Serious

We are serious Christians. Well, some of us are. If you're not so much, stop reading. This doesn't really pertain to you. But for those who are serious about their faith, we intend to be serious believers, followers of Jesus, serious Christians. We want to be like Jesus because, after all, that is our calling and God's purpose (Rom 8:28-29). So we go to church and we read our Bibles and we try to be good people because we all know these are good Christian traits.

I say that without a bit of sarcasm or duplicity. They are good Christian traits. And, yet, there are so many others that are absolutely, fundamentally clear in Scripture that we're not really that concerned about. Why is that?

We read, "By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35) and, yet, we don't make love for one another the primary mark of our lives. How can that be? We try to be nice, sure, but love for one another? When we can, I suppose, we do, but we're busy people with busy lives and giving up all that busy to seek the best of those around us is just too much work.

We read through the New Testament and cannot seem to count the number of "one anothers" commanded in there. Christianity at its core is first a relationship with God and second a close kinship to God's people -- a deep, ongoing work of caring for one another. Except that's too much work. We're more of the "Lone Ranger" types. We'll do this on our own. You and me, Jesus.

Scripture doesn't merely command it; it stresses it. What? Prayer. Jesus taught that we "ought always to pray and not lose heart." (Luke 11:1). Paul commanded, "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thess 5:17) Paul said, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thess 5:18) Christ repeatedly prayed and the repeated command is to pray and we can't really be bothered. Prayer meetings are mostly gone from churches because serious Christians just aren't all that into it. Men's prayer breakfasts are mostly absent because it's just not what we want to do. Pray? Well, sure, at times. Spotty at best. Certainly not like we're commanded.

The Bible makes God's Word the core of the life of the believer (e.g., Psa 119:105; Prov 30:5; Luke 11:28; Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Tim 3:16-17). And we give it a solid nod. Not a lot of solid time, maybe. Not a serious investment of effort or examination or study. But we're in favor of it. Especially when it supports what we support. Or can be made to look like it does.

Jesus wasn't vague. We call it "the Great Commission." Go and make disciples. Teach them to obey. (Matt 28:19-20) We are explicitly commissioned by our Savior to take the Gospel to everyone and to make disciples (rather than simple converts) and to teach all that Christ commanded (and the Bible is all that Christ commanded). You tell me. Just how ardent are we at that? How busy are we at taking the Gospel everywhere we go and to everyone we meet?

Just some examples of the clear instructions of Scripture about how serious believers ought to live that many believers take lightly, it seems. Now, maybe you're better than me. Maybe you're more serious than I'm describing. Maybe you are very deeply into loving fellow believers and you pursue your task of "ambassador for Christ" with a passion. Maybe you pray constantly and give thanks in everything. Maybe you read your Bible every day and seek daily to understand and embed it in your life. I commend you. Pass it on. Start with me, because I'm not nearly as good at all that as I know I need to be. It's my suspicion that a large number of us aren't.