What Is This?

I’m posting this song by the celebrated Bishop Walter Hawkins because of two reasons.  One, it’s a great song wonderfully rendered and seeing it live is a beautiful thing showcasing once more the merits of great gospel music to the ears and the eyes. It’s not about coming across all nostalgic and saying they don’t do things like these anymore, it’s just about enjoying what was offered in time past and how well it still serves today.

The second reason is something that kind of erks me regarding people’s approach to a relationship with Christ.  Growing up in England I come across a number of people who profess to be Christians by various means, like coming from a Christian family, or living in a Christian country or going to church for Easter, Christmas, weddings, funerals and christenings.  Fair-weather consumer convenience Christianity I’m just about getting to grips with.  As a part of the legacy Christendom it’s not really about engaging in the very real dynamic that comes from the Holy Spirit.  That’s fine … in terms of understanding that.  I get it.

What I don’t get are those who move beyond mere verbal and ritualistic association with a religion to somewhat of a more considered attachment to faith in Jesus.  So they attend church regularly and even jumped the hoops of baptism and membership classes or confirmation or whatever the rite of passage is to join the club.  Having done all of that the resounding silence about their faith is palpable.  I’m  not speaking out of turn or in a manner that’s condemning this type of chameleon Christianity.  I know what it is to do the church stuff on the given day and then slip in seamlessly with the rest of society the rest of the week not giving any hint of what goes on beneath.  I’m not even referring to those genuinely persecuted Christians around the world for whom the very mention of affiliation to Christ costs them their lives.  What I’m referring to are the comfy Christians in cultures like the English who are seeing the ceremonial attachments to the faith slowly dismantled by legislation and a secular agenda looking to privatise faith and see it as a good thing.  I’m referring to those who are more than content to keep their light under a bushel, seeing it as a little thing they can shine in the privacy of their own homes or weekly holy huddles.

I just don’t get it anymore.  How can Someone who’s impact got a bunch of rag-tag blokes to speak boldly to the religious authorities at the risk of beatings leave some now not even prepared to engage in a conversation with their colleague about Him?  What is that?  Is that the same Jesus who turned fishermen in fishers of men?  Is that the same Spirit that got Paul and Silas singing praise and worship songs in the middle of a prison stint?  Does this same God sit back and applaud the laissez-faire Christianity that keeps its mouth shut for fear of rocking the boat, upturning the apple-cart?

As I’m intimating, I’m not talking about getting all charismaniac and wacky for it’s own sake to let others know we’re different.  We don’t have to do that.  We don’t need the Jesus merchandise of a cross necklace and T-Shirts with all manner of hip phrases christianised.  We especially don’t need to get all antagonistic and anti-everything in a bid to show ourselves as unique.

What we do need though is to remind ourselves of what it is to be joyful.  What does it mean to have something inside that’s so bubbly that we have to explode with praise and excitement?

Just thinking.  That’s all.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd