I started watching Christian TV again, recently. I say again because I’ve not watched it for a few years now as I was put off by some presentations of what the Christian faith is all about as promulgated on these channels. I could not be bothered having to waste time looking for a programme on a channel that wasn’t begging for money by handily telling me that as a seed sown I’d be guaranteed a hundredfold return. To be fair, my life has not been devastated as a result and I also think it’s fair to say my love for Jesus and love for His Church and His Word has arguably been the better for it. Still, that’s not knocking Christian TV and the decent programmes that bless millions around the world. That’s just my experience.
So thanks to the end of the football season and the role of Sky Plus box that allows us to record programmes, I gave Christian TV another chance and so far it’s not been too bad. After all the deal is to get some of Jesus across and there are some programmes that accomplish the feat. As I watched one of the programmes it occurred to me that sometimes in our efforts to minister to the needs of those in and out of the church and apply biblical principles to everyday situations, we can veer towards being self-help specialists.
Marriages can be fixed by various techniques, businesses can flourish with the right principles applied, churches grow if our marketing strategy meets the findings of the latest survey. My anger can be resolved. My addictions can be resolved or controlled. All using the right words in the right way, by the power of my will I can have me the life I always wanted. I can live the dream – debt-free, well-groomed children, happy marriage, thriving business.
Only problem is the absence of Jesus in His actual role and a pursuit of the here and now in material and rather worldly terms, as opposed to what has been promised to those who pursue Jesus. In as much as it’s good to be debt-free and have well groomed marriages, and it does not have to be a case of either/or, there is something to be said about Christianity that doesn’t leave us dependent on Christ.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 