An ignorantly
chillin Christian is the one whose faith expressions are obligated attendances
to a weekly worship service of a church, daily prayers aimed to please God and
receive blessings, and a self enforced participation in Godly activities to
receive heavenly brownie golden points. Please allow me to elaborate.
If going to church makes us a Christian,
then going to a garage should make us a car is a bizarre yet humorous quote
(paraphrased)! Regular attendance to a church worship service is not salvific.
Sadly many Christians live in this quicksand belief to constantly drown
themselves and their protégés into ignorance. If a gentleman believes he is
saved by virtue of regular church attendance, then he is yet to study and
integrate God’s Word in this context. But let us be gentle with this gentleman!
Many church leaders intently dump this notion into minds only to have a full
show in their church. A packed church whose worship is an unbiblical perfunctory
performance is catastrophic. Today, a packed church is considered a spiritual
church – a juvenile thought (Cf. Matthew 18:20)! A well decorated, regular
church attendance where the body is stationed inside but mind either drifting
into unconsciousness or unmindful of worship amounts to zilch.
"Jesus did not give the Lord’s
Prayer with the intention that it would be repeated mindlessly" said R.C.
Sproul. Many fall into this sinful and mindless pothole! There are prayers
ranted and raved as a frightened ritual, as if God would pour HIS wrath if we
did not pray. Then there are prayers splitting the heavens with ocean-load of petitions
to satisfy one’s hedonistic tendencies for the present and posterity. Oh, but
let us be gentle with this group as well, for there are church leaders who
delude people with their greed-centered enticements. They play mind games with
their members through veiled threats and enticements to pray more to give more
(Cf. Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9; Galatians 6:7b)!
A few years
ago, I heard a very famous evangelist advertise for finances by prayerfully
promising donors a place in his golden tree - the more one prayerfully gives,
the higher his placement in the tree. A friend once humorously quipped that the
pastor who prayerfully preaches material-prosperity gospel is the one who
elevates into material prosperity, whereas his abundantly generous and
prayerful congregation will plunge into material obscurity!
Are prayers
meant only as rituals to receive material blessings? If your honest answer is
yes, then your Bible study needs to roll on the right track, else you will
continue your stroll deep into Christian wilderness.
Every
Christian is graciously given spiritual gift(s) (Ephesians 4:7-13 et al.)
Unfortunately many of us do not realize that the graciously given gift is to
build God’s people for works of godly service. Some assume this gracious gift
as a lottery for self-aggrandizement. They use spiritual gifts to build their
own kingdom instead of God’s, and wax eloquent about their spiritual successes.
Some serve in church programs with blinded arrogance implying God would suffer
in their absence. Their motive is to delight God with their competent service
because they are so full of themselves. In their distorted fullness, they think
their service scores heavenly golden points for a greater reward. Must we not
be foundationally involved in Christian ministry out of sincere love for God
and man?
These
spiritually gifted Christians strive to erase Luke 17:10 through their vain
boast. Instead of unworthiness and servant-hood, they proclaim sole ownership
and lordship (Cf. Matthew 20:25-27; 1 Peter 5:3). The body of Christ (church)
becomes their playground, Christians their primary victims; thus Christianity
morphs into a godless and heartless tyranny!
We live a
lie if our church attendance, our prayers, and our service to God and man are
as above. The question is, “where is our heart?”
But, this
is the truth. We regularly attend church worship to worship and glorify God in
the community of saints by sharing God’s love and grace. A church worship
encompasses preaching and practicing of the glorious “unity in diversity”, and
souls are enlightened of God’s presence and activities. Vertical (God-man) and
horizontal (man-man) relationships are strengthened in the church, and the
community of believers learns and strives to obey the commands and commission
of the Lord. The believer grows in holiness so to be presented holy and
blameless in the Father’s presence (Cf. Colossians 1:22; Jude 1:24). If our
church worship actively integrates these components, then our presence and
worship is indeed in spirit and in truth. Our heart should crave for the Lord.
Worshipping
in spirit and in truth is a 24-hour pursuit. Prayer is an integral component of
our worship. Thus, prayer is a constant endeavor (1 Thessalonians 5:17); prayer
and worship cannot be compartmentalized. We pray to glorify God (Psalms 50:15;
John 14:13) and to commune with HIM always. Prayer is an act of love, a desire
of our soul to align ourselves with God’s will for our life. We pray in all
circumstances for we (are to) love the Lord with all our life. Our heart should
yearn for the Lord and HIS will for our life.
Money is
essential for existence, but greed is sinful (Cf. Matthew 6:24; 1 Timothy 6:10;
Hebrews 13:5). Giving to a godly cause is a blessing, but giving to receive
more is business! We are not called to transact business with God. The Bible
preaches sacrificial giving (2 Corinthians 8:1-7). I shall share my thoughts on
this subject later.
Love is
foundational to serving God and man (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18 et al.).
We serve God only to glorify HIM, but as unworthy servants in utmost faith and
cognizance that HE will sustain what HE has begun in us. We serve as empty
vessels filled by the Spirit and power of God, knowing all glory and praise is
due to HIM alone. As we serve HIM and HIS people, our constant and conscious
endeavor is for us to become lesser and for HIM to become greater (John 3:30).
We serve as mere donkeys carrying our Lord Jesus in our body, which is HIS
temple. All accolades poured out are for the Master but never for the donkey (Matthew21:1-11). We serve for our heart loves God and man.
Therefore,
let us not mindlessly chill, but may we be donkeys on fire for the Lord, this
we ask in Christ’s name. Amen.
