# There are no part-time Christians
*2014-12-11*

> Reflecting on the second week of Advent, Bill Young discusses the necessity of allowing faith to govern every aspect of a believer's life rather than treating Christianity as a periodic commitment.

## The Guidance of the Holy Spirit

In the Gospel of John 16:13, we are reminded that when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide us into all truth. He does not speak on His own, but speaks what He hears, declaring to us the things that are to come. We need to let ourselves be bathed in the light of the Holy Spirit so that we may be led by the Lord to the truth of God, who is the one Lord of our lives.

## Growing in Faith

We should ask ourselves if we have taken concrete steps to know Christ and the truth of the faith more deeply. This growth happens through reading and meditating on the Holy Scriptures, studying the Catechism, and receiving the sacraments regularly.

## Total Commitment

Beyond these practices, we must ask what steps we are taking to ensure that faith governs the whole of our existence. We cannot be part-time Christians, practicing our faith only at certain moments, in certain circumstances, or during certain decisions. No one can be a Christian in that way. We are Christians all the time, totally. We must allow the truth of Christ, which the Holy Spirit teaches us, to affect our daily lives completely.

## A Daily Invocation

I suggest that we invoke the Holy Spirit every day. By calling on Him more often, He will guide us on the path of discipleship and bring us closer to Jesus Christ.

*Jesus, help me let my whole life be changed by your presence.*