Of late, I’ve been dealing in my own mind with the sillyness that is the American church. We are ridiculously petty and self-absorbed. Like in the days of the early Church, today in many parts of the world, persecution exists and is running rampant. Just last week, I heard of four children in Baghdad, under the age of fifteen, who were beheaded because they refused to denounce Jesus to ISIS terrorists. Seriously? Kids who died for their faith? Would I do that? Would my children? Are we too tied up with important stuff like getting our feelings hurt because of the way someone spoke to us or because someone simply did something we didn’t like? Are we too concerned with getting a good parking space, flipping off the driver who cut us off or other earth-shaking “First-world problems” to worry about serious spiritual growth that would result in a boldness that would allow us to die for Jesus if called upon?
God help us in this crazy world. God help this crazy institution we call the American church. May it not come to the point of requiring persecution to wake us up to the realities of the spiritual realm. May we not have to be threatened with death in order to get serious about our walk with and commitment to Christ. I don’t hope for or wish for persecution. On the other hand, if it did (or does) come, the Church would undoubtedly be strengthened almost immediately. Would you be a part of it? For more of my thoughts on the subject, watch my message from Sunday:
John – Portrait of a Savior, Part 39 from The Gathering on Vimeo.
