Christ’s genuine invitation is to come to the cross and die; and then receive full life. But this is not what we want to hear, nor is it what is pitched as the good news. Instead, we often sell and buy a Jesus who can fix us up and make us better; and it won’t cost us much at all.
The salvation ticket is a simple “yes” to Jesus; pre-punched and prepaid at the cross. Heaven awaits. Rest easy now because Jesus has done the heavy lifting. Jesus paid it all, and has even “paid it forward”. Better yet, Jesus loves all of us – just as we are.
Easy Christianity; cheap Jesus; faith light. This powerless form of faith is bought “on sale”, for what we are willing to pay without much sacrifice. This fits our tight faith budget. It’s kind of like giving what is left and the end of the month after the bills are paid. It certainly seems a good deal in exchange for a ticket to heaven.
A casualty of “faith light” is the effect that it can have upon those whose desire for God has been quickened by the Spirit. Drawn to Jesus, they want to believe the promises of God, and they look closely at the lives and hearts of churchgoers for evidence. This leaves many to conclude there lies a lie. Are the promises of the gospel a lie, or are the lives of those members who “practice faith” in a lie?
Traditional evangelism believes that if we get a person “in church”, the church is equipped to bring its members to a life of faithful obedience and growth in Christ. Our credibility is greatly compromised by faith that says “yes” to Jesus as savior, but “not yet” to Jesus as Lord. When most church members are stuck at “Jesus as Savior”, immaturity reigns and spiritual reproduction becomes rare.
Such is the condition of Western Christianity. Need evidence? Less than 5% of the youngest generation is predicted to find a life of Christian faith.
Some questions that deserves the our serious consideration;
- Does my spiritual maturity match my years since salvation?
- What does my spiritual condition report to those who are considering a decision to follow Christ?
- What does Jesus have to say to me about my faith walk with him? How much of a difference have I allowed Jesus to make?
“The glory of God is man fully alive” – Saint Iraneus.
It is both true, and truly conditional upon a death – yours and mine – at the cross. For those of us shaped by a culture “on sale”, it’s natural to seek a bargain deal…, but that’s not the Good News offer. God tells us we must die to live, and that it is more than worth it!
Who is the living proof of this in your life?
For whom are you the living proof?
Triathalon Faith Challenge:
- A quote worth living: “To learn to be a good listener you must spend time in the classroom of silence.” If you are not yet doing it, spend at least 15 minutes in solo quiet, listening for God.
- Ask God about death, specifically yours. Have you visited the altar, as the sacrifice? What’s left, in you, unyielded, that needs to die?
- Find a way, a place, a time and a witness. For me the place is an altar at a monastery, with friends who seek to become smaller and disappear in the light of the Light. It seems that I am not finished yet, but I know how it works. Man up, suck it up, get down, really down, let go, let God have it – ALL.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) ”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
[author] [author_image timthumb='on']http://www.livebold.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/lm_thumb.png[/author_image] [author_info]Larry Malone is an officer of the World Methodist Council, and president of the WMC men’s affiliate, the World Fellowship of Methodist and Uniting Church Men. He is immediate past president of the Denominational Men’s Ministry Network of North America, and a member of the steering committee for the National Coalition of Men’s Ministries. Find out more about Larry on his Bio page here at Live Bold.[/author_info] [/author]
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