"He's all hat and no cattle."
"She talks the talk, but fails to walk they walk."
"What a wannabe."
Aren't cliches wonderful? Despite being overused (hence the name) these platitudes are also accurate. We all know someone like this. Full of themselves, or advice for you, but they don't do anything. They are brilliant in their own estimation, and they know you better than you. Maybe they aren't jerks about it, maybe they just make promises they never keep, or claim to be something they never actually act like.
There. That's the one. People who claim to be Christians, yet never actually act like one. I know you know this kind of person, because between 75 and 90 % of Americans claim to be Chrisitian. So many surveys and studies have been done to get to this figure over the years, and they all point to the idea that America is a Christian nation. And other cultures have that same view of America as a Christian nation. So, what's the problem?
My friend Rebecca just returned from a trip to Southeast Asia. She was relating some of the things they encountered in this culture, and this one really stuck out to me.
-- Many students there explain that they equate America as a "Christian nation" where they think every person is a Christian. They combine this with the fact that they have never heard the story of Jesus, and think that perhaps following Jesus is just a cultural thing. (Add to this that many students think that our lives in "Christian" America resemble what they see in "Friends" or "Sex in the City" or some other Hollywood portrayal. That makes things confusing for sure!) Pray that they will latch onto the truth that God, their Creator, so loved the whole world, and wants them to be in relationship with Him. Pray for the bold and important witness of believers from this area to share the Truth with their own people. (emphasis mine)
Now, I love the show Friends, but if people think that's what a Christian should act like, we have royally screwed up. Let's put aside the question of the sins they commit- lying, sleeping around, etc. Just look at attitudes. Selfishness, pride, arrogance- are these the attitudes of Christ? The point I'm trying to make is that America seems to want it both ways- to be a Christian nation but not act like it.
And the blame lies not with Hollywood, but with you and me.
For too long, you and I have said, "Yes, I'm a Christian." But we have looked the other way when someone 'less than desirable' asks our help. We have chosen what we want over what another needs- physically, financially, and emotionally. We have failed to put forth our best effort in our relationship with God and with others. We have tried to fit God into our life rather than our life into God.
We claim to have faith, but show no deeds. Or, maybe, we show poorly attempted deeds.
The book of James, chapter 2 spends about twelve verses telling us why its bad to claim faith, but do nothing. He begins by talking about seeing a person poorly clothed and malnourished. It's clear that James is saying we see this, and feel bad for the person, but we instead tell them to keep warm and well fed. I'm not sure if this is just some formulaic salutation given, or the person is 'giving advice.' Either way, it speaks to the fact that we know (by faith) what needs to be done, but we don't do it. Verse 17 says, "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Then, James says that there are those who believe there is one God. I'd argue that is why so many Americans say they are Christian- they believe in the Judeo-Christian God. But it IS mostly cultural, I'd argue. And that even speaks to large numbers of regular church-goers. James' response is that even the demons (the most evil and despised creatures in all existence, next to Satan) believe that. And they shudder. Demons believe in God, and they react. Do you?
James then goes on to explain, via Abraham and Rahab, that faith is made clear by the actions taken out of that faith. They believed God, then did what He asked. It seems so simple. He concludes the chapter in verse 26 with "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
Isn't that what we Christians are when we talk a good game, but never actually do anything?
We say nice things, things that sound pleasing to people, or challenging to people, but we never actually apply what we say, or what we claim to believe. Our 'faith' is "Spirit Free." Like a dead body. Or a Spirit Free Daiquiri (which, let's face it, is a smoothie).
I don't want you to think this means if we never do anything, we're not really Christians. I believe the Bible is very clear that "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Galatians 2:8-9) If this is the case for you, then your eternity is locked down. Why then is it so important that our deeds match our faith?
Because not everyone's eternity IS locked down. And we may be the only Jesus they see. If we are Spirit Free Daiquiri People, all they will get is the watered down, sweet but empty words of a cultural religion, and none of the good stuff.
And unlike the rum in the Daiquiri, the 'good stuff ' of a true relationship with Christ is lasting.
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