If I told you that I was married, but you never actually saw me with my spouse, what would you think? If you could see my wedding ring, and I acknowledged I was married but never talked about my wife, would you question if this was true or not? When asked, I would say that I was married but it never seemed to be on my mind. That I was supposedly devoted to someone, but never acted like it. If you observed some behaviors that seemed like I had forgotten that I was married, how would you feel? If I really did not give an indication that I was in a marriage relationship, would you question the validity of that statement? If my behavior seemed to be the opposite of what I had said, if I flirted with other women or just did not seem to give any thought about this person that I said that I was committed to, what would you do? Would you ask me about this supposed relationship? Would you think it very strange for me to say that I was married but still act as if I was single? If everything that I did sent up a red flag, if it shouted to you that I was being untrue to the one that I said I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, would you gently confront me? Would you call me out? Would you remind me that I was not showing the behaviors of a married man, but was acting like I was The Bachelor?
Likewise, if I said to you that I was saved, born again, washed in the blood of the Lamb, changed; but did not give an indication that I was, wouldn't you think it strange? If I exhibited behavior that was not what a Christian should feel comfortable in doing, wouldn't that seem odd? Wouldn't I be a little off if I said I belonged to Jesus and was saved, but gave no indication of what I had been saved from? Wouldn't I seem to saying empty words? If I claimed to be born again, but never said anything about how my life had been changed by the Savior, would it make you scratch your head? Sadly, in many cases this is what Christianity has become. A group of people who go to church, but never seem to be really all that different from those who do not. We act the same, talk the same, think the same, but claim to be different. If there is nothing about us that is any different than what we observe the world around us doing, we may want to rethink our claims that we are in a relationship with the Savior. Or maybe we say nothing, but still believe in our hearts that we are somehow changed in comparison to those who make no such claims. Many feel that their faith is a private matter, but this is contrary to what Jesus said (Matthew 28:19-20). If we have been born again, then this Good News inside of us longs to be shared. But if my behavior is such that you cannot tell that I have been touched by the Master, if all that I do is giving off an odor, I think you would have the right to question what I say I believe. You would be right in doing so because this position that I said I held would appear to be false. It wouldn't ring true. You would have the right to ask me what I was saved from, since nothing that I did or said seemed to line up. You could question me on why certain things seemed like they were not off-limits to me, although maybe they should be. You could remind me that Jesus said that I should be bearing fruit (Matthew 7:16). You should remind me that being born again is so much more than receiving a “Golden Ticket” to heaven. That the Father longs for a relationship with me, and wants me to produce “much fruit” (John 15:5, 8). You should remind me that I am not doing well, that I am actually hindering the spread of the Gospel by claiming to be a follower of Jesus, and not really making an effort to follow Him. You should tell me that I am being false with my claims to know Him, when everything that I do points away from Him.
Maybe in our comfortable world of Western Christianity, we have perpetuated the myth that you can claim to be a follower of Christ and not really have to follow Him. That once we are born again, that is the only thing we must do. That to read our Bibles and pray is good enough and that we don't really have to change anything at all. Pray this prayer and we will all be ok. Everything is fine. Don't worry about following Jesus, just come to church and sit. Sing some hymns and go home. Feel good about yourself for having done that. It makes you more righteous than those who don't come to church. Come and put on a happy face and then you'll feel better and be all better. Greet some people, shake some hands. Talk about things in a spiritual way on Sunday, the workweek is different. Knowing that we have a ticket to heaven is enough.
Unfortunately, I spent many years in this condition, believing I was OK, but my life did not seem like I had truly had an encounter with Jesus. I slid right into the comfortable Christianity that I saw all around me. Keeping a list of rules, or at least trying to; or allowing myself to do certain things in moderation meant that I was living up to some sort of religious code. But the weight of my guilt and shame spurred me on to really seek the truth. I had heard that Christians should have Joy, and I knew that I had none. I was trying to find happiness in places where it couldn't exist. As a believer, that can be deadly and only leads to dead ends. Chasing the wind and pursuing foolishness, I found myself at the end of lonely street, perplexed. I had bought into the lie that Jesus wants to give us abundant life somehow on our own terms. I did not realize that the abundant life He talked about first required obedience. I had trusted Him for Salvation, but did not trust Him with my life. My plans for me were just something that He should go along with, as long as what I wanted wasn't a bad thing.
There may be many others who have found themselves in this same condition. That the American Dream is just something that Jesus thinks is cool. But as the disappointments and frustrations of a life lived for self, while expecting Jesus to bless it, become painfully real, we discover that there must be more. If Jesus words are true, then something is not working. No amount of doing good things will ever amount to Him granting our wishes. If we haven't truly discovered how to walk with Him, then we have deceived ourselves by leaning on our own understanding. As we seek Him and seek His heart, we can discover that He loves us but not enough to just give us what we want. He loves us enough to want an intimate relationship with us, and because of this knowledge, to follow Him whole-heartedly. Motivated by Love for Him, we will begin to see our Faith increase as well as our Joy. There will be Peace in the storms of life as He carries us through. All of these things that He adds to our lives will be the motivation to stand up, speak up and tell others about Him. Because if we really love Him and want to serve others as we Follow Him, we reach the point where we just have to Say So.
Likewise, if I said to you that I was saved, born again, washed in the blood of the Lamb, changed; but did not give an indication that I was, wouldn't you think it strange? If I exhibited behavior that was not what a Christian should feel comfortable in doing, wouldn't that seem odd? Wouldn't I be a little off if I said I belonged to Jesus and was saved, but gave no indication of what I had been saved from? Wouldn't I seem to saying empty words? If I claimed to be born again, but never said anything about how my life had been changed by the Savior, would it make you scratch your head? Sadly, in many cases this is what Christianity has become. A group of people who go to church, but never seem to be really all that different from those who do not. We act the same, talk the same, think the same, but claim to be different. If there is nothing about us that is any different than what we observe the world around us doing, we may want to rethink our claims that we are in a relationship with the Savior. Or maybe we say nothing, but still believe in our hearts that we are somehow changed in comparison to those who make no such claims. Many feel that their faith is a private matter, but this is contrary to what Jesus said (Matthew 28:19-20). If we have been born again, then this Good News inside of us longs to be shared. But if my behavior is such that you cannot tell that I have been touched by the Master, if all that I do is giving off an odor, I think you would have the right to question what I say I believe. You would be right in doing so because this position that I said I held would appear to be false. It wouldn't ring true. You would have the right to ask me what I was saved from, since nothing that I did or said seemed to line up. You could question me on why certain things seemed like they were not off-limits to me, although maybe they should be. You could remind me that Jesus said that I should be bearing fruit (Matthew 7:16). You should remind me that being born again is so much more than receiving a “Golden Ticket” to heaven. That the Father longs for a relationship with me, and wants me to produce “much fruit” (John 15:5, 8). You should remind me that I am not doing well, that I am actually hindering the spread of the Gospel by claiming to be a follower of Jesus, and not really making an effort to follow Him. You should tell me that I am being false with my claims to know Him, when everything that I do points away from Him.
Maybe in our comfortable world of Western Christianity, we have perpetuated the myth that you can claim to be a follower of Christ and not really have to follow Him. That once we are born again, that is the only thing we must do. That to read our Bibles and pray is good enough and that we don't really have to change anything at all. Pray this prayer and we will all be ok. Everything is fine. Don't worry about following Jesus, just come to church and sit. Sing some hymns and go home. Feel good about yourself for having done that. It makes you more righteous than those who don't come to church. Come and put on a happy face and then you'll feel better and be all better. Greet some people, shake some hands. Talk about things in a spiritual way on Sunday, the workweek is different. Knowing that we have a ticket to heaven is enough.
Unfortunately, I spent many years in this condition, believing I was OK, but my life did not seem like I had truly had an encounter with Jesus. I slid right into the comfortable Christianity that I saw all around me. Keeping a list of rules, or at least trying to; or allowing myself to do certain things in moderation meant that I was living up to some sort of religious code. But the weight of my guilt and shame spurred me on to really seek the truth. I had heard that Christians should have Joy, and I knew that I had none. I was trying to find happiness in places where it couldn't exist. As a believer, that can be deadly and only leads to dead ends. Chasing the wind and pursuing foolishness, I found myself at the end of lonely street, perplexed. I had bought into the lie that Jesus wants to give us abundant life somehow on our own terms. I did not realize that the abundant life He talked about first required obedience. I had trusted Him for Salvation, but did not trust Him with my life. My plans for me were just something that He should go along with, as long as what I wanted wasn't a bad thing.
There may be many others who have found themselves in this same condition. That the American Dream is just something that Jesus thinks is cool. But as the disappointments and frustrations of a life lived for self, while expecting Jesus to bless it, become painfully real, we discover that there must be more. If Jesus words are true, then something is not working. No amount of doing good things will ever amount to Him granting our wishes. If we haven't truly discovered how to walk with Him, then we have deceived ourselves by leaning on our own understanding. As we seek Him and seek His heart, we can discover that He loves us but not enough to just give us what we want. He loves us enough to want an intimate relationship with us, and because of this knowledge, to follow Him whole-heartedly. Motivated by Love for Him, we will begin to see our Faith increase as well as our Joy. There will be Peace in the storms of life as He carries us through. All of these things that He adds to our lives will be the motivation to stand up, speak up and tell others about Him. Because if we really love Him and want to serve others as we Follow Him, we reach the point where we just have to Say So.
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