Can you be a biblical Christian anymore?
I know that sounds really bizarre to say. But lately I have become so unhappy with my own spiritual journey - mainly because I just feel SO busy all the time. I am tired. I think about God so much less than He deserves. And I KNOW my behavior has slipped alot since my early days as a disciple. I am just mentally weary. I have a hobby or two that I flee to sometimes after work because I feel I could just use a little bit of a good time, you know? I suppose I give them too much time some days (and I KNOW the TV gets way too much of my time) but I think I am beginning to think it is more than that.
It isn't just that I am busy earning a living in a new field (and having to start taking 24 credits of classes to maintian my standard credential - ouch!) and have 3 kids and a house and 2 cars to take care of. I think I have become complacent in my faith. I SAY I want to grow spiritually but I guess I don't really want to as much as I say I do. After all, if it really was that important to me, I would find a way to make it happen. I used to!
Now, I am just prone to settle and soothe my conscience by midly chiding myself that I need to get going and stop playing games with God (which I have always loathed).
And I begin to wonder. Is our culture SO consuming, so materialistic, so hostile to genuine discipleship that its almost impossible to be a biblical Christian anymore? I certainly hope not -but American materialism and the American dream are powerful drugs that are SO easy to be addicted to. Most people I know are addicted to materialism in some way (they may dress it up in funny clothes to feel good about it but it is still there). Maybe the monastic movement pegged it correctly. If we only spend 80 or so years in this world and the rest in eternity then why should it matter that we have a big house, 3 cars, fat bank accounts and investments and TONS of stuff crammed into our closets and shelves. None of it matters. It will all burn or fall apart - no one has a Uhaul behind their hearse! Why aren't our pastor's preaching about this much anymore? They seem resigned that this is the way things are so they have to work around it as best as they can. And while it's certainly not their fault, it sure would be nice if they would "afflict the comfortable" a little more often!
Anyone have any land for a commune??? :o)
It isn't just that I am busy earning a living in a new field (and having to start taking 24 credits of classes to maintian my standard credential - ouch!) and have 3 kids and a house and 2 cars to take care of. I think I have become complacent in my faith. I SAY I want to grow spiritually but I guess I don't really want to as much as I say I do. After all, if it really was that important to me, I would find a way to make it happen. I used to!
Now, I am just prone to settle and soothe my conscience by midly chiding myself that I need to get going and stop playing games with God (which I have always loathed).
And I begin to wonder. Is our culture SO consuming, so materialistic, so hostile to genuine discipleship that its almost impossible to be a biblical Christian anymore? I certainly hope not -but American materialism and the American dream are powerful drugs that are SO easy to be addicted to. Most people I know are addicted to materialism in some way (they may dress it up in funny clothes to feel good about it but it is still there). Maybe the monastic movement pegged it correctly. If we only spend 80 or so years in this world and the rest in eternity then why should it matter that we have a big house, 3 cars, fat bank accounts and investments and TONS of stuff crammed into our closets and shelves. None of it matters. It will all burn or fall apart - no one has a Uhaul behind their hearse! Why aren't our pastor's preaching about this much anymore? They seem resigned that this is the way things are so they have to work around it as best as they can. And while it's certainly not their fault, it sure would be nice if they would "afflict the comfortable" a little more often!
Anyone have any land for a commune??? :o)
posted by Eric | 6:09 PM
2 Comments:
It all makes sense if there is no God and no afterlife.
Rather the reverse! Nothing makes sense if there is no creator. IF there were no God and no afterlife, most people would NEVER pursue such things - it just wouldn't occur to them - after all, they would be scrabbling to try to stay on top of the natural selection curve. Spirituality really has little use in evolutionary terms.
Yet, why do SO many hundreds of millions of people throughout human history seek such things?
Because there IS an afterlife and a Creator - and deep down inside we all sense it - though we may want to deny it or become confused by it.
That truth, that reality is the best explanation for mankind's continued search for spirituality - for our innate sense that this world is NOT all that there is. There IS something more. Atheism and evolutionary explanations certainly don't make sense nor do they satisfy the craving in our souls.
Post a Comment
<< Home