It's Madness!

Christians are supposed to be different. What does that mean? Well, Scripture is chock full of verses that tell us we should be light in a dark world, that we should not be like the world. We are ambassadors for Christ and, as Christ was hated by the world, we will and should (if we truly imitate Christ) be hated by some as well. Not a very appealing prospect, is it? Who wants that? But here's the crazy part, the world knows things are a mess. Stand in any checkout line, ride any bus, spend any time at all where people have time and inclination to converse, and you will find someone complaining about the state of affairs. And there will be someone right near them complaining about the uber-morality of Christians causing the problem. The world blames that mess on Christ! The Holy One, the One who died that sin might be done away with, the One who said Love your neighbor as yourself. And if that isn't the worst of it, many Christians are striving to be like the world, to "fit in" to that absurdity!

In Psalm 84:10, the psalmist declares, I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. The Cambridge Bible says the sense here is, 'I had rather perform the humblest service at the temple of Him who tolerates no evil (Psalm 5:4) than be entertained as a guest where wickedness makes its home.' Is that what's going on in the world today? Are Christians taking joy in being poor or unwell? Are Christians finding blessedness in servitude and meekness? I don't think so. We've got churches with light shows and smoke machines, Super Bowl parties, and motorcycles --on Sunday morning! in the name of worship! There are preachers teaching prosperity is a right and healing this side of heaven is promised, using trade journals and poetry over Scripture as their text on Sunday mornings. We've got "Bible" teachers having extramarital affairs and "changing their view" on topics Scripture clearly forbids. A longtime Christian music artist has been called on the carpet over and over for his despicable behavior on and off stage; he and his wife are now the stars of a "matchmaking reality show" in which couples live together before marriage to "see if they can find love." (Probably the most extreme example, but he doesn't stand alone in his apostacy.) Why?! Why are "Christians" trying so hard to look like a group of people who will themselves admit, are living under horrible, debauched conditions?! I had rather perform the humblest service at the temple of Him who tolerates not evil, than be entertained as a guest where wickedness makes its home.

And how does the world, this group of people living under these chaotic conditions explain it? It's God's fault. How can there be a God when things are so terrible? If Christians would show more love rather than judgment, more people might come to know God. From what I can see, many if not most Christians have either been silenced or have sold out. I'm not seeing a whole lot of this "judgment" the world is always whining about. Have you ever been accosted at Home Depot by someone screaming about hellfire? Has anyone ever condemned you for your tight pants or choice of music? And these crazy churches, preachers, teachers, and artists who have "defected" to the ways of the world are joining in the battle cry of a miserable, discontent people! They have left the temple of Him who tolerates no evil to be entertained as a guest where wickedness makes its home. What would happen if every Christians shut their mouth? or disappeared? What would happen if every church shuttered its doors? Does anyone really believe conditions would improve? Those who, from birth, have resided in the home of wickedness have not just the nerve, but the naivete to blame the One who would never tolerate such evil. None of this makes sense! 

Jesus changed the world; He was not changed by it. Likewise, we are to be salt and light. Where are His ambassadors? The presence of God --even as a lowly servant --is much better than the tent of the wicked as an honored guest. And until we as Christians believe that with our whole hearts and follow that with our whole lives, we will never be able to affirm How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of Hosts! (Psalm 84:1) and the world will not either.