Cussin’ Christians?

I’m not talking about disciples who drop the F__ bomb! Foul language is not my focus today. There is another way to misuse the gift of words, turning the blessings into a curse. I call it – “Bible speak.” Do you ever indulge in "Bible speak?" We sometimes avoid dealing with hard stuff, sidestep being authentic by using the Bible as a kind anesthetic drug! It is a real problem among all Believers. More than once I have been drawn into the weirdness of it in conversations that go a little like this:

“How are you, John?”
“Praise God, ‘I can do all things through Christ!’”
“Well, that’s true, but how are you?”
“Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, bless the Name.”
“Yes, of course He is, and how are you today?”
“The Lord is my Shepherd and He leads me to green pastures.”

Often it is spiritual pride that causes us to say the right things even when our lives are a mess. Who among us wants to admit that he woke up on the wrong side of the bed and mad at the world? Who likes admitting that it feels like God is a million miles away and that he feels like his prayers are bouncing off the ceiling? It’s just easier to say, "Praise the Lord, I'm trusting Jesus, holding onto His Word" which may be true enough, but when used as "Bible speak" to hide fear, doubt, or confusion, it is almost like profanity, a terrible misuse of the gift of speech and the Word of God!

Sometimes it is mistaken concepts about faith that causes people to cover up their doubts or disappointments by mindlessly quoting Scripture. They have been taught, wrongly, that admission of troubles is 'not of faith.' We can and we should strengthen ourselves by reminding ourselves of the promises we find in the Bible, but we don't have to lie to ourselves or others in the process! Getting real about life, about fears, our sins and failures is always the very first step to real change! Then, too - sometimes we just say the right things because we know, deep down inside, that those in our circle of Believing friends don't want to be troubled with our problems; preferring the bland company of the comfortable, to the messy fellowship of the committed! The superficial, light-hearted conversation that skims life surface keeps the ugly stuff from seeing the light of day. So, many of us are desperate, walking alone in the dark, wondering if we are just really bad Christians since no one else appears to be struggling with the same kind of stuff.

None other than Paul, the apostle, illustrates an authenticity in life that is my model. In a letter to a church he once led as a pastor, he wrote about a terrible time in his life and said, "I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:8-9, NLT) How unlike the happy cussin’ that is featured in so many ministry reports!

Where did we ever come up with the idea that real Christians always have 'happily ever after' endings to all their life-stories? Paul thought he was as good as dead- not a very positive note of faith, was it? Truth is, there were long stretches of terrible suffering for the cause of Christ that made his life tragic. After spending long hard years on the road, being criticized, imprisoned, and rejected - he died a martyr's death in Rome! What sustained him? I can assure you it wasn't "Bible speak." His faith went deeper than a verse he learned at camp. His life was oriented to Truth - and by the Spirit - he transcended the emotions that might have derailed him, setting his sights on serving God - come Hell or high water.

And he was transparent in the process! Look at some of the phrases he uses to describe himself or his experience:
"chief among sinners," "out of my mind to talk this way," "weak," "wretched man that I am!" Through all the trials, troubles and triumphs -- Paul realized it wasn't about him, but about the Kingdom of God and about belonging to Christ Jesus, his Lord! "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ" (Philippians 3:8, NLT) That was no idle statement, but a testimony of the way he lived. Reputation, comfort, religious heritage, wealth, home -- all worthless by comparison to the treasure of knowing Christ authentically, deeply. Paul already had set his heart on the promise of Eternal Life. He was able to look life in the eye – pain and all – because he could see past the ‘light and momentary troubles,” to the glory that was waiting for him.

I am not suggesting that the only way to authentic Christianity is to wallow in our individual or collective misery! Let's be honest - rejoicing together in our victories, weeping in our failures - leaving the world of cussin’ Christians who engage in the vanity of "Bible speak" behind us. In this kind of real fellowship, love will flourish. Instead of a phony triumphalism, we will experience intimate community that keeps us whole in a broken world. We will free the Spirit who lives in us to transform us as we really deal with sin – in us and in our world! To the glory of God!