Five Myths About the Christian Life

Myth 1: A strong relationship with God should come without much effort.
Contra Paul: 1:21: consuming passion: cf. 3:10-14:
Pressing-straining-press on.
Just Paul? 3:15!
Myth 2: God wants me to be happy above all.
Contra Paul: 1:21 written from prison (1:12-14). The “above all” is that Christ is exalted in his body (v20)
Myth 3: Gratification should come immediately.
Contra Paul: 1:21 leads to conflict about being useful rather than gratified (v22-26)
Myth 4: Suffering should be the exception, not the norm, and then soon followed by deliverance & victory.
Contra Paul: 1:21  29-30!
The end of the “tribulation” is in heaven (Rev 7:14-17)
Now the only way to be intimate with Jesus IS to share in His sufferings (3:10)
Myth 5: So the Christian life is a denial of all my desires.
Contra Paul: 1:21 is full of passion, passions not satisfied by the fleeting pleasures of this material life centered on ME.
Passions that can only be fulfilled when Jesus comes.