Funny how God will sometimes hit us with related thoughts… BAM, BAM, BAM!
Early this morning I read a very interesting article on cnn.com about American young people who call themselves Christians. Based on interviews with at least 3,300 American teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17, the study found that most who called themselves Christian were indifferent and inarticulate about their faith. "Though three out of four American teenagers claim to be Christian, fewer than half practice their faith, only half deem it important, and most can't talk coherently about their beliefs,” the study found.
The article went on to explain that unless a young person sees a parent or other model actually step out in faith to do something out of the norm and is willing and able to verbalize reasons for his actions, the child is unlikely to have anything but a watered down faith. Many churches practice a "gospel of niceness," where faith is simply doing good and not ruffling feathers.
After reading the CNN article, I read in both Jeremiah and Ezekiel about the small remnant left in Jerusalem after God's people were taken as captives to Babylon. The remnant approached the prophet Jeremiah and told him, "Beg the Lord your God to show us what to do and where to go. May the Lord your God be a faithful witness against us if we refuse to obey whatever he tells us to do! Whether we like it or not, we will obey the Lord our God to whom we send you with our plea."
After Jeremiah consulted God, he returned to them with new insights. He told them that their fears of famine and retribution by the king of Bablyon were unfounded, and that they would have nothing to fear if they remained in Jerusalem. BUT, he said, if they chose to flee to Egypt, all their fears would be realized and they would die of famine and war. None would escape from harm.
On top of that, God made it clear to Jeremiah that the people never had intended to obey Him. Their intent was always to flee to Egypt - no matter what God or Jeremiah had to say about the subject. So, they made their choice. “Egypt (and destruction), here we come!”
All these thoughts came to me before 6:30AM! After church today we met with our mentees, Christopher and Alicia. Alicia was asking me to pray for her uncle, who claims to be a Christian, but wants to live life on his own terms. “After all, I am a man!”
It seems like not being serious about our faith has a long history. We can talk all we want about God, but unless we are willing to stick our necks out, and risk our lives for His cause, at best we are practicing a “gospel of niceness.” At worst, we may face the very fate we most fear.
Will we never learn? That must be a question God asks Himself often!
