When Gideon thinned out his frightened and indifferent soldiers,
he discovered that only one out of one hundred was brave enough and really
meant business. The indifference within the ranks of church members is still far
more destructive to the work of the Lord than all the organized forces of sin attacking
the church from the outside.
Dr. Charles Stanley’s book, called Confronting Casual Christianity, contained this quote:
Dr. Charles Stanley’s book, called Confronting Casual Christianity, contained this quote:
“Apathy and complacency are hydra-headed sins which are an
affront to God Almighty-The severest sin of Christians is a numbing lack of
concern, an anesthetized attitude of ‘I don’t care. I’m in the fold. Why should
I concern myself? I have a fire insurance policy against hell.’ Apathy,
complacency, indifference, spiritual drowsiness and insensitivity are lulling
the church of the Lord Jesus Christ to sleep.”
In the book, Counter Culture, the author challenges us that Christ hasn’t called us “to quietly sit and watch evolving cultural trends and not to subtly shift our views amid changing cultural tides, but to courageously share and show our convictions through what we say and how we live, even (or especially) when those convictions contradict the popular positions of our day. We are called to be courageous Christians and not casual ones. May we not sin through silence. May we realize that not to speak is to speak. Ultimately, may it be said of us that we not only held firm to the gospel, but that we spoke clearly with the gospel to the most pressing issues of our day.”
Casual Christians are those folks who use the
local church when it is beneficial to them. They come to church only for
special occasions, such as weddings, funerals, softball season, Easter, and
Christmas. Their contributions are never physical or financial, but they criticize
everything the church does or doesn’t do. Their walk with God is not really
important and they are uncomfortable when challenged. Their hearts have layers
of hardness after years of living in a lukewarm experience with God. The
Laodicean church in the Book of Revelation identifies these church members as not
hot nor cold, they are lukewarm. They believe the doctrines of the faith or are
not opposed to evangelizing the world, but they are indifferent to Him and to
those things He values as vitally important to the ministry of the church as a
whole.
In the book, Counter Culture, the author challenges us that Christ hasn’t called us “to quietly sit and watch evolving cultural trends and not to subtly shift our views amid changing cultural tides, but to courageously share and show our convictions through what we say and how we live, even (or especially) when those convictions contradict the popular positions of our day. We are called to be courageous Christians and not casual ones. May we not sin through silence. May we realize that not to speak is to speak. Ultimately, may it be said of us that we not only held firm to the gospel, but that we spoke clearly with the gospel to the most pressing issues of our day.”
If what 1 Peter 4:17 indicates is true, then “it
is time for judgment to begin at the household of God.” If that judgement would
begin today is there enough evidence to support your case as a believer and
someone who loves the church as much as Jesus did?
Church is always a place where everyone is welcome, but never a place where anyone is allowed to become casual in their walk with the Lord. If Paul prayed that he would not become a castaway, so should you and I. The only way the church can really die is if we don’t do our part. Take the dagger out of your hands and let God be God in your life. Let the church be the church!
Church is always a place where everyone is welcome, but never a place where anyone is allowed to become casual in their walk with the Lord. If Paul prayed that he would not become a castaway, so should you and I. The only way the church can really die is if we don’t do our part. Take the dagger out of your hands and let God be God in your life. Let the church be the church!
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