|
|
|
|
Easy Christianity There is one thing that is becoming very prevalent today; making it easy to be a Christian. Worse still is the move to make it easy to remain a Christian no matter what a person's life-style or belief. The underlying thought seems to be that of keeping people comfortable despite any scriptures to the contrary. There are many programs, laws, and movements, outside of the church, which promote easy Christianity. Laws such as legalized abortion; programs like supplying condoms to school children without parental consent, and abortion without spousal consent; movements including civil rights for gays and legalizing prostitution, all tear at the fabric of society, family, and national righteousness. Things like these make sin not only acceptable, but also profitable. Free condoms promotes casual sex. Casual sex promotes unwanted pregnancy. Unwanted pregnancy is corrected by a simple D and C (dilate and clean). We do not even have to use the term abortion now. Abortion implies something far too negative and carries with it the idea that at least one person in the chain has done something wrong. But a D and C has a very aseptic sound leaving no one in the wrong. I could give many other examples as well, but time is prohibitive. Now that nearly all Christendom is shouting, "Hallelujah," I should point out that there is just as much going on inside the church to promote easy Christianity. Hard to believe? Allow me to make a very conservative list, just for the sake of demonstration. Following is a list of things you can easily find taking place in Christianity.
I do not care to go any farther with creating a list. As I mentioned, these are a few of the many things that are plainly evident in the Church of Jesus Christ today. However, by way of qualification, let me state emphatically that I am not saying you will necessarily find all of these things in your church. But it will be a rare church, indeed, that demonstrates no tendency toward easy Christianity in some form. I would like to speak for a moment about the last two items on the list: doctrine and integrity. Weakness in these two areas will produce puling, self righteous church members. I have seen and heard pastors who will preach one thing on one Sunday, only to turn around the very next Sunday and preach another sermon with contravening doctrine. Aggravating the problem is the lack of notice or concern on the part of the congregation. The idea being presented here is, "The soundness of doctrine is not important. As long as it sounds good, it is acceptable." If doctrinal soundness is not important at the pulpit, how can we expect doctrinal soundness to miraculously become manifested in everyday life? Perhaps if doctrine can change so easily what is taught as wrong today will be considered acceptable tomorrow. More easy Christianity. Integrity is another issue, the lack of which promotes easy Christianity. One of the most common promotions of easy Christianity is seen every Sunday morning at the weekly "altar call." Think back to your church service last Sunday. After the pastor or speaker had finished delivering a masterful sermon or teaching, the organist or praise and worship team began to play softly, Just As I Am. Then the pastor or speaker addresses the congregation with these classic words, "I want every head bowed and every eye closed. I don't want anybody looking around. We do not want to embarrass anyone here today." What I find particularly amusing in this little scenario is that churches who tout themselves as being, "Word Churches," participate in this Christian faux pas on a weekly or even a bi-weekly basis. I defy anyone to find Jesus Christ, or Paul, or Peter, or James, or John, or anyone at all in scripture who practiced this form of evangelism even once! Those we see in scripture are found calling people to follow Christ with a simple expectancy that those they are calling upon will recognize the validity of both the message and the call. There is no move toward easy Christianity in the Bible. If our message is valid, our integrity bright, and our doctrine sound, why would we expect anyone to be embarrassed by going forward to accept Christ as Savior? If people will be embarrassed about admitting love and fidelity for Christ in the presence of a house of believers, how soon will they become ashamed of Christ outside of the 4 walls of sanctuary? We do not ask people to bow their heads and close their eyes at a wedding. Heads are up and eyes open at offering time (I suppose that is so we do not accidentally grab the $5.00 bill rather than the $20.00 bill). We make it easy to be a Christian and, in so doing, make it easy to cease being a Christian. Easy in also means easy out. Make no mistake, becoming a Christian is easy. Being a Christian requires that we daily take up our cross and follow Christ. That is not easy. That requires us to deny ourselves the pleasures of sin for a season in order to walk in uprightness and integrity. Being a Christian means that we are different from the rest of the world. We do not delight in the same things in which the world takes delight. Being a Christian means that we approach life from the standpoint that the Father knows best and we look for his will at every turn. My appeal is for genuine Christianity to blossom in you and those you can influence. My appeal is for an absolute right that outshines and rises above that which our God has called evil. That is our perspective, what is yours? |
|
|
