Half-Cooked Christianity?

One of the challenges that many of us face as Christians is over exposure to under-developed Christianity. That is, we’ve heard the basic truths of Christianity our whole lives and without zealous examples of these truths many of us have adopted a sort of half-cooked Christianity. One writer put it this way, “too many people have been inoculated with small doses of Christianity that keep them from catching the real thing.” The evidence that this is true can be found in many congregations when a high school student, or middle-age couple or successful career man starts to take their faith more seriously, living it out by serving the poor or witnessing to friends or reading serious works of theology (gasp!).

One of the ways we often try to deal with these sorts of people is to suggest that they become pastors, priests, or full-time church workers. This sort of thinking can prevent us from acknowledging the reality that all Christians are called to be committed to their faith, that all Christians are to serve Christ in the Church and in the world, and that all Christians are called to integrate their faith with every aspect of their lives. If we can continue to perpetuate the illusion that real commitment is limited to a handful of special people we can avoid having to be committed ourselves. This type of thinking has become normative in many Christian circles and has contributed to the weakening of the Church for centuries.  

The Christian man or woman, whether priest or plumber, in retirement or in the midst of a career, married or single, parent or not, receives the same calling from God. We are all called to follow Christ, to grow in Christ-like character, and to contribute to the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Of course, while we all share this same basic calling, our particular ways of living out this calling will be as unique and varied as there are individuals.

Live the call!