 By: Kevin SeguinDespite what some people may tell you, the Christian life is not a study in black and white. You don't go from not being a Christian to being an awesome Christian who's done learning, done growing, and done being conformed to the image of Christ as soon as you're converted. Anyone who expects otherwise is either lying to you, or tragically wrong. The thing about the Christian life is that it's more about long-term faithfulness and striving for a goal than it is about "being finished." Think about it this way: Jesus Himself spent three years, three years with the twelve. Three years teaching, training, pouring into their lives...one of them still betrays Him, and the other ones mostly behave like knuckleheads until Acts 2, well after the resurrection and ascension. If it took the Apostles three years and a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, it'll take you longer. I've been a Christian for about half my life. During that time I've changed my views on many topics of theology a number of times. I've believed things were sins that weren't, and vice versa. Back in my early days of being a Christian, it didn't take much to flip me on a topic. These days, I'm pretty settled. I've spent time at a seminary learning from wise, learned men how to interpret and apply Scripture, and now, on most topics, the threshold for changing my mind is pretty high. But I could still get stuff wrong. We worship a God who has forgiven us so much, certainly theology isn't where He draws the line. Not that correct belief isn't important to strive for, of course it is! But having doubts and having questions aren't bad things. In fact, I'd argue that the most genuine believers are those of us who have struggled and wrestled, who struggle and wrestle, mightily with God. Did you know that roughly a third of the Psalms are lament psalms? Psalms of struggle, of crying out to God and saying "WHY?!" Not all of those questions are wrapped up nicely in the end. I have an easier time trusting people who are open about their struggles, or even that they are struggling, than those who "don't struggle" and have everything figured out. Because they don't, and they're lying about that. Either to you, or more dangerously, to themselves. The truth of it is this: whether you're a new Christian or an old timer, a seasoned saint, or still drying off from your baptism, sanctification, the process of being conformed to Christ is a life-long process. sometimes progress is slow, sometimes it's intense. Ten years from now you'll be a different Christian than you are now. Ten years from then, different still. By God's grace, you will become more like Christ during that time, not less. Christianity: It's about the journey rather than the destination.  As a Biblical conservative, a cultural Liberal, a husband, a dad, and a pastor, I want to see the church act differently in the world. My big passion in ministry is to see how believers can bring the Gospel into the world around them while pursuing the lost art of winsomeness. It is what fuels me and drives me to write. Engaging culture with the truth of the Gospel in a way that is winsome, wise, and as Colossians 4:6 directs us: “seasoned with salt.” It’s my hope that what I say here helps you not only in your own faith, but helps you share it more effectively and fruitfully.
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