An Armchair Christian

An Armchair Christian

If you did not really know the guy, you would assume he was an amazing athlete. He can really talk the game.  But, that’s all he is can do.  He has no real ability because he has not honed his skills or refined his reflexes.  I am guilty of this during football season. While watching my beloved Patriots, I criticize Tom Brady’s decision to throw short instead of long or  the coach’s decision to go for 2 instead of kicking the extra point.  I yell at the receiver when he drops the ball as if I could do better!  In fact, I do not have any real football skills. I have never played a minute in a competitive game.  But, we forgive an armchair quarterback his delusions as long as he is not too obnoxious, right?

A more serious issue is what I’ll call the ‘armchair Christian.’  He offers up half-baked opinions on difficult Bible passages.  He critiques other Christians relentlessly. “Why doesn’t he get a grip on that gambling habit?”  “Doesn’t he understand why his wife struggles to love him?”  He knows the failings of the church and has no reluctance about pointing them out. “Our church needs more love, nobody really cares about others!”  “Nobody comes to Christ anymore around here. The pastor needs to preach more Gospel sermons.”  All the while, this same person spends no time with Scripture,  is not involved in ministry,  is blind to his own sins, and has never brought anyone into a relationship with Jesus.  It’s just all talk, an interesting diversion, not discipleship at all.  Jude warns of the danger of turning Christianity into talk:   "When these people join you in fellowship meals celebrating the love of the Lord, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are shameless in the way they care only about themselves. They are like clouds blowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much but producing nothing. They are like trees without fruit at harvest time. They are not only dead but doubly dead, for they have been pulled out by the roots. They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the dirty foam of their shameful deeds. They are wandering stars, heading for everlasting gloom and darkness." (Jude 12-13, NLT)

St. Paul urges us to ‘work out your salvation.’  No, this is not a command to save ourselves through scrupulous religiosity. That mistake is as deadly as empty talk. We are called to practical application of the truth to everyday life.  We carefully think through God’s plans,  pray for the Spirit’s power, and enter fully into the high calling of bearing the Name of Christ Jesus.  God, the Holy Spirit, enters into a partnership with us. Isn’t that amazing? He does not just point us in the right direction. He walks with us, lives in us, coaches us to maximal effectiveness.   And, in Him, we will be "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." (Ephesians 3:20, NKJV)

In this word from the Word there is a promise of real blessings for those who roll up their sleeves and become authentic disciples (followers) of Christ.  Hear and do!  "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:22-25, NKJV)

_______________

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

O my soul,

Worship His holy name.

Sing like never before,

O my soul-

I'll worship Your holy name.

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning.

It's time to sing Your song again.

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,

Let me be singing when the evening comes.

You're rich in love and You're slow to anger,

Your name is great and Your heart is kind.

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.

And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near and my time has come.

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending,

Ten thousand years and then forevermore!

    Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman

    © 2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

    Said And Done Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

    sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)