#Rethink - December 2020
#Rethink - December 2020
It's December! This month we are contemplating religious freedom, exploring the point of being a Christian, and questioning the Kingdom.
What if religious freedom isn't actually good for the church?
I've heard many people expressing concern about freedom of religion lately. They are worried about losing their freedom and independence. And while I enjoy freedom as much as anyone, I'm starting to wonder if it's really good for the church.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of suffering. I'd much rather worship in comfort and safety. But is there such a thing as too much comfort and safety? If choosing to follow Jesus actually cost something, what might change?
Well, for starters there probably wouldn't be as many false teachers peddling prosperity gospels. And celebrity pastors wouldn't be able to use the name of Jesus to amass fame and fortune. And people would only gather with other believers if they really wanted to...
Could religious freedom have made us lazy, entitled, and over-indulgent?
Would we care more about Scripture if they told us we couldn't read it?
What spirirtual riches are we missing out on because our religious lives are easy?
"In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart; I have overcome the world" John 16:33.
"If Christianity is such an inessential add-on,
why become a Christian?"
Ben Sixsmith, The Sad Irony of Celebrity Pastors
I found an article last week by accident. The headline seemed basic enough: another take on yet another celebrity pastor fired due to sexual misconduct. But the article wrecked me. The author, who identifies as non-religious, managed to nail the common problem across every flavor of modern Christianity with shocking precision.
We are focused on making this broken world work our way with a "twist of Christianity" added in for good measure. He called everyone out -- evangelicals, progressives, and celebrities all lumped together -- and wondered if we really have a faith worth following.
"I am not religious, so it is not my place to dictate to Christians what they should and should not believe. Still, if someone has a faith worth following, I feel that their beliefs should make me feel uncomfortable for not doing so. If they share 90 percent of my lifestyle and values, then there is nothing especially inspiring about them. Instead of making me want to become more like them, it looks very much as if they want to become more like me."
What have we done?
What have we become?
How is the church so blind when the world can see so clearly?
When did we lose sight of Jesus?
I'm so destroyed by this article that I wrote a blog post and did a podcast episode on it. Read the article, friends. Let it break your heart too. Oh Church, we must repent. Jesus, wake up Your bride!
"But seek first the Kingdom of God
and His righteousness..." Matthew 6:33.
How do we find the balance between being in the world but not of it? How do we stay involved with things like politics without being consumed by them? How do we seek first an invisible Kingdom that doesn't make sense?
I found myself getting pretty emotionally involved in this last election cycle, definitely more than was healthy. But when the drama continued past election night, I decided that my heart needed a break. So I stopped reading and listening to news and instead I started intentionally focusing on the spheres of my life where I actually have influence.
Friends, this world is broken. It has been broken since the fall and no matter what we do it's going to stay broken until Jesus restores it because people are broken. We love power, and money, and fame and we will do whatever it takes to keep them.
I don't think we can seek two Kingdoms at the same time. And the only one that will satisfy is the backwards, inside-out, upside-down Kingdom of Jesus Christ. The crazy one where the last are first and the first are last, where the powerful are rejected and the King washes dirty feet.
This is our moment. This is our time. Not to get caught up in politics or conspiracy theories, but to share the beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ with a broken world. What if we allowed the Holy Spirit to convict our hearts? What if we repented and agreed with God about what's important? What if we really believed in the Kingdom of Jesus?
Thanks for taking a moment to #Rethink some of our religious traditions and beliefs. I know that it can be scary to deconstruct and reconstruct our faith, but finding the Real Jesus is absolutely worth it. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, or comments.
If you know someone who would love to #rethink, please share!
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