Most Christians appear to be bored. They are bored with the church, the worship, the music, the message, the word and those they meet with. They want something more but they are unwilling to commit anything more. They are getting just as much out of their faith as they are putting in. They search for churches who claim to have more than they are receiving now. Some are claiming that there are blessings that God has for them that will not receive at other churches.
I really don't believe the problem is in the churches these bored Christians are attending. I believe the bored Christians are not embracing God's will for their lives. They either don't know that God cares for each of His children individually or they aren't willing to act like His children. They may want to act like God is just someone who helps them get what they want. He is the one that gives gifts but doesn't call upon them be His presence on the earth.
The church is a body. Each Christian is a part of that body. Each part of a body has a function. Each part of the body must function or the body will be handicapped. Each believer must know how God has gifted him. Each believer must also use his gifts by knowing God's will. God gives His will to those who will do as He says.
The Christian life is boring when the Christian wants to be waited on. The Christian becomes a consumer in his church rather than a functioning part of the body. He acts like a child who must be entertained rather than someone who has enlisted in God's army.
No Christian should act like a child for long. He should grow in the faith by doing what God has called him to do. He may teach or serve in a multitude of other ministries within the church. He should ask God what he should do. He should know that being a disciple of Christ means he must serve somewhere. He cannot be committed to Christ and now serve Him.
Serving Christ is a commitment that requires faith. It may mean that the Christian commits to a mission trip without knowing where the funds are coming from that will pay for that mission trip. It may be that the Christian takes up the challenge to teach when he has never taught before. It may mean that a Christian commits to give to God an amount that he doesn't think he can afford. It may mean that the Christian commits to witnessing when he the fear of witnessing paralyzes him.
One thing is for sure; the Christian who goes where God leads will not be bored. He will be growing. He will not notice what is not happening in his church because he is too busy doing what God has called him to do. He is not searching for a new "teaching" which will bring blessings he never new he had because he is being blessed with God's very close walk with him.
I was in Scotland about sixteen or seventeen years ago talking with a lady who would go down to her village square and engage people in conversations about God. Her goal was to win others to Christ. She was being used of God as an effective witness for Him. Some Christians were urging her to stop doing so. I wondered why.
She told me, "I don't know why people say that Christianity is boring. I think it is very exciting!"
Of course, she did. She was doing what God was leading her to do by faith. She was pleasing her Lord. This is always very exciting.
The Apostle Paul never seemed to be bored. Have you ever wondered why?
Philippians 2:1-2 (NKJV)
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort in love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
1 comment:
Great Devotion
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