At The Gathering on Sunday, I talked about how easy it is for us to become complacent in our journey with Jesus. Complacency can sneak up on us as we become so familiar with grace and become so comfortable in our salvation that the whole thing can become somewhat blasé (That’s French for, “meh”). That sounds terrible, I know, but that’s because it is. It happens, though, perhaps especially for those of us who have been in church all our lives and know how things are done. We fail to remember what we know all too well: Church can become what we do rather than who we are and we lose sight of who Jesus is.
Quick test: When was the last time you were actually amazed by grace? I mean knocked-to-the-ground kind of overwhelmed as you’ve thought about what Jesus did in your life and what you did to deserve it? Have you read through the words of that all-too-familiar hymn and let the weight of it sink down into your soul? Does it grip you to remember that you once were lost but now you’re found; was blind but now you see? Does the fact that you “see” only because He made you to see do something in your soul? When we become too familiar with the things of Christianity, then the wonder, the beauty, and the power of Christianity becomes like a treasure hidden in plain sight. We forget the amazement and wonder of it all.
When I was twelve, I took my first flight—a short 30 minute “hop” from Memphis to Jackson, MS. Man, what a ride! I remember the feeling as the thrust of the engines pulled me back in my seat and the amazing sight of the earth falling away and the awe of being so high and seeing so far. I remember the strange feeling as we began our descent and the rush as the plane touched down and being pulled forward as it roared to a halt. I didn’t want it to end! Now, after flying so many times since that first time back in 1980, I’m ready to get off the plane before I ever get on.
I don’t think I’m the only one this happens to, but sometimes I find myself rather apathetic in corporate worship, singing the songs and going through the motions, but not overwhelmed by what I’m singing, not unlike my current attitude towards air travel. To be sure, I can’t expect that I’m going to have a “mountain-top” meeting with Jesus every Sunday, but I suspect there would be more if I expected more and thought through or reflected on the realities of what God has really done. That is to say, when I truly think about what Jesus has done for me (especially throughout the week), it moves me, particularly when I think about the me he saved: unworthy, sinful, broken. In short, a total train wreck! There is much value in remembering when I was lost before I was found and what happened on that “first flight”.
So, what do we do when we grow complacent and find ourselves lacking in the joy of our relationship with Christ? Well, I’m sure there are plenty of things that can help but, personally, I find I most often have to go on a quest backwards. I have to go back to where I was to find out where I am so I’ll know where I need to go to get where I need to be. I explain what I’m talking about in another article I wrote back in 2015 on the subject called, “The Truth of the Moment: Recovering from a Spiritual Slump“ that you might find helpful if you’re interested. You can find it here. Oh, and I also mentioned on Sunday how helpful I find journaling in the process of “going backwards”. You’ll find an additional article linked in that post you can follow for encouragement in that area.
Since we’re all in this journey together, feel free to share what helps you when you find yourself in a spiritual slump or growing complacent in your walk with Christ. I’d love to learn from you!
Hebrews 10:23–24 (CSB): 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works.
