The things I do not understand in this world could very possibly fill the Grand Canyon to capacity (while others would likely say they would cause it to overflow!). I do not even attempt to claim I have a grasp on many matters of culture, entertainment, fashion, finance, politics, etc. But my ignorance in those areas I can accept. Sure I can do better but my ignorance in those matters touches nothing spiritual or eternal.
The sad reality of my ignorance, though, is that as a man born into a Christian home, raised around Christian people, was trained to work around Christians, and call some of my greatest friends Christians is that there are some things about some Christians I simply do not understand. Yes, I know I am not perfect and I have my faults as much as others. But I’ve tried to think, rationalize, and reason about these things and for the life of me I cannot find a satisfactory answer to any of them:
- I do not understand Christians who complain about the lack of interest some young people have in Christianity while they have done nothing to instill an interest in those young people, nor have they displayed any particular interest in Christianity themselves. It is hypocritical to the core, for instance, to complain about young people being inactive in the church when they have themselves shown nothing but utter inaction. When our young people hear adult Christians (particularly their parents) complain about the length of Vacation Bible School and Gospel Meetings, the number of congregational activities youth or not, the length of sermons, and any other number of things people do complain about they naturally develop an indifferent attitude toward Christianity. When adults don’t take Christianity seriously how in the world can we expect our young people to take Christianity seriously? Instead of griping about the state of our young people and what’s expected of us as Christians, maybe we need to pay closer attention to our own commitment and allow it to lead our young people to greater devotion themselves.
- I do not understand the fear that straps many congregations from stepping out and doing what is right regardless of what has been done in the past. I understand that there are certain traditions (traditions that have no bearing in scripture) that have come to define us as churches of Christ. They perhaps are traditions that have served us very well for a very long time. But they are likewise traditions, as all traditions have, whose time has come to end. I tire of hearing good ideas shut down by people who say, “I know there isn’t anything wrong with it, but…” And the sad reality is that these statements are usually made by people whose greatest concern is what other people think. They’re not as concerned with what they could potentially do as much as what other congregations might say or what certain members might think. Real leaders cannot afford to pander. They have to lead. They must do it God’s way. But they must do what is right for their congregations and care little to none of what people far more narrow-minded than God think about it.
- I do not understand Christians who love to fight. Now, before someone jumps to a faulty conclusion and slams me for what I’ve just said I am not saying that at times we don’t have to fight. I know Jude 3 is in the Bible and I believe it. When I need to fight I will fight to defend God, His word, and His church. But fighting isn’t something that we should enjoy. And it certainly should not be how we are known as Christians. I know brethren who love to fight. It’s like they lie awake at night wondering who they can talk badly about and attack next. When they do go to sleep sometimes I think they dream sweet dreams about fighting with other brethren. All I ever see out of them as Christians is fighting. There is something wrong with that picture. When we have to engage in battle as Christians we should do it with the sobriety of mind that the only battles we have the right to fight are with those who are truly in opposition to God (not just in opposition to our opinions) and that it should be a matter that has eternal implications. If those criteria are met then, yes, fight but do not fight to win a personal battle, fight to win a soul for God. And when the fight is over, let it be over and move on to be a peacemaker for God (Matthew 5:9). But if I am constantly engaged in fighting with others maybe I need to spend more time looking at the substance of my life more so than the lives of others.
- I do not understand underachieving Christians. I have never been able to stomach hearing a Christian say, “Do I have to…?” “Why do I have to…?” or “How much do I have to…?” When did we develop the idea that Christianity is about doing the bare minimum? And how did we come to believe that it is even going to be possible to “squeeze through the gates of heaven just before they eternally slam shut”? Christianity isn’t about how much we do, it is about the attitude we bring to doing it. A true servant didn’t stop serving when they tired of serving. They served at the pleasure of their master and gladly did everything they possibly could to satisfy his/her every desire. Have you ever stopped to think of what our lives would be like if Christ was an underachieving servant. How much differently would the Bible read? What a different perspective we would have about Jesus! But Jesus wasn’t an underachiever. He went above and beyond in serving us. So how do you think Jesus feels when we in return are only willing to give Him as little of our lives, our time, our money, or our efforts as possible. It’s like a child annoyed by the watchful eye of their parents who thinks, “What do I have to do to get them to shut up?” I truly believe that’s the attitude that many people bring to their Christianity. They want the blessings associated with Christianity, but when it comes to them serving God the way they approach it is, “What do I have to do to shut Him (God) up?” God help us if that is the attitude that carries us through life and the attitude that carries us to the judgment.
There are many other things about some Christians I do not understand. In fact I could probably write for weeks on this one subject alone. But I don’t necessarily write these things to offer condemnation. I want us to think about what attitudes we are bringing to our faith. Because the attitudes that we bring to our faith not only impact our lives, they are what other people see as a reflection of faith and will largely be the convincing agent to them as to whether they are interested in pursuing it or not. Let’s be the types of Christians who draw people to Christ and Christianity, not those who divert them away. Let’s be Christians.
-Andy Brewer
Another great article. I think your questions are spot on. One thing that has always bothered me and more so in the past few years when experiences have touched my life specifically is why we don’t do more community outreach? I see and hear of those I know who attended specific denominational congregations who go as a group to soup kitchens, who help in addiction and rehabilitation outreaches. These are just two examples, and I don’t by ANY means say there are not those who do these things, but I just don’t know of many of our congregations around here that do these as a group and especially getting the youth involved. The story of the good Samaritan jumps into my mind. Others who should have stopped walked around to avoid the situation and the one who would have been expected to walk around is the very one who actually stopped to help. We are living in a hurting world, our children, my Grandchild is experiencing and seeing things if you had told me 20 years ago would happen, I would say no way. If we don’t get out children, excited over being in love with Jesus Christ, if we don’t get them involved in service outside our comfort zones, I don’t know, I just think the future will look a lot dimmer and the hope of a new generation of God’s people ready to stand and take up the fight that is surely to come….that is just my opinion…thanks for the article
Phyllis, that is exactly right. We have become afraid of doing anything that a denomination may be doing because we don’t want to appear “denominational.” There are obviously a great many things that the denominations have wrong, but I’m afraid the church is falling behind in a great number of good works merely because the denominations have beat us to them.
Andy, I too have thought of these issues. You did a great job in bringing attention to them. It should not be hard to just “DO WHAT IS RIGHT” in all you do.
Good article Andy. I’ve seen local “traditions” hurt the church for years. I refer to some as Pharisee-like leaders in a particular congregations spend time looking for something that doesn’t fit “their” belief system. I worshiped at a local COC for 20 yrs and out of the blue sky one recent Sunday they announced from the pulpit that those serving on the Lords table should “dress more appropriately” and later scorned a great song leader for wearing leather sandals to lead singing in. Many of was like…”Really???” – What did Jesus wear?? (I don’t think anyone was wearing a tie during the last supper either.) I saw many folks cringe that day and some left and never returned. But ‘traditional views’ have always existed in many churches – regardless of name on the sign over the door. Some folks just miss the reason we are here and they make their ‘religion’ their faith – and that’s it. This and a few other reasons is why we are seeing small groups come together and form their own church – they are tired of ‘current day pharisees’.
Great article Andy!