Comfortable Christianity

Before you get all worked up and think I’ve started the local Joel Osteen Church of Smiling, take a breath. I’m not describing comfortable in the sense of a cushy lifestyle with nice things, but comfortable like a pair of broke in jeans (sounds like a commercial). Not comfortable where you’re not feeling persecution (catching a little heat as it were); comfortable like wearing your faith on your sleeve, no matter the slings and arrows.

It amazes me (actually that’s wrong, it annoys me) how many people are comfortable in their idiocy. They walk around with their underwear hanging out, or wearing stupid t-shirts (think poopy emoji), ugly tattoos, spouting profanity, and other similar gems. We at least have to admire their total lack of self-consciousness. We should be as bold in our love of Christ, not giving a rip what anyone thinks. Even I (yes, this guy!) worry about my witness being over the top; about making those around me uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I am enough of a coward to not want to make myself uncomfortable too. Our Savior died on the cross. The Word is sharper than a two-edged sword, the cross is an offense; comfort does not enter the discussion!

Interestingly, Christians don’t (typically) offend anyone just by being Christian. Even unbelievers can be good citizens and find offense to behavior, dress, language, and such that Believers object to. Nobody has a problem with Christians until they take a stand for Jesus. That can take different forms such as witnessing or refusing to provide a service (think bakeries and weddings); perhaps in the form of a protest against abortion or homosexual rallies. People like that Christians are not going to hurt them, steal their stuff, sleep with their wives (or husbands), keep them up late at night with loud music, or flaunt scantily clad flabby bodies covered in ugly tattoos. What they don’t like is being told that their life without Jesus is a train wreck (I’m paraphrasing the Gospel here). But too bad. We’re commanded to tell them what they need to hear. Of course I’m not promoting the goal of offending the unsaved. I am promoting to unashamedly proclaim the Good News without concern for “feelings”. If the Gospel is offensive to one, they have much bigger problems than a bruised ego. We Believers should exclaim as did Thomas Clarkson did in Amazing Grace, “shame on them”.

So how do we go about realizing these objectives in a reality based scenario? The first (and I believe easiest) step is to not be part of the problem. Check yourself, before you wreck yourself (or more accurately, your witness). Get the beam (or beams) out of your eye, before you concern yourself with others. Be considerate of others; apply the Fruits of the Spirit, as you earnestly try to emulate Christ. Consider what things you may have liberty in that may cause another to stumble. Secondly, my weak attempts at humor not-withstanding, gently approach those who you may be led to witness to. Remember that new Christians (babes in Christ) can only handle spiritual “milk”, so imagine how delicate one must be with the unsaved (the unborn again?). Just as in abortion discussions, it can never be forgotten that the unborn are to be loved as much as anyone walking the streets. The unborn again are to be loved by us and not treated as hopeless causes. All the “surface flaws” may be real, but let’s be real too. If we are, then they may become very uncomfortable about being comfortable in their unsaved state.