Welcome everyone to Deeper Waters where we are diving into the ocean of truth! Lately, we’ve been examining the Christian church and considering sound bites that are used in the culture of the American church. While we have often dealt with slogans, tonight, I’d kind of like to deal with an attitude prevalent in the church. That is what I think of as super spirituality.
My current church is an exception, but I know a lot of churches can refer to me as “brother” and yet, they are so often not there. I am thinking right now in contrast of a kind lady whose helped my wife and I out and yet has never met us and as I thanked her she said “We’re all brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s good to help out.”
Now that is the real attitude I think we should have. However, we can often say “Well brother, I’ll be praying for you.” I’d really like us to consider something like this. How many of us when we say something like that actually do pray about that person that we said we would?
Spirituality too often is not about lifting God up, but lifting ourselves up. How many times can we want to flaunt our spirituality before others. Greg Koukl has talked about the Christian who says “I was thinking about you during my third prayer time today” or “You were in my mind while I was memorizing Jeremiah.”
Of course, when this comes to a personal weakness, we often don’t want to show that. Why? Well that wouldn’t be spiritual. A true Christian cannot be depressed. (And if you are one who has said this, shame on you for causing further pain to one who is already suffering) True Christians should have constant happiness.
We say this while our Lord was described as a man of sorrows familiar with suffering.
Christian. It’s okay to suffer. It’s also okay to be upset with God. You want proof? Go to that book of the Bible called Psalms and look at how the Psalmist talks to God. Go read the book of Jeremiah and note the complaints that Jeremiah gives to God. These people were bluntly honest with what they were going through before God.
Something else to consider. How many times do you see someone share something in them that they are struggling with and you look at them afterwards and think “I really have a lot more respect for them now.”? Hence, I have a blog on here about Obama, Socialism, and my story. This was to let my readers know that I too bleed. I say that not to lift myself up, but I think some people reading this blog could view me in a leadership capacity and I want them to know that while they admire me perhaps, that I have many struggles as well and my wife can tell you I have a lot to work on.
Don’t put up a facade please, and I say this to myself as well. Be real. The kingdom is not about building you up. The kingdom is about bringing Christ glory.
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