sinned. We all know better.

We are the sinners, Jesus is the Savior, Jesus came to save sinners, from Satan, Sin, and Self.  Heaven is real and hell is real. Salvation is your choice, but so are the consequences of sin. Romans 3:^{10 “}As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. No one is good in Gods sight because of sin. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This is why all humans die. Sin kills us.

Romans 10:13 KJV says, “For whosoever shall call (ASK) upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Are you willing to bow your heart and ask God to save you, are you willing to receive Jesus Christ into your heart and life by faith, for Salvation? If you will then do it now and do not put it off. If you accept Christ as your substitute who paid for sin, let me know in the comment section below so I can rejoice with you.

Your thoughts, opinions and comments are all welcome so leave them below in the left bottom REPLY comment section. Enjoy this song in the video. It tells of the cross of Jesus. RAY