Hypocrite or a truly changed heart

[StaySalty]

You know how you can 'say' the right things, but not neccessarily feel them? This question is for TRUE Christians, Christians who honestly whole heartedly LOVE from their hearts! Really!

So, when they say "I'm praying for you", they really are, or "I love you, keep going brother" they mean it. They really DO see you as a brother, and they really do love you.

I don't consider myself a hypocrite, but I do admit that I lack consistancy. And I struggle. For example, I can give to someone on the street. There are sometimes where I am genuinely concerned about them, and I want to encourage them, but there are other times where it is like "this is something I am suppose to do, so here ya go." It's not really...cheerful, you know? But not bitter either.

And, personality doesn't really allow for me to be the most OPENLY loving person, I'm not very gregarious. But that doesn't mean I don't care, because I do.

But, my point is that, I want a really changed heart that stays changed. So I really really love in a biblical way, not in self-interest (desiring a return) or because of duty/command, but from the heart.

Does anyone have that kind of heart? A consistant Christ-centered heart? Or am I expecting too much?

Also, maybe the word 'hypocrite' was a little too harsh. I'm not trying to conceal sin here (though I'm not perfect), but the point I was making is to be genuine consistantly.

I was thinking about this scripture:

He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestablein God's sight.
Luke 16:15

So, if your smile is phony, or your practices aren't genuine, you certainly aren't fooling God.

 

[StaySalty]

This might make me sound like a jerk (please don't take it that way), but I don't think I've ever cried at a funeral. (i didn't try to fake it either). It's just, I see it like "well, what can I do now?...the only thing I can do is comfort the family."
And my 'comfort' isn't exactly emotion-filled, but then again I'm a guy (and then again, Jesus wept, so...).

What I am really asking is, there are some people who have this (or at least appear to have) this incredible flowing rich love for others. They might be going through terrible times themselves, but you'd never know it because they are just genuinely concerned about you and happy to see you.

I'm not there, but I'd like to be (if that's what God wants). Usually, if I'm going through tough times, and someone else seems to have been given a chunk of heaven, I'm..I'm happy for them, but I'm also wondering 'gee Lord, what do I have to do to be blessed?'

I don't know.

 

[Dmckay]

You know how you can 'say' the right things, but not neccessarily feel them? This question is for TRUE Christians, Christians who honestly whole heartedly LOVE from their hearts! Really!

So, when they say "I'm praying for you", they really are, or "I love you, keep going brother" they mean it. They really DO see you as a brother, and they really do love you.

I don't consider myself a hypocrite, but I do admit that I lack consistancy. And I struggle. For example, I can give to someone on the street. There are sometimes where I am genuinely concerned about them, and I want to encourage them, but there are other times where it is like "this is something I am suppose to do, so here ya go." It's not really...cheerful, you know? But not bitter either.

And, personality doesn't really allow for me to be the most OPENLY loving person, I'm not very gregarious. But that doesn't mean I don't care, because I do.

But, my point is that, I want a really changed heart that stays changed. So I really really love in a biblical way, not in self-interest (desiring a return) or because of duty/command, but from the heart.

Does anyone have that kind of heart? A consistant Christ-centered heart? Or am I expecting too much?

Also, maybe the word 'hypocrite' was a little too harsh. I'm not trying to conceal sin here (though I'm not perfect), but the point I was making is to be genuine consistantly.

I was thinking about this scripture:

He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestablein God's sight.
Luke 16:15

So, if your smile is phony, or your practices aren't genuine, you certainly aren't fooling God.

Not having met you I have to go by what you are saying. I think that you are thinking about this a bit too much. You are human, despite being redeemed by the Blood of Christ. Your concern sounds similar to Paul's westling with his human nature in Romans 7:15-25. Take heart brother if you were as cold hearted and unfeeling as you worry that you are, it wouldn't bother you.

 

[jangnim]

Not having met you I have to go by what you are saying. I think that you are thinking about this a bit too much. You are human, despite being redeemed by the Blood of Christ. Your concern sounds similar to Paul's westling with his human nature in Romans 7:15-25. Take heart brother if you were as cold hearted and unfeeling as you worry that you are, it wouldn't bother you.

To this would say a big

AMEN.

Brother, understand that each of us is given gifts from God, both Spiritual and Physical. If you are thinking about this, you are either there already, and God is revealing it to you, or you are getting there. The heart of grace is not in any way natural to humans, so if you feel love toward others sometimes and sometimes it is just the right thing to do, that is okay by God. It means His Spirit in you is warring with you fleshly nature on that front.

I will pray that the Father reveal the truth about your concerns to you, but remember that He already knows what is in your heart, and so He already knows you seek this for yourself, and your fellow man. Take Heart and Be Strong, the Father has great things in store for you I think.

Father, I ask in the name of the Holy Lord Jesus, who told us that what we ask in His name will be done, that you would help Stay Salty to find this answer for Himself. I further ask Lord that you would reveal the truth to him in such a way as to set his mind at easy, and grant him Your peace. Again Lord, I ask this in the Name above all names, Jesus. Amen.

 

[Eagle_Wings]

But, my point is that, I want a really changed heart that stays changed. So I really really love in a biblical way, not in self-interest (desiring a return) or because of duty/command, but from the heart. Does anyone have that kind of heart? A consistant Christ-centered heart? Or am I expecting too much?

Everyone should want a heart that loves others with God's love, but it is a process that we will have to constantly work at until we reach Heaven. Isn't there a verse that mentions the heart is evil? I'll have to check into that later when I get home. But I can tell you that as long as we are on this earth we will have to deal with our fleshly desires and the flesh is very self-centered. A "consistent Christ-centered heart," that doesn't take work, is not something that any of us will experience here on earth. We should always strive towards that, and as we focus in on our relationship with God it will become easier and will take less thought and discipline, but we will always stuggle with it to some extent.

Also, every individual is different. I am not an emotional person either, in fact I tend to laugh when most others would cry....not a trait appreciated by others!!! I didn't cry at a good friends funeral either, and my thought was the same as yours...what good would it do? I did cry when I was told she'd died, and I have cried a little since, but I didn't cry when others expected me to. There is nothing wrong with that, some are just more emotional then others. By the same token, when I'm happy I'm not bubbling over with joy bouncing off the walls, I just don't show my emotions and alot of people misinterpret that to mean that I just don't care. Which isn't true at all! Just becuase you aren't bursting forth in song all day long and you aren't skipping down the road, doesn't mean God's not working through you just as effectively as He's working through the person that is bubbling over with happiness. You are going to be able to reach people that the other person can't.

As you read the Bible and focus on getting to know God, then He will form you exactly into the person He created you to be. As long as you are following God then you can be confident that you are acting in the way God would want.

I hope all that made sense!

 

[whatseekye]

Don't give up your questions. These are HUGE important and valid questions that come from your soul. And God wants to continue to hear you and to answer your questions. Keep asking. Keep facing yourself and be real. I commend you but I know that truly God rejoices when his children ask and he can give to them. I personally went through a terrible time last year, struggling with this very issue. I started out with the love that God put in my heart for the first time in my life really caring and wanting to love people. But after getting involved in a local church and facing opposition and even being sinned against, and finding also (more heartbreaking) that I couldn't keep being positive and loving towards people who were perfectly nice to me...I had a crisis in my faith. I still believed in God more than ever before. But I wasn't sure if I believed that this Christian walk is something that is possible. If the most important commandment is to love God and to love others, then how can I call myself a Christian when I can't love others? Some people rationalized that love as meaning, "Just don't wish people ill" or "just do the right thing", but in my heart of hearts, I knew that wasn't the answer. So I kept praying about it until God filled me with his Grace, and then I understood. This Christian walk is impossible in the strength of the flesh. It's only when you receive God's Grace in truth and in love and in Spirit, that you can start to let that Grace flow out of you in to your dealings with other people here on earth. That's horizontal Grace. Most people only know vertical Grace...which is to receive the Grace from God. But to let it flow in to your dealings with others...that is only possible through your reliance on God and your humility in knowing it's not you but God working in your life. And then you can actually love people in the face of opposition or just in the face of your emotional limits. Keep seeking your answers about what Agape is. The agape love of God is worthy of seeking and meditating on.

God bless you!

 

[StaySalty]

Thanks everyone for your responses, prayers, and encouragements. They've all been a real blessing to me, truly. whatseekye said something, that it isn't us that have this Agape love, but God working through us. That is so true, I really don't we can achieve Agape love from our efforts, so it can only come through Him. That's why He wants us to seek His face

 

[Eagle_Wings]

whatseekye said something, that it isn't us that have this Agape love, but God working through us. That is so true, I really don't we can achieve Agape love from our efforts, so it can only come through Him. That's why He wants us to seek His face

 

[Mustaphile]

Wow. A thread where I was hoping to help someone else and I ended being helped...hehehe....I like all these replies.