Everyone loves a deal. And, the quicker and easier it is the better. But, it must at least seem like quality, enough for us to be fooled into taking the deal. The casual Christian wants "it" quick and easy-spiritual growth, spiritual results, godly outcomes, great relationships, and the accomplishment of the divine will. Knowing how Christians love this, the challenge of the evil one is to make a comfortable, peaceful life seem like eternal life. They are not the same.
Think about it. Churches start programs that run-say 13 weeks- and have to pull off a fifth avenue marketing campaign to psyc folks up to attend. You get maybe 50 % and call it a success and by the end of the 13 weeks you have the faithful core still with you. This is typical. It is not quick enough or easy enough, and the casual Christian is convinced they can have the same quality for less effort. And, please do not expect anyone to actually do anything like homework during those weeks.
Causualness is not laziness. Huge effort is often exerted to give Christians a satisfying life. But, the effort is about investing in things the self can control. This in and of itself gives us a sense of quality. If I can control an outcome then I get the payoff. But, when control is turned over to Jesus the outcomes are in his hands. This scares the causual. Trusting that working a God-directed program for the long haul will give us a true quality of life (life that is truly life) is hard and casuals do not do hard.
Think about it.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
P90X Christians
I popped in the DVD and here are these five superhuman species doing every kind of push up and pull up imaginable-about 100 reps each. And this one guy, the leader, is talking the whole time. They acted like it was really fun. So what is a 57 year old man doing trying to follow these fitness addicts? I got through about a quarter of the workout with a very scaled down version of what they were doing. The diamond push up was impossible. Then I went out and walked 3 1/2 miles averaging 14 minutes a mile. Now four hours later I am not sure I want to go to bed because I am afraid I might not be able to get out of it tomorrow morning.
I need a little perspective here. Are they that good or am I just that out of shape? What is normal here? The P90Xers are certainly not casuals when it comes to fitness. So where am I on the casual to captive scale? In my mind I was ready to do everything they were doing. The spirit was willing (today) but the flesh was certainly weak.
I made the statement today, and I am sticking by it, that the great impediment to winning the world for Jesus is the casualness of the Christians in the US. 150 million causal Christian-professors could be an unstoppable army for Christ if they would become captives for Christ. And it is not about our winning. It is about his winning as many hearts and souls as possible. But, until we get some perspective on where we are, casual or captive, we will not get in shape so that we can be that army (or Marine Corp-sorry Timothy).
I need a little perspective here. Are they that good or am I just that out of shape? What is normal here? The P90Xers are certainly not casuals when it comes to fitness. So where am I on the casual to captive scale? In my mind I was ready to do everything they were doing. The spirit was willing (today) but the flesh was certainly weak.
I made the statement today, and I am sticking by it, that the great impediment to winning the world for Jesus is the casualness of the Christians in the US. 150 million causal Christian-professors could be an unstoppable army for Christ if they would become captives for Christ. And it is not about our winning. It is about his winning as many hearts and souls as possible. But, until we get some perspective on where we are, casual or captive, we will not get in shape so that we can be that army (or Marine Corp-sorry Timothy).
Monday, January 10, 2011
Light From Behind the Veil
Sunday we saw a picture of Asia Abib, a mother of two from Pakistan who has been sentenced to death for blasphemy. What did she do? She stood up for her belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the last Prophet like unto Moses. By doing so she was saying that Mohammed is not the Lord's prophet. Who did she say this to in order to be in so much trouble? Some Muslim ladies who worked by her side in the fields. They turned her in. About a week ago the governor of Punjab province was gunned down by his body guard because he came by her side and defended her right to freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
We actually did not see the face of Asia. She was completely hidden behind a veil. But, if you look closely you might see a little bit of light shinning out the edges. There is nothing casual about Asia. Though she may have made the comment casually, it was not a casual comment. It had profound implications for her life, and the life of millions of other Christians living in Muslim countries. She has opened a door. She has stood up. She has a voice. And, it may cost her her life.
She is captive tonight in a jail cell somewhere in radicalized Pakistan. But, before they locked up her body Jesus had already captured her soul. Might we be so brave to stop being so casual about our faith in Jesus!
We actually did not see the face of Asia. She was completely hidden behind a veil. But, if you look closely you might see a little bit of light shinning out the edges. There is nothing casual about Asia. Though she may have made the comment casually, it was not a casual comment. It had profound implications for her life, and the life of millions of other Christians living in Muslim countries. She has opened a door. She has stood up. She has a voice. And, it may cost her her life.
She is captive tonight in a jail cell somewhere in radicalized Pakistan. But, before they locked up her body Jesus had already captured her soul. Might we be so brave to stop being so casual about our faith in Jesus!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
From Street Clothes to Fatigues
My youngest is having a Marine experience as I write this. He has been at Parris Island, SC, i.e. bootcamp, for about 24 hours. He has no hair and he is tired. When he left home he had the clothes on his back, his driver's licence, social security card and $20. He has traded his clothes now for Marine issue. He raised his hand and took an oath to defend the constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic. He has a new identity. He will have a new look and a new mindset. He left a man and will return a MAN. Everything is changing for him. There will be nothing casual about the next 13 weeks.
The captive Christian knows there is a war going on and that the bullets are real. The casual Christian doesn't. The captive Christian knows that the enemy is real and is absolutely committed to killing him in as many ways as possible. The casual Christian doesn't. The captive Christian knows that the training never stops because he never arrives at the ideal, to be like his commander-in-chief, Jesus. The casual Christian doesn't.
In my morning studies I am in Luke 4:18. This anointed one is on a mission to the poor, the prisoner, the blind and the oppressed. He is sanctioned by God. He is sent. He is covered by the Spirit. He has a voice that preaches and proclaims. This is not casual. This is not a "get-around-to-it" mission. This is a "right-now" mission and a "get er done" mission. This is a mandate. Aren't we glad that Jesus was not casual about sin and about salvation? He is our leader, our standard, our pioneer, our trail blazer. He sets the pace. He is the one to follow and not let out of our sight. This is no stroll in the park. This is bootcamp. This is war. This is no drill. This is for real. This matters. One chance and its over. One shot to win. Then, its final-forever, and ever. Shed the street clothes.
The captive Christian knows there is a war going on and that the bullets are real. The casual Christian doesn't. The captive Christian knows that the enemy is real and is absolutely committed to killing him in as many ways as possible. The casual Christian doesn't. The captive Christian knows that the training never stops because he never arrives at the ideal, to be like his commander-in-chief, Jesus. The casual Christian doesn't.
In my morning studies I am in Luke 4:18. This anointed one is on a mission to the poor, the prisoner, the blind and the oppressed. He is sanctioned by God. He is sent. He is covered by the Spirit. He has a voice that preaches and proclaims. This is not casual. This is not a "get-around-to-it" mission. This is a "right-now" mission and a "get er done" mission. This is a mandate. Aren't we glad that Jesus was not casual about sin and about salvation? He is our leader, our standard, our pioneer, our trail blazer. He sets the pace. He is the one to follow and not let out of our sight. This is no stroll in the park. This is bootcamp. This is war. This is no drill. This is for real. This matters. One chance and its over. One shot to win. Then, its final-forever, and ever. Shed the street clothes.
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