Vague
Christianity—Powerlessness.
unbelievers into believers, to show that nothing is
impossible with God! God wants to accomplish His power
By B. D. Tate
We are to live in the name of the Lord in through us and the Spirit desires so jealously awaiting our full
demonstration of the Spirit and of power that our faith compliance.
should not be in the wisdom of men but
in
the
power
of
It is God’s desire that every Christian be full of Christ
God. Another way of stating this: We are to live in the and be like Christ to the world. It is like someone sitting on
power of the Holy Spirit to work the works of Christ just the bench just waiting for their opportunity to get into the
as He did (John 14:12), our faith should not be in the best game jealously watching others play. The Holy Spirit waits
that human effort can do but in the power of God. jealously to move in our lives to manifest the glory of God.
If this seems far and away, strange, fairy tale, whimsical, We’ve got to see this and believe this so much that our
out of touch with reality, then we are accepting far less, being dreams, imaginations, and visions are about God working
stolen from, and living with hardened hearts. Instead of being through us.
sons and daughters of God we are living as mere men. We
will never have God’s power, experience His best or know the Vague
Christianity is undirected, confused, in doubt,
full grace of God if we remain comfortable with this state. We in unbelief, does not know God’s will, does not know God’s
are not supposed to live in faith within & under all word, and does not know the movement or voice of the Holy
circumstances holding true to God despite what happens, Spirit. Vague Christianity is not filled with the Holy Spirit but
remaining in peace no matter how it turns out…while the is filled with the best that human effort can provide—
power, promise, and grace already given to us remains sometimes.
untouched, unused, unaccepted, not received…in other There is a quip that goes like this: “If you shoot at
words the grace of God poured out to us through Christ’s nothing you’ll hit it every time”, or “Without direction we are
atonement in many ways lies dormant, or we could say going nowhere fast.” If our life in Christ is based on hope and
void, or having been given in vain… not
knowing we are not in faith. The just shall live by faith.
2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you Faith knows…if we don’t know we are not where God wants
not to receive the grace of God in vain. us—period.
1Co 15:2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word
which I preached to you––unless you believed in vain. We are building our Christian lives on something very
1Th 3:5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to
know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you,
vague if we doubt God wants us to know His will. We are
and our labor might be in vain. supposed to build upon the rock of God’s Words not some
Jas 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit vague sense of sinking sands (Matt. 7:24). Our lives would
who dwells in us yearns jealously"? tend to be based upon a type of fatalism that says in our
It is the Spirit who yearns to manifest his glory and hearts, “Whatever happens must be God’s will and He will
power in us as his workmanship to: demonstrate His give me the grace to go through whatever it is.” If I were
compassion; to relieve the needs, and deliver from evil and Satan that is exactly where I’d want every Christian to be; in a
show the Lordship of Christ, to provide the evidence of state of not knowing…Another common Christian statement
Jesus being the Way, the Truth, and The Life to the Father, is, “God is in control and I will rest in whatever comes.”
to Glorify God in this world, so that our joy may be full, to Jesus then must have had it wrong when he taught the
please God, to show the forgiveness of sins, to change disciples to pray saying, “Our Father, who art in heaven
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hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done supposed to take the Word of God and let it rule. We are to let
on earth as it is in heaven…” The fact remains that our world the Spirit of Christ rule in our lives and the by-product of this
is fallen and cursed and heaven is not. God’s will is NOT relationship is knowing God’s will.
being done on the earth therefore pray that it is. However, Doubts
that
come
to
us
have
to
do
with
NOT
being
there is one problem with trying to pray that God’s will be convinced
about
God’s
will
concerning
anything
that
done on the earth as it is in heaven, if one doesn’t know the pertains
to
life
and
godliness. We are not convinced and
will of God (or can know) or even know what heaven is like, doubts remain that God cares, has provided, and wills to heal,
it becomes nearly impossible. direct, guide, lead, or give us wisdom. We are not convinced
If we don’t know God’s will or we are between that God wants to fill us with His Spirit, forgive our sins, and
opinions about God’s will we ARE in doubt. This doubt can use us like he does others, that God has given us faith to move
source from ignorance, misguided teaching, or from a denial mountains, deliver or cast out demons in His name, the list
of God’s Word—unbelief. God’s
Word
reveals
God’s
Will. goes on.
Jesus’ life is the very image of God in nature and focus.
Studying God’s Word in light of the ministry, teaching, and Powerlessness from Unbelief that is a lack of
revelation of Jesus reveals
God’s
will.
Confidence in God—a wounded spirit
Doubt comes because we are between two or more
Jesus said to the disciples “Have faith in God.” We are
opinions, confused about God’s Word, or being
taught
to
to have a growing confidence in the compassion, nature, and
separate
God’s
will
from
our
lives. God wants us single
love of God. Many
of
us
struggle
with
confidence
that
minded upon His Word and Will—that is God’s will. For
us
God
will
do
what
He
says. We lack confidence because we
to
remain
in
between
or
in
doubt
is
NOT
GOD’S
WILL.
have asked in prayer, knocked on the door, sought the answers
Faith comes from hearing God’s Word taught with
and came away with nothing feeling very confused. Maybe
faith—someone who believes it (Rom. 10:17). Faith is our
we’ve been disillusioned by the process and instead of
response to God’s grace found in His Word and promises.
persevering through to find some answers, we’ve decided to
Faith comes from being convinced and single minded about
“not go there” again. A son who has been promised by his
God’s Word. God’s Spirit doesn’t want us doubting. Jesus
father to go fishing weekend after weekend will eventually
lived a life of intimacy full of the Holy Spirit and what
come to the point of not believing his father. His
wounded
characterized
his
ministry
more
than
anything
else
was
spirit will reason that his father is lying, pacifying, and
His
knowing. He knew God’s will and taught, spoke, acted in
misleading him at best. A wounded spirit is hurt, offended,
authority of that Will. Jesus was secure in God’s Will not angry, bewildered, and unable to come to terms or peace
from a doubting point of view where he
guessed
and
gave
because it is personal. When
we
take
it
personal
(a
himself
up
to
whatever
will
be; but from a knowing point of slighting against us)
we
have
lost
trust
in
the
one
making
view fully resting in the revelation knowledge of the Spirit.
the
promise.
Jesus lived in and through faith! The just shall live by faith--
We aren’t looking at the situation that God is hindered
KNOWING (Rom. 1:17). (after all God is Almighty, right?) by limitations of doubt,
We often live by doubt and call it faith—that is
unbelief, resistance, or time and space, the rebellion of this
twisting things around. We are not supposed to take life world but we believe God is against us or at least not for us
circumstances and make the word agree with it. We are
like with others (sometimes unconsciously). God doesn’t
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approve of us, is holding back, and is choosing
to
not
ANSWER! We give up decrying how hard it is, how
deliver,
act,
or
answer. We are wounded because God confusing and bewildering God is, and how it is too much. We
answers others but not us; we
may
believe
he
is
no
respecter
don’t press on and stay in the game we get out, excuse it, re-
of
persons
but
everything
we
understand
about
it
says
interpret, re-define, and instead of sitting in the seat of defeat,
different. We don’t understand what is going on but loss, or lack, having not received, we
leave
the
faith
that
is
emotionally figure we are just not worthy, God’s love is narrow
and
join
everyone
else
on
the
wide
road
of
vague
conditional towards us, He did not choose us like He’s chosen faith.
others. In such a state we might just bury our The truth is there is no joy in vague Christianity. If
we
disappointment, place it on the back burner, or avoid it are
living
lives
that
doesn’t
see
God,
experience
the
altogether by ending the relationship (at least from the supernatural
then
our
Christian
experience
is
shallow
and
heart). With a wounded spirit towards God and the superficial. This may seem harsh but the reality of this must
unexplained dilemma of having asked in Jesus’ name but did be faced. If we are drifting in life and have shut down our
not receive, we
often
interpret
it
poorly. I have been faith walk and refuse to take faith to deeper levels where
angry because although I’m to believe that God’s word is God’s Word proves true then
we
have
backed
away.
true and God cannot lie, everything about the Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if
disappointment is telling me otherwise. anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in
What we do then is reason, excuse, or explain away him."
such experiences. We say or think, “God doesn’t heal that way There are many times we will fail to understand
any more.” Or “God works in mysterious ways and He is past and fail to receive what do we do then? If
we
let
go
of
the
finding out.” We’ll say, “God answers all prayers but just not promise
because
of
the
struggle,
roadblocks,
or
lack
of
in the way you expect.” The Church has a million understanding,
we
will
miss
God
settling
for
a
superficial
explanations but
in
the
end
we
come
away
with
little
or
no
Christian
experience. May
God’s
grace
help
us
to
not
turn
confidence because
we
can’t
trust
what
we
do
understand. our
frustration,
anger,
self
pity,
or
wounded
spirit
towards
Eventually we’ll shut down, put our faith on auto-pilot, and God’s
Word
and
question,
doubt,
and
not
belief
Him
when
live a maintenance Christian life holding on until the end. we
fail
to
receive. No one likes to be at fault but we will not
There is a great crisis of faith within us because we don’t find answers if we question God’s integrity. If God’s Word
understand why what the Word of God promises isn’t and promise or my operation are in question as to why I didn’t
happening. When our experience is something other than the receive there really should be no trouble determining that I
promise even after we have done or prayed, or believed all am the one missing it. It
is
my
fault
if
I
do
not
receive. That
that we can understand, we have no place to go. What most statement can create GREAT pain.
of us do is let go of the promise and embrace
some
kind
of
The vague Christian experience is to deny fault or
anesthetic
to
numb
us
to
our
disappointment
again (This is responsibility on our part to receive what God has already
the vague Christian life!). given and provided through His grace, His Spirit, His name,
We let go of God’s Word and find some solution that and Will. Some will be so pained by this that they will reject
nine times out of ten is a human explanation but doesn’t line any teaching that places the
burden
on
us
to
receive. The
up with God. When we do, we lose the pressure-tension, the thought of failure is unbearable and can’t be God’s word in
force, the power of faithfulness that WILL
BRING
AN
regards to our walk with Him. We’ll site verses like: “Come
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unto Me all who labor and are weary and I will give you rest. of failure points us to one place if we let it; that place is total
Take My yoke upon you and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28- surrender to the Spirit. God already knows what we seem
30).” This verse is true but the rest doesn’t come to any of us to so easily forget that without Him we can do nothing. We
outside of true faith. Faith knows and faith alone produces know we are doing nothing or very little in our vague
peace and rest. Faith is what it takes to receive from God. Christian life, we know that we have Christ, so we reason that
There
is
a
whole
other
side
to
the
victorious
Christian
life
our life must be as God wants it. Nothing could be further
that
this
pain
is
to
take
us
to. If we live in vague Christianity from the truth to accept vague Christianity as God’s will.
we will never get to the place. When we look at our vague Christian experience and see what
What is this place? This burden of needing to receive the scriptures tell us that Christianity looks like, we should be
and the responsibility of needing to be Christ-like with power, driven to our knees in pain! The
worst
thing
we
can
do
is
leads us to one place: A place of brokenness before the relieve
ourselves
of
the
responsibility of being just like
Lord. We are responsible to receive all that God has offered Jesus and doing the same things He did (John 14:12). We are
in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. We will not receive taking ourselves out of the game so to speak and placing the
anything if we walk in the flesh and operate in the carnal mind responsibility somewhere else. We make up all kinds of
(I Cor. 2:14). We
must
be
broken
from
our
self
excuses and embrace doubt and unbelief and then live the best
centeredness
and
loosed
from
the
bonds
of
our
carnal
(human effort) Christian life we can. We receive acceptance
nature
so
that
the
power
of
Christ
may
reign
in
us. In a way and respect from others who are in the same boat but God is
we are like wild stallions that need to be tamed for the not pleased. Do not relieve the pressure by excusing us from
Master’s use. We must offer ourselves as living sacrifices unto being responsible to receive God’s promises already given.
God which is our reasonable service (Rom. 12:1-3). The This is to lead to our brokenness before Him. This is a
problem is that our wild stallion isn’t broken in and the living place where God gains full ascendancy of our heart.
sacrifice we offer keeps getting up and off the altar! What we Listen to these verses concerning that place of pain:
want to do is live our life as we see fit, offer to God Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A
reasonable service in our eyes, and be acceptable to God. broken and a contrite heart––These, O God, You
Vague Christianity lives with one foot in the kingdom and one will not despise.
foot and body in the world. We
simply
haven’t
died
yet. Ps 38:8 I am feeble and severely broken; I groan
Col 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with because of the turmoil of my heart.
Christ in God. Ps 34:18 The LORD is near to those who have a
Ga 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life spirit.
which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son Mt 21:44 “And whoever falls on this stone will be
of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to
God needs us to realize that as long as we are living powder."
partly, mostly, vaguely in the flesh we are not useable in the Isa 66:2 For all those things My hand has made, And
Spirit—at least to any great degree. We
relieve
ourselves
of
all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this
the
pressure
of
the
pain that comes when we do
not accept one will I look: On him who is poor and of a
the responsibility to receive and walk in true faith. This pain contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
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Mt 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is compromise, and justify failure. The thought that we could be
the kingdom of heaven. responsible for failure is just too much to bear. The stress and
Jas 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: the anguish of missing God trying to receive again and again
"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the and failing are not worth it and too much weight of
humble." responsibility. After all, we are saved by grace not of works
2Co 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient lest anyone should boast. God is the author and finisher and
for you, for My strength is made perfect in the one who does the good works in us (if they happen at all).
weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast The
result: we then turn our attention to human
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest efforts and works of the natural realm.
This
to
me
is
upon me. where
most
if
not
all
Christians
end
up
living
their
Heb. 12:4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed Christian
life—in vague Christianity.
(died), striving against sin. Our
main
failure
begins
with
our
unwillingness,
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which ignorance,
or
lack
of
discipline
to
guard
our
thoughts
and
speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the meditations. We have allowed our imaginations to run away
chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when with our hearts. We don’t stop the world’s bombardment of
you are rebuked by Him; fearful, lustful, deceitful messages from coming into our eyes,
Mt 16:25 "For whoever desires to save his life will or ears, mind, and then our heart. The struggle and effort, the
lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will pain, and work to obey God in this matter are often considered
find it. too hard. We want to live an easy fast food life. The thought
The gospel of Christ destroys the works of the flesh of having to be on guard all the time is just too much. We can
and brings us to a point of brokenness if we let it do its work. easily loose our focus and wander away with our own sinful
The problem is that we
love
our
life and in that position there desires and selfish ambitions. We can loose vision and
is no power. purpose and not obey and find that our prayers are
Many
explanations
of
Christian
powerless-‐ness
hindered and our faith challenged from
within
our
own
implant
doubt
in
the
hearts
and
minds of Christians and hearts because we did not weed out unbelief. When we fail
once that happens James tells us that no one receives if they to receive because of our heart’s condition we explain it away
doubt God’s will or Word (James 1). Many interpretations are as somehow God’s will for the failure. Some
of
us
are
elaborate, scriptural applications, that have the ring of truth integrated
with
doubt
believing
that
we
can’t
do
anything
but when boiled down they are excuses (poor interpretations) about
our
fears,
worries,
personality,
vulnerabilities,
for why we don’t receive. Most of the excuses absolve us of weaknesses,
and
unbelief. Everyone doubts, everyone fears,
any responsibility for the failure to receive. When we and everyone has unbelief so don’t worry about it. We may
believe these answers we embrace integrated
doubt. We not be able to completely remove such things from our hearts
don’t know we’re in doubt because we believe the teaching but we can change the direction, size, and shape of our
is Christian; nevertheless, we’ve been taught doctrines of heart’s ingredients. God is after our heart knowing that from
doubt. We’ve been taught that God’s will is past finding out it determines the issues of life including faith to receive, faith
or beyond
this
life—you’ll never know. We’ve been given to remove mountains, and faith to see signs, wonders, and
answers that make our experience
trump what the word of miracles that glorify God.
God actually says. These interpretations rationalize,
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Pr 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of
it spring the issues of life.
Vague Christianity is normal, American, and far too
frequent. We must a make a choice to repent, return, and
renew our heart’s desire to live fully for God.
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