I love my instant tea. But for it to be just right, there has to be just the right amount of tea and sugar combined, with just the right amount of water for the size pitcher being used.
If I fail to put the required number of tablespoons of tea in it, I end up with a weak, watered-down version of what tea is supposed to taste like. I'd rather have plain water than have to endure a distasteful glass of colored water with a hint of tea.
Could this be one of the reasons many are leaving the church and the Christian faith? Has Christianity, as a whole, become so watered down that it has become distasteful, impotent, and useless?
What do I mean watered down? A good honest look at the church and Christians, in general, reveals a Christianity that is a pale version of Biblical Christianity. The Christianity of old was a committal kind punctuated by obedience, sacrifice, and selflessness. Jesus was the center of it and the lives of believers were centered around Him and committed to Him. He was at the top of the believers' to-do list, not just on Sundays, but every day of their lives. In contrast, the form of Christianity we now see is clothed with convenience and filled with unending options. Church members attend services whenever it's convenient. If the weather's good, the fishing is bad, my sports team is not televised, there's no birthday party to go to, no family visiting, no yard to mow, no crops to get in, no car to repair, no clothes to wash, and I wasn't out too late last night, then I'll slip into the church, but don't expect me to be on time or put anything in the offering plate, because I have a busy schedule, my bills need to be paid, and, besides, it's my life, my money, and I worked hard earning it.
Those searching for more than what the world offers them, will not be impressed by a church full of Christians who think and act like the world. But not only can tea be ruined by too much water or too little tea, it can also be rendered undrinkable because there's too much tea in it. We must also guard against allowing our Christian faith to become pharisaical. Christ gives us grace. We are saved by grace. Passing judgment on others and criticizing them for the clothes they wear, the Sunday's they miss, and the lack of offerings they give is a polluted form of Christianity. We need to share the truth in love, and not serve the truth on a platter of legalism and self-righteousness. Sometimes we are put into a bind because we can't control the factors that require our attendance or our services when Sunday morning rolls around. Growing in the faith involves becoming aware of our spiritual shortcomings and gradually turning our ship (lives) in the direction that reflects true biblical Christianity. Growing in the faith involves learning how to guard our Sundays and lives from the things that separate us from our Lord, our church, and our devotion to both.
In the end, it doesn't really matter whether my tea is too weak or too strong, either way, I'm not going to drink it. It will never get in me and therefore it will never affect me. Sadly, this is true of so many within the realm of Christianity. Does it really matter what the obstacle is that prevents others from embracing Christianity and receiving Jesus as one's personal Savior and Lord? Consequently, the important thing is to remove any obstacle that stands in their way. And if one of the obstacles happens to be you, acknowledge it, and seek to correct it. Because the future of our churches depends on it, and this includes the eternal future of the next guest God directs to our church.
When it comes to tea, getting the right combination of tea, sugar, and water for a good-tasting glass of tea is not that difficult, unfortunately, this is not the case when referring to churches. The Christian church is in crisis. Our modern-day, watered-down version of Christianity, plays a major factor in why churches are dying, immorality is exploding, and God is growing impatient. But if we could put ourselves in the shoes of those, who by the grace of God may choose to visit our churches, we would see a need to change our lives and our churches.
For instance, when "God-seekers," those whom God has awakened spiritually to the need of a relationship with Him, do show up in our churches, what do you think they will see. In many cases, thankfully not all, they are confronted with a watered-down, distasteful, worldly familiar, form of Christianity. One that includes all the worldly ingredients you might find in the dark alleys of big cities or the polluted halls of Congress. Instead of peace, there is tension, instead of humility, there's arrogance, instead of love and acceptance, there's fake friendliness and suspicious questions, instead of seeking God's will, there's rebellion and self-rule.
I fear that many leave church services all over the country, feeling more like they've been bumped around by a political caucus, instead of having just worshipped within the walls of the house of God.
If Jesus is the head of the church, and He must be if it's a biblically genuine church, the Word of God, not the desires of men and women, nor the preferences of the loud and prominent, must be what sets the tone, the direction, and the priorities of the church.
I pray that the church once again becomes the church with Jesus and the cross at the center of it. Although we may not be able to change the masses or even our neighbor in the pew or chair beside us, we can, with God's help, change personally and privately. We can help our church become one candlelight brighter for the glory of God and the benefit of others.
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