I remember the first time I saw it.
I was sitting in traffic at a red light when I saw the bumper sticker in front of me.
“If you died tonight, would you go to heaven or hell?”
That moment in time stood still.
I had been raised in church, often attending Sunday services, youth groups, and church camp during my summer break. I said my prayers before bed, gave money if it was convenient, I said God bless you to people, and never killed anyone. I was a good person, and I believed in God. I was convinced my seat in heaven was saved.
But after 22 years of my life in that moment everything I knew had gone out the window and I wasn’t so sure anymore.
Something changed in me that day. I was tired of being a mediocre Christian. Like most Christians I was often the one referred to as a hypocrite. News flash- were all hypocrites in some capacity, and we have room in the church for plenty more. Jesus loves the hypocrites too.
So many years of my life have been spent not praying my way to the father but wishing my way out of hell. I followed the typical be a good person, don’t kill anyone rules. Surely, I was golden. But over the last few years it’s become apparent this God thing isn’t about getting a free out-of-Hell card, it’s not even about getting to Heaven.
We were made to love God, love people and be in relationship with Him. To shine his love, serve others, make disciples, and bring his kingdom to earth as it is in Heaven. If we keep using Hell as a motivation for people to come to know Jesus then we are using it in a way Jesus never did or never intended. Our threats of hell can stir instant commitments, but it does not breed long term-disciples.
It’s quite often true that Hell has become the most popular invitation to Gods kingdom.
Why wouldn’t you recite a few words and occasionally attend church on Sunday to escape the fiery flames of eternity.
I read a book once that quoted ” we live in a day when millions of people have made a commitment to Christ and yet few lives are really transformed by his power.”
It has been said of this generation that our Christianity is a mile wide but only an inch deep. We see it in everyday life, people claiming to know God, but there is no life transforming evidence.
Just a bunch of mediocre Christians.
I am tired of being a mediocre Christian.
I prayed for a woman in the gym the other day, her calf was hurting her. I asked her if I could pray for it, and proceeded to bend down, lay my hand on the muscle causing her pain and began to pray. When I rose to my feet she was wheeping, and while she hugged me she said “no one has ever prayed for me before.”
I thought excuse me?!?! No one has ever prayed for you before?!?
If this is the case then we as Christians aren’t doing our job people. God did not create buildings called churches as holding tanks for believers. He created US the CHURCH as his hands and feet to bring Jesus to them.
Matthew 10:8 says; Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
We need to Freely give this gift of life to others.
WE are his messengers.
He tells us in scripture we will do even greater things than him!
But it’s not going to happen in the comforts of our homes, and we certainly can’t bring unchurched people into church if we don’t leave the building. We spend our lives doing the bare minimum, so we can claim our ticket to heaven and live a nice comfortable life.
We need to stop calling ourselves believers and start living as followers. At least if that is what we claim.
Most of the time the believers look pretty similar to their unbelieving neighbors.
I think it’s time to change that.
Our actions represent what we believe.
So what do your actions say about you? Where do you spend your time, your money, how do you use your gifts and talents to serve others?
I want to invite you to stop trying to obtain heaven by your own Religious efforts.
If you are tired of wondering what you’re doing and why you’re here, or if you’re sick and tired of living like a mediocre Christian, if you question your salvation the way I did when I read that bumper sticker, or desire more than a religion and some words on a page please reach out to me. I would love to talk with you.
My email is [email protected]
Better yet-get on your knees, repent, and start stepping in a new direction. He will take you just as you are, and loves you entirely too much to leave you there.
#nomoremediocrechristians
#endthemovement
