"It is not scientific doubt, not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism, that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the gospel. It is a proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity."
Frederic D. Huntington Forum magazine, 1890
It's an entire chapter of harsh truths for the lukewarm Christian (aka me)
I can't post many notes without posting the entire stinking chapter (and thus running into copyright issues I'm sure...) Fair to say, Francis makes a giant list of characteristics of a lukewarm Christian and just about all of them hit a little too close to home. He talks about how Jesus talked in parables so the people who WANTED to hear it would get it and those who were only half-hearted wouldn't understand what he was talking about. Jesus didn't have time for the half-interested, "The fact is, He just wasn't interested in those who fake it."
"Lukewarm people are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for ‘extreme’ Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call ‘radical’ what Jesus expected of all his followers."
But doesn't this always happen? We hear a great speaker or read an amazing passage that reminds us (and guilts us) to not live a lukewarm life. And we say "amen"! I'm going to make some changes in my life! I'm tried of living like this! And then......nothing. Monday comes a long and it's business as usual
How in the world do we stop talking and start doing!?
I love Craig Ferguson. If you don't know what is, do you remember the Drew Carey show? He was his Scottish boss. Well he's hilarious. Potty mouth but hilarious. Anyway, last night on his Late Night talk show he did an entire show about Black History month with the AMAZING Dr Cornel West (quite possibly the smartest man alive). I must say huge props to Craigy Ferg who as a Scottish national takes his America citizenship so seriously he takes an entire day to NOT do corny jokes and interview boring celebrities but instead uses his resources to hold an honest discussion about some of the darkest times in American history
Wow where am I going with this? Well when asked over and over how do we move past the wounds created by our ancestors Dr. West said one thing over and over. Courage. Courage to move on from past mistakes. Courage to love one another regardless of our differences. Courage to love one another in spite of how others will see it. And I first I thought "that's a cheesy, flowery, answer". Courage isn't an actual act to help cure intolerance. But the more I thought the more I realized...he's right. Whatever act you choose to take to counteract intolerance...it took courage. It took the guts to get up and just do it.
That's how we stop being lukewarm. Courage. Have the courage to just do it! Have the courage to live a CRAZY God-like love no matter how "radical" or "extreme" the world will call you (and more importantly how weird other comfortable Christians will call you). Just do it!
Francis has a great illustration about when he wanted to join the Marines:
"When I was in high school, I seriously considered joining the Marines; this was when they first came out with commercials for “the few, the proud, the Marines.” What turned me off was that in those advertisements, everyone was always running. Always. And I hate running.
But you know what? I didn’t bother to ask if they would modify the rules for me so I could run less, and maybe also do fewer push-ups. That would’ve been pointless and stupid, and I knew it. Everyone knows that if you sign up for the Marines, you have to do whatever they tell you. They own you.
Somehow this realization does not cross over to our thinking about the Christian life. Jesus didn’t say that if you wanted to follow Him you could do it in a lukewarm manner. He said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”
God give me the courage to just do it. Let me love you with a crazy love.
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1 comment:
I had to stop reading this chapter. It struck to my very core. The part where Francis Chan described lukewarm people as "rarely sharing their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion." Then he goes and quotes Matt. 10:32-33. I'm a lukewarm Christian and Jesus wants to spit me out. What holds me back from being "radical"? Pride, getting my feelings hurt, scared??? I'm tired of it and need to step up to the plate.
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