Americans are living in an interesting time, to say the least. Maybe a more accurate way of articulating this moment is “anxiety-laced,” depressing, hopeless, angry, and, of course, delusional. This moment in time has not only divided Americans, but Christians as well.
The division of Christians today in America is heart-breaking. One would think this schism simply represents political preferences, but there is something more troublesome at the root of the schism: weak, practically non-existent discipleship.
A Lack of Discipleship
American consumerism has invaded every corner of the church. People “church shop” and “church hop,” looking for a preacher, a music program, or kid’s programs that suit their life-style. This life-style may or may not be theologically grounded.
Many American Christians are not involved in discipleship programs of any sort. They drop their kids off at Sunday School and then head for the church coffee shop and lounge area–if that. Most simply by-pass Sunday School (discipleship programs) and attend a 50-90 minute “worship service.” They want to feel better about their lives, but are unwilling to submit to or engage in a discipleship process.
Being a church-goer or a church member is not the same as being a disciple of Jesus. And now the chickens have come home to roost. The faith of many Americans has not been in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, but rather in the government, or in an economy that promises them a richer, safer way of life.
Jesus’ Better Promises
This is not a “promise” that Jesus made, and it is not at the heart of God’s salvific work. A “richer” life was measured by participation in the life of God. A “safer” life was not avoidance of hardship or disagreement, but rather a life lived without fear of death.
Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John very clearly said that to love the world is death (1 John 2:17), but that is precisely where many American churches have gone. The cross is thrown aside in favor of the “stuff” of our world (Matthew 10:17-22). Problematically, this negates the salvific power of the faith. To reject, minimize, or disregard the efficacious power of the cross, resurrection, and presence of the Spirit is to reject faith.
Faithful Discipleship in Such a Time as This
Confronted by this ugly schism, what should the ardent, faithful disciple of Jesus do?
It’s time to reset and refocus our faith. The world “woos” us; Jesus “calls” us. No matter what we may think, the world will always fail us, entrap us, and eventually take our lives. Jesus came to give us life, and that more abundantly.
To focus on Jesus resets what we believe is really important. We become satisfied with God and the love He pours into our lives. We realize that the material things in our world are transient. We realize that the unbridled pursuit of wealth is ultimately destructive.
So, let’s examine our lives, and find who or what is on the throne of our hearts. Let’s reject the consumerism that threatens to rob us of true happiness and peace. To borrow a line from Queen Esther, Christians “have been born again for such a time as this.”
Our world will not change if we do not stand up for Jesus; if we do not stand-up for the poverty-stricken citizens around the world; and if we don’t stand against unrighteousness in our own government. It will not be “easy” and our world will not change overnight, but it was for times such as this that we were called into discipleship in the Kingdom of Christ.