FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Today's entry may upset the apple cart, but that is not my intention.  My intention is simply to cause us to stop and think about something that is alarming in modern day Christianity.  I have noticed an exponential increase in different kinds of ministries "for Christ".  For example, I recently read of Bikers for Christ, Horsemen for Christ, Cowboy Churches, Racers for Christ, etc.

It seems to me that all we are doing these days is adding Jesus to our lifestyles, as opposed to allowing Jesus to transform our lives.  You may disagree, but this is my blog so I get to state my opinion.  The problem with this approach to "ministry" is that I believe it sends the wrong message to the people being "reached."  The message is this: "you don't need to follow Jesus, we'll let Jesus follow you; you don't need to change; we'll change Jesus."

There are several problems inherent to this approach.  First, it doesn't bring the person into full submission to Jesus.  It allows the person to continue his lifestyle, good or bad, while just adding Jesus to his life.  Jesus is simply seen as "fire insurance", not the Sovereign King of the Universe and my life.

Second, this approach leads to an "anything goes" brand of so-called Christianity.  There is no submission to the authority of Jesus Christ in one's life.  For example, should a person who receives Christ as a race car driver make Sunday race day or the Lord's Day?  Should we try to fit Christ into our schedules and lifestyles or should we conform to His schedule and His lifestyle?

I understand this may seem radical.  But isn't Christianity radical?  Isn't the Bible radical compared to the world system?  Maybe the real issue for all of us is this:  Who's in charge in my life?  Am I submitting to Christ or I am I asking Christ to submit to me?  Am I following Christ, or am I asking Christ to follow me?

Shouldn't we all be submitting to Christ?  Shouldn't the pro football player make Sunday the Lord's day as much as the banker?  That's pretty radical, isn't it?  Not if we start with the Bible and then think about how we should live in this world.  If we start with the world and then think about how to live out the Bible it is very radical.

Think with me, though, for just a moment.  If we started with a Bible and we were able to start our own world and our own society and culture from scratch with the Bible as our only guide, what would Sunday be like?  It would be a day set aside only for worshipping the Lord.  That's it.  That is the only conclusion you could come to after reading the Bible, Old or New Testament.  So, how did we get to the point in Christianity in which ministries (i.e., ministers, Christians), not the world, are leading the way in taking the emphasis off of following Christ and submitting to Christ?  This would be understandable if the charge was being led by those who didn't know Christ, but it is being led by those who name the name of Christ.  That's just my two cents.