Casual Christianity
The days of the casual believer are upon us. We are living in the times where the Gospel has been reduced to another form of intellectualism or superstition. People are trying to discover who the “historical” Jesus is; as if there is some undiscovered tabloid-like side to the Messiah. Others are clinging to religious jewelry or crucifixes hoping that the power of God is “lucky” like a charm or a rabbit’s foot. But ultimately the Gospel cannot be trivialized by history or superstition. Neither will a man’s knowledge of Christian history or his dependence on symbolism deliver him from the Great White Throne Judgment. Make no mistake: The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has no drive through or curbside takeout. It is dine-in only. The Gospel in its purest form demands, provides, and requires the unique experience of submitting your intentions, aspirations, and lifestyle to God.
What about those people that claim to have faith but their lives never change? Faith will always dictate a man’s actions. For example, you have simple faith in action everyday. You trust the traffic signal to prevent another car from colliding into yours. So what do you do? You obey the signal. You stop when it turns red and go when it turns green. You have faith in the system so you obey it. Or how about the traffic paint on the road? When there are two solid yellow lines you don’t pass. You trust the judgment of whoever placed those lines there. A responsible driver will obey the lines on the road. Even when they are traveling behind somebody who is driving extremely slowly they still don’t pass. They put to death that desire to pass because they know it may put their lives in jeopardy. It works the same way with God.
2 Timothy 2:11 says, “This is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Christ, we shall also live with Him.” This is why you see people who claim to have faith but they never change: They may have mentally agreed with Jesus but they never put to death their own will. God has put the double yellow lines on the road but they keep passing on the left anyways. They violate the system because in their heart they don’t care about the system. The Gospel will require a submission of the human will to God.
2 Corinthians 5:15 says, “And Jesus died for all, that they which live (believers) should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto Him which died for them and rose again.” Many view Christianity as repressive and narrow minded. Christ died for EVERYONE so that EVERYONE could be free from the confusion of their own will! That’s narrow minded? That’s repressive? No! That’s liberating. Do you think traffic signals are repressive? No, you know they are wise for the safety of our lives and that of our children. So why would you think the commandments of God are repressive? When God commands us to turn from sin it’s out of love not hostility; safety not confinement.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
