Christianity Needs a Heart Attack

So often as people get older they begin to speak of eating better, exercising and generally taking better care of themselves. Instead of making the tough choices today, they assume all can be accomplished in a mythical future filled with time, organization and most importantly: enough will-power. While they know subconsciously “tomorrow” will never come, they continue to tell themselves (and others) it will.

We can predict what happens next – years of neglect, poor eating habits, weight gain and lack of exercise catch up with the procrastinator and heart disease or attack fling tomorrow wildly and unexpectedly into today. Now the choices that seemed wise, but lacked urgency yesterday are made with the consistency and precision only a life-altering scare can bring.

A similar and more devastating parallel can be described as the broken-relationship procrastination. Family members argue and break communication over something trivial, yet maintain good intentions to apologize or talk things out…later. As months and years slip past the wounds remain and restoration becomes less and less important, even as old age approaches. Eventually, as one of the offending parties lies at death’s door, resolving the situation becomes paramount. Bitter years are wasted until a near-death experience brings the truly important things into focus.

I fear for Christianity in America today. This fear increases chiefly because few others seem to share it with any degree of passion. Many are going along just as though everything in the Christian world is generally healthy and even thriving – nothing, I believe, could be further from the truth.

Some unprecedented things are being said and done in even the most orthodox and committed sectors of Christan belief. Since when, I often ask my wife, did we – meaning we Bible-believing people in Christ – start thinking and doing that? (Whatever that may be…) In personal conversations, readings, hearings and experience I find myself constantly troubled.

Time will not permit my outline of all the problems I observe. If it did, I assume I would both fail to express them properly and perhaps get many wrong altogether. This I know for certain: it is long past time for we believers to stop putting off the surrender of lives, wills, emotions and actions to Christ.

Never has there been an age when God’s people have been more informed on Bible truth. Stacks of Christian books line our walls, while magazines, websites, radio and television stations, worldwide marketing campaigns and all manner of media outlets proclaim the true gospel 24-hours every day! Yes, there are big issues with the style and substance of many things produced today, but one can generally find resources for proper Biblical instruction ready-at-hand.

We know we ought to be saturated in scripture, diligent in prayer, faithful in service, abounding in love and absolutely, daily surrendered to our Savior. Why then, are we so often not ? Why do we instead find ourselves worldly, without willingness sacrifice, poorly equipped to make wise decisions and sadly bereft of spiritual victory?

Barring the intervention of heart attack or other life-altering crisis, too often the answer is simply…tomorrow. “On another day, at a more convenient hour we will have the courage to do what needs to be done.” That is what we tell ourselves – that is our deception and it is proving to be exactly the tool our enemy is using to discredit and immobilize us.

Every day that passes empty of impact for eternity is a day Satan can use to highlight our lack of sincerity and passion to an already disillusioned American culture. We await an easier moment, not realizing every one that passes leaves a negative impression that will make our task more daunting in the future.

I believe modern American Christianity requires a wake-up call that is so sudden, so stark and so alarming that men of God will be stirred to rise to their feet, pick up their swords and enter the battle they are already, unwittingly losing.

The call may not have to come, however, as it is just as possible for us to begin making right choices without it. As an aging man may reduce his fat intake or a feuding woman may apologize to her family, we may also choose to follow Christ wholly and without regard to cost. True, not every good diet results in stable health, not every apology results in forgiveness and not every act of Godliness is rewarded with earthly blessing. In any event, we know the God of this universe is worthy of our entire lives. His blood and death paid our penalty for sin and His wounded hand beckons the Father to withhold judgment as our intercessor.

I am broken tonight in the understanding that I am not an innocent bystander. I have internalized many of my squandered opportunities, knowing the time grows short and my disobedience grows more costly. Now I am renewed in my zeal to do right and must turn myself over to Him, doing all He asks as a bond-slave, a soldier and a son. God help us all as we attempt to rouse ourselves before the night comes, when no man can work.

Happy Independence Day

I read two very appropriate articles today that I wanted to pass along. I trust we are remembering the reason this day is celebrated and thanking God for the principles expressed in the following entries:

• Don’t Waste Your Freedom
• The Signers of the Declaration of Independence

The Front Lines

Some of the best selling Christian books in the United States tell believers how to confront “difficulty”. Messages of encouragement in “hard times” bombard us on evangelical radio and television. Fortunately (or unfortunately) however, most Americans have no concept of what true hardship looks like. That is why we need reminders, like this one, regarding a very real crisis in Kenya. While we are traveling to multi-million dollar bookstores in our air-conditioned SUV’s, where we buy $25 self-help books on “coping with the harsh realities of life”, others learn by experience. We ought to praise God today for our quality of life, and learn to pray for brothers and sisters in Christ around the world that face disaster and death.

Gospel in China

I find myself returning often to a blog written by a church-planter in China. His writing style is informal, but often passionate and convicting. I was reminded of our tremendous freedom while reading Hide! It’s a Visitor. When you visit, be sure to browse the Archives and check out his Blogroll too. I think you will find yourself encouraged, and perhaps prompted to witness more urgently where you live.

Acts 25:7

“And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.” We continue to see the persecution of Paul in this chapter. As with all organized oppression of Christianity, the evidence is falsified. How can a power structure justly eliminate the good Christians brings to society? Disciples of Christ, by their very nature, bring improvement to the cultures in which they minister. Therefore trial of the brethren must rely on lies, falsified evidence, and illegitimate witnesses. Just as God takes action in perfect harmony with His character, performing His works in holiness, justice, love, and grace; the enemy operates in an equally authentic fashion. He was a liar from the beginning, ever seeking to undermine the honest and righteous working of God. Paul is enduring the false accusation that is typical of Satan. Those who live Godly in Christ will likely face such wicked treachery. It would be wise for us to keep the tactics of our enemy in mind, so as not to be surprised when they come upon us.