Serious Christianity

Our lives have been plunged into the treacherous waters of uncertainty and fear. We cannot feel as safe as we once assumed ourselves to be. Unthinkable things continue to happen….airliners transformed to missiles, deadly germs sent by the mail, bombs set off in markets and restaurants, snipers randomly shooting humans like ducks at the county fair. In addition we have the imminent threat of war. But on how many fronts will we have to fight? Where will we obtain the fighting forces? Are we looking at the reinstitution of conscription? And then there is the economy - savings lost, jobs in jeopardy. Americans have been severely jolted. A smooth pleasant flight has become an uncertain white-knuckle experience of severe turbulence.

During such seasons of fear and uncertainty our natural God-consciousness is summoned to alert. Clear air enables us to imagine ourselves in control. Severe storms shake us back into the reality that such is never the case. Now we want reassurances that God really is on our side. And numerous religious leaders and churches are ready to give away that reassurance like Dramamine on a bad flight. But is it true? On what objective basis do such assurances rest? If God is completely on our side, why have these lightening bolts struck us and why do they continue to flash? Does not God control storms and nations and people and events? Yes, He does! Then as our lives are being tossed about and a safe landing is not so certain, how can we be confident that God is for us?

Too much modern religion is recklessly superficial. Insincere worshippers simply want psychological comfort even if it is nothing more than empty words. It enables them to forget the danger for a while and return to their fun. Too many religious leaders are ready to dispense this comfort with an air of absolute certainty, despite many words from God which place big question marks over the reliability of the comfort pills they are handing out.

Friends, there is such a thing as real sin which offends the real God and moves Him to act in real judgment! God is surely big enough and wise enough to bring much good out of these present troubles and is unquestionably doing so for many; yet, these troubles are not in themselves blessings. They bear the marks of divine rebukes, if not judgments. If that is indeed the case, they will not go away until we repent or are utterly devastated. Comfort pills may settle our tummies but that is of little good if the plane crashes.

We need serious encounters with God, with His word, and with the true state of our souls. I implore you to find churches which will take you into the Bible as a whole, reasonable, congruent document. Find helpers who will dispense more than trite clichés but will instead enable you to know the God who is a consuming fire yet is reconciled to sinners through Jesus Christ. Find pastors who will give you sound objective ground for hope with God instead of sugar pills without substance.