Sorry for the belated post! Had some issues getting it up, but here it is :)
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Last night we had an incredible night of worship at my church in Uptown Charlotte. The Lord's presence mixed with the smoke, the music was loud enough that I couldn't hear myself sing (that alone is a blessing, because I have a horrible voice) and together we worshiped the Lord. As we sang about revival and being set-apart, they felt like tangible possibilities; I felt as if revival could be held in our hands, easily distributed around our city, seeing a visible change before my own eyes all due to the Lord's goodness. But as the music softened, the smoke faded and the conversations around me became more noticeable, doubt quickly flooded in.
We sing about wanting revival - and we do! - as long as it means we don't have to give up our weekends. We chime in together with hands lifted high saying "set us apart, set us apart" - and we like that idea - as long as we can still have our R-rated movies and Sunday afternoon beer. We want to be a nation that raises His name above all other names - but we're also going to continue to swear, because it gets our point across better that way. We want people to only see Jesus when they look at us - except we also want them to notice how great our legs look under our short dresses, and how our muscles look under this t-shirt.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2
We are a nation of luke-warm Christians. We've become obsessed with the idea of radical Christianity, without actually tasting Christ. I read an article recently by this guy named Kyle (check out his post here ) about "sexy Christianity", and he said "Our culture has high-jacked our faith, given
it a make-over, and has begun selling it for cheap". How true is this? It's become popular to be passionate, and it doesn't even matter what about. We spend our time obsessing over being "radical" and we forget that we're supposed to be radical about Christ. We drink in the books, have deep, theological discussions, pour another cup of coffee as we ponder the words of Paul, yet all we're doing is observing a culture, not becoming a part of Christ.
We scream the words "relationship" "love" and "grace" when someone tries to talk about religion, mimicking a child that doesn't get his way, insisting that we are right, and anyone who questions this is just a religion-bound pharisee. We've made "religion" into the bad guy, and with it we forsake the "rules" that we perceive, claiming we are no longer bound to anything but only called to love. Have we forgotten that we must first love Christ? That Christ calls us to live not only a life of love, but also a pure, set-apart life?
Modern day Christianity throws away purity, and clings to the world. We justify this claiming that to minister to the world we must be relevant to the world. So, we dress like the world. We listen to the same music as the world. We watch the same movies as the world. We use the same language as the world. We go the same places as the world. What makes us different? If you are calling yourself a Christian, and you are still living like you were before you were a Christian, then you haven't met Christ yet. Once you meet Christ, while still subject to sin and temptation, your life will never be the same again. Adamantly proclaiming that you're different from the world, doesn't matter unless you're living a life for Christ, in line with scripture, pursuing His heart and His kingdom.
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
My brother looks like a little punk-head. He wears the girl jeans, the beanies and has the emo hair, but he constantly impresses people because he is a gentleman and serves the Lord daily. I've seen him run ahead to hold open doors for strangers, help little old ladies down stairways, give any girl his coat if she doesn't have one, as well as praying over strangers and ministering to people that most have written off. He doesn't look like a gentleman, but within minutes of meeting him people can tell. We should be so wrapped up in Christ that we don't have to take people into the hipster coffee shop and wow them with a theological discussion in order to convince them that we're "set apart". Our life should do that - our love for Christ should do that - on it's own.
If we're set apart, we need a lifestyle that shows that we are different. Living a Godly lifestyle doesn't mean that we're cut off from others, it means that we're Christians and we're going to live like it. As Christians, we shouldn't be watching the same filthy movies as the world, not when we're called to righteousness. We have an eternal completion in Christ, so why do we turn to alcohol and cigarettes, the comfort of the world, when we're stressed? We cannot continue to claim that we want to be set apart, when in fact, we only want the title. To be set apart, we must live the part. Live as Christ as asked us to, search His scripture not for the cool verse to post on Facebook, but find out what He wants from you. Spend time in prayer, listening to His voice, then spend your days doing His will.
The Lord is asking his children to be bold and passionate about Him and about His word, and that requires so much more than just "talking" about Him. Today's church is trying to shine a light so brightly towards Christ, simply because they want their own lives to be in the dark. I refuse to join modern Christianity in masking my life in unrepentance and calling it grace. Christ's sacrifice is important enough to me to sacrifice my will for His, my desires for those that line up with scripture. I want to be set-apart, not playing the part. I want my life and my beliefs to be in line with scripture. There is so much more to the Bible than the watered down, coffee-shop version of "Jesus: The Never-ending Grace, Everyone Good Goes to Heaven if They Tried" story.
Check yourself - are you set apart or playing the part? Are you telling people about the Word, or are you living it out? There's a difference. You can have the cool instagram photos, spend your days reading theology in the coffee shop, talking about some Africa mission trip, but if the Lord doesn't have your heart then what are you doing? If we are living the same as the world, are we serving as an example for them, or are they serving as an example for us? The Bible is very clear that we are to live a set-apart life, pure and filled with love. I challenge you to figure out what God is asking of you, and that you quit playing the part and start living as though you're set-apart.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20