In the journey of life, we want to be careful about whom we let control and run our sailboat. Golden Opportunity, original oil painting by Steve Henderson; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas, iCanvasART, and Framed Canvas Art.

Too many of us are acquainted with the word, “backsliding,” which, in its purest form, means to lose one’s resolve to follow a chosen path. A recovering alcoholic who re-enters the bar circuit is an example — surrounding oneself by temptation, and resuming behavior that one is trying to overcome, isn’t a particularly successful business plan.

Within Christianity, backsliding applies, theoretically, to believers who no longer walk the narrow path of following Christ, reading His word, listening to His voice — in essence, being His disciples and serving Him as master. I say theoretically, because in the real life of too many people, backsliding is defined not by God but by other human beings, who establish a system of customized rules into determining what is, and isn’t, a genuine walk with God.

What about it? Has someone accused you of backsliding, and you haven’t been able to move forward in your relationship with God because you feel as if you don’t deserve one? There’s some pretty vitriolic “teaching” out there about what it takes to be a real Christian, and if you have been hurt by it — convinced that you’ll never be good enough to deserve God’s grace, please follow the link to my Commonsense Christianity article, What Is Backsliding, and Are You Doing It?

The more you think out of the box, the less you fit into the brick building on Sunday mornings. Paperback and digital at amazon.com.

Oh, and by the way, sometimes what another person calls backsliding may be what you call following Christ, because you’re reading what He says in His words, taking seriously about applying it, and no longer fitting into conventional rules of establishment Christianity. You may very well be a Misfit Christian, which isn’t such a bad thing. It’s not easy not fitting in — we all want to blend and merge and be accepted by the general crowd around us — but sometimes the best evidence that we’re on the right road is that there aren’t many people on it with us. It’s too narrow.

This article is linked to Graced Simplicity, Thriving Thursday, From House to Home, Jenny Mullinix, Shine Blog Hop, Over 50 Feeling 40, All Things with a Purpose, Faith Filled Friday, Simple Moments Stick, Christian Mom Blogger, Family Fun Friday, Essential Things, Hungry Hippo, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Dash of Diva, Jenny Evolution, Counting my Blessings, A Look at the Book, A Mama’s Story, Modest Mom, What Joy Is Mine, The Life of Faith, Moms the Word, Missional Call, Stitch by Stitch, Multitasking Mum, Thoughtful Spot, Mopping the Floor, A Life in Balance, Monday Funday, Mama Diane, Trust Me I’m a Mom, A Blossoming Life