Every time we turn around there’s a new book/pastor/church/sermon/bible study/seminar or conference telling us that we are wholly inadequate in our commitment to Christ.
The formula is always the same:
- Talk about how Jesus was this insanely committed guy who lived his life on the brink of starvation and death to help others.
- Highlight how we American Christians are fat, lazy, shallowly committed and innately self-centered.
- Heighten awareness by finding stories about Christians (usually in third world or persecuted countries) that are not fat, lazy and shallowly committed and who live insanely committed lives on 3 cents a day and risk death to help others.
- Round out your thoughts by implying that “If you were really committed to Christ you would…” __________ (give more money), ___________ (serve more), __________ (live more radically), _____________ (believe more fervently), and ___________ (visit dangerous places) just like Jesus and these other people around the world.
Who wouldn’t feel fat, lazy, shallowly committed and innately self-centered after being bludgeoned by that?
The problem is American Christians eat this stuff up, and it has nothing to do with Jesus; it’s all about the formula.
Imagine you became a little league baseball coach and were tasked with taking over a team of fourth-graders and turning them into MLB superstars. What would you say to them to motivate them?
My hunch is you’d be tempted to…
- Talk about how A-Rod and Derek Jeter are these insanely committed guys who live their lives totally devoted to baseball.
- Highlight how American fourth graders are fat, lazy, shallowly committed and innately self-centered.
- Heighten awareness by finding stories about fourth-graders (usually in Cuba) who eat, drink and breath baseball 24/7.
- Round out your thoughts by implying that “If you were really committed to baseball you would…” ______________ (throw the ball more), ______________ (go to the batting cage 3x’s as often), and ______________ (bug your parents to hire a personal trainer), just like A-Rod and Derek Jeter and all those kids in Cuba who would love to trade places with you.
And the fourth graders would eat it up.
But would they actually get any better because of it?
Of course not.
Why?
