We don't try to live right with the standards that Jesus set to be superior over others, but to be humble and to love others with a Christlike love. We don't serve a church or denomination because we are people pleasers, but because we are active members of a church and care about our brothers and sisters in Christ and are doing our part in the church and the body of Christ using the gifts and talents that God has given to each of us. We aren't in a cult because we spend much of our free time worshiping God and helping others and witnessing to others, but we are ambassadors for Christ and when non-believers see our Christlike love they realize that God is real and he is love. God loves us unconditionally. He doesn't expect us to be perfect. His grace covers our imperfections. And yes bad things happen to people who love and serve God, Jesus said they would, but he never leaves us nor forsakes us and one day we will spend eternity with a new body that never gets tired or sick; happy, peaceful, worshipping and praising God. I can not imagine anyone who was persecuted in Christ saying that he would go back and live for himself to have an easier and longer life. I can't imagine a child of God who has died whether young or old who would come back and live for himself and deny God even if it meant a longer life. To live is Christ. To die is gain. Don't judge me for living for Christ, because he died for me. Don't condemn me for making mistakes and doing or saying the wrong thing, because God loves me in all my imperfections and has clothed me in righteousness and I can ask for forgiveness and strength because I am given both. Try not to allow the whole 'bad things happen to good people or people turn their back on you or you have made too many mistakes or will never be good enough' to come between you and living with a healthy relationship with God and your brothers and sisters in Christ and cheat you out of the anointing of the holy spirit. Christians are human and Satan tries real hard to break us and tear us down and the largest part of the spiritual battle is in an individuals mind where Satan attacks with thoughts of worry, fear, condemnation, guilt and so much more. Being an active member in the body of Christ, and being an active member of a church is a wonderful opportunity to not only serve God and the body of Christ but gives you a support system because you are a family and help one another, edify one another, pray for one another, build up one another and so much more. If you don't have a church I suggest you pray about it and ask God to lead you to the church that He wants you to be a part of for your benefit. Everyone needs to hear the Word.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries (God-haters). Hebrews 10:23-27
