Lazy Christianity

I'm a little peeved with myself today. I willingly, knowingly and remorselessly opened a very shut door last night. I reasoned my way into doing it. It worked for what I wanted to accomplish, but it was wrong. And, even now I'm not feeling too guilty. And, yet, I still know it was wrong. Why do I not feel real remorse? Why do I mess with the cross - why do I willingly push God to see how far I can go? I should be so far past all this - is my mind too much in control? There was a problem; I picked the wrong solution. It felt good. See, a prayer and faith would have been a lot more work and effort. And, of course, waiting. My solution was wrong but quick. I guess that qualifies for lazy Christianity.

However, I feel I'm touching on a very important issue here. Sin is usually more attractive because it is easier and the results come quicker. God's way usually requires waiting, faith, hoping, praying, believing and much more effort. Sadly, frequently the results of sin lead to devastating consequences. Many times people get by scot free. With God's way there is a highly likely consequence of success and long-lasting peace and joy. Not always, though. Sometimes even those that "do good" suffer from the fallen world we live in.

How do we convince people to do what is right when what is wrong is so much more attractive? The answer should be that we must warn them about eternity and where they will end up if they don't "put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27).

And, yet, let's try explaining eternity so that it becomes relevant to these people. Eternity is scarcely relevant to Christians! If we struggle to think beyond these moments with the Holy Spirit in us, how much less can we expect people of the world that we are trying to convert to live with not just the future but eternity in mind?

We need to get our acts together. We must become kingdom- and eternity-minded right now and start making the right choices if we are going to be the examples that others are the follow. Remember, it's not what you say but what you do that defines you.