Saturday, May 2, 2009

Why Real Christianity is Avoided Like the Plague

Let's be brutally honest about it. In Western societies many people have developed such an aversion to real Christianity that, for all practical purposes, they treat it as if it were some kind of infectious disease. In case you haven't guessed it, by "real Christianity" I'm referring to the kind of Christianity which seriously seeks to understand and submit to the Scriptures, not the nonsense which often passes for Christianity, such as the liberal, non-committal type or the sensational hype.

Why is this the case? As long as people are convinced that they only need to be "nice" to others, that they only need to do more good than bad, and that it really doesn't matter what they believe or if they are committed to anything in particular, they will naturally suppose that they are in good standing with the Creator, and that things will hopefully go well for them in eternity. This being the case, why would they want to get involved in something that demands effort, hard work, stress, and sacrifice, especially if they feel its optional, and that they already have enough of these kinds of things in their lives as it is? What would be the point?

Christianity, however, teaches that this kind of thinking is unacceptable, and that it places people in the worst kind of danger (click here to read about this). Since its so defining for many people's lives, though, anything which challenges it obviously presents a problem, one which is simply too repugnant for some to even contemplate.

Does this mean I'm any better than my neighbor who apparently couldn't care less about Christianity and apparently is satisfied with living apart from God? Let me put it this way. If I had a cure for cancer, I would want to make it available to others, even if those who had cancer were oblivious to their own condition. Since the message of Christianity is infinitely more valuable than a cure for cancer, would it not be desirable to make it available to others as well?

The reason for all the effort, hard work, stress, and sacrifice, then, is not to "win any points" with the Creator or to lay claim to a supposed superiority over others, but rather to promote and to make available a message that is infinitely more valuable than a cure to a dreaded disease. Although its strong medicine to those who need it, its the only remedy for our greatest need, and I see no point in promoting candy-coated imitations which only promote a false sense of security.