The Christian life is often advertised as a beautiful adventure, a life of fulfillment and joy. Jesus Christ Himself described his mission in lavish terms: I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
(John 10:10).
The later New Testament writers echo this promise in terms just as glowing.
Hymns down the ages extol the bliss of life in Christ: Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll!
Oh, the joys of camping in Canaan’s happy land!
The problem is most Christians aren’t living anywhere close to Canaan’s happy land. More often, their home is a place of heartache, confusion, disappointment and defeat. How can this be? Why are the promises of scripture so scarce in our actual experience?
Throughout the church age, spiritual writers have pointed the way to a deeper life, where union with Christ is experienced day by day, moment by moment. Andrew Murray, Brother Lawrence, Hudson Taylor, Watchman Nee, Hannah Hurnard and others have borne witness to the possibility of living with Christ as a constant presence.
However, my own experience as a Christian and a therapist points to another presence in our lives: one that competes with the Holy Spirit in our thoughts and motivations, and often masquerades as God Himself. But unlike the real God of scripture, this stealth god does not have our good in mind.
Where following the true God leads to a life of love, joy and peace, following this imposter leads to resentment, misery and torment. This is our hidden saboteur — an agent of Satan himself, who speaks with our own voice, recalling our own experiences, using our own thoughts and feelings. And most of us are never aware of it.
No wonder so few Christians are living in daily peace and joy. No wonder so many eventually abandon the effort to live the Christian life. That may be a rational response, considering the god they’re unwittingly trying to serve.