Most people wouldn’t call the 1-800 number at the bottom of the screen, but allow me to entertain the notion that all people consider calling. Even if only for a split second, we all wonder where our phone is. Our next thought is usually that it is probably too good to be true, and even if it isn’t we will have to give out every scrap of information that defines us as to who we are. Some people view Christianity in this light, as an offer too good to be true, they wonder where their phone to Jesus is, in the next moment realizing that they will have to give up all of their ‘stuff’ that creates their identity to live in hope of eternal life. Some churches have placed Christianity on the table as a risk-free once in a lifetime offer, which it is not. It is not offered once in a lifetime, there are many opportunities to become a Christian throughout your life, and it is not always happy-go-lucky, jovial people in suits and ties saying, “Have a Blessed Day!” Sometimes our faith is tested and people may look down on us, that is the risk we take for Christ, a small risk it is, yet we instinctively make mountains out of molehills.
Christianity is not something that comes up at three o’clock in the morning when we cannot get to sleep and are bored. It should be our whole lives. It should be all that we are, but some people make excuses to ignore the long-term so that they can enjoy the short-term. Humanity is permeated by this kind of mediocrity. When was the last time fast-food was an enjoyable experience? Even if the service was good, the restaurant was probably not clean, the food may have been cold, and your order may have been incomplete or incorrect. These problems are not caused by incompetence, or ignorance, rather indifference and lack of joy. Joy? What does joy have to do with putting the correct number of pickle slices on a hamburger? Well, if you are joyous—this does not mean happiness which I will get to in a minute—then you will have a desire to work hard and you will have determination to do the best you can. Now, what is joy? Joy is, in my opinion, the realization that you serve a mighty God, and seeing all of the beauty in his creation. Happiness is the short-term warm and fuzzy feeling that happens when you get something you want. Happiness can come from a shopping mall, whereas joy only comes from God. Our faith in God and prayer to him provides us peace, and following his commands, reading his scriptures, and caring for his creation gives us peace.
Some actually make the call, give up all that they have to, and complete the transaction. Days, weeks, and months later they find that the product was not as good as they had envisioned it, and they put it in the closet, along with their salad spinners, magic makeover make-up kits, and revolutionary new never dull kitchen knives. Tragic as it is, this happens all too often, and we need to stop it. A challenge that I gave in my prompt response this week was to stop moving only when where you are in the faith gets uncomfortable, but to start moving towards Christ until where you are becomes uncomfortable. If we all heed this advice, we may end up a little shaken, but we will be much closer to where God wants us to be.
2 comments:
What an entertainingly true blog!! I never thought about Christianity that way but it's sadly true. I enjoyed reading what you had to say!!!
I like how you said that most people view Christianity as a once in a lifetime offer because that's so true and we need to stop thinking like that. You're blog was very interesting and I'll definitely be back to read what else you have to say.
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