Apathy is enticing. It appeals to our base nature and draws
many into a deep slumber with its siren song. Because of how much of the church
today sees, defines and presents Christ, apathy within Christendom has become
the norm rather than the exception.
To hear some preachers describe what it means to be a
believer, one would think they are being read a script from a cringe 90’s
sitcom, where you are no more than a man-child, and Jesus is your butler, your
bellman, and your bodyguard.
Jesus takes the wheel, He opens your doors, He carries your
bags, He fights your battles, and the only thing that you're responsible for is
to tip Him 10 percent of your earnings, and maybe say thank you once in a while
if you're not too busy, or if you don't forget.
It is because we are always told that we are not responsible
for doing anything but wave a hand at a crusade that many have taken to
wallowing in spiritual infancy for decades. It is because we are told we are
peachy keen just the way we are that many are without any drive or desire to
grow, mature, or otherwise know more about the God they purport to serve than
that we celebrate His birthday in December and His resurrection in April.
He is the help. You don’t get to know the help if you can
help it, because you don’t hire help to make friends, you hire help to do on
your behalf that which you are unwilling to do on your own. When you think
about it, 10% is a steal of a deal given all that we are told Jesus is mandated
to do for us once we sign on the dotted line and say the sinner’s prayer.
We hire Jesus, so we don't have to get our hands dirty. He
takes our crusty, filthy garments, makes them minty fresh and clean, and no
matter how many times we take those clean garments and cannonball into the mud
willfully, purposefully, He is contractually obligated to clean them anew.
What do you mean you can’t keep doing what you’ve been doing?
What’s this ‘go and sin no more’ thing all about? Is that from some fortune
cookie or something? What is this repentance you speak of?
Nobody ever told us
about that! That would cut into my fun time. It would cut into what my flesh
wants to do. How dare you imply works, sir? How dare you?
I just wanted the fire insurance. That was the deal. Fire
insurance for 10% of my take home. That’s what the grinning man on television
said. You can’t change the terms of service midstream, it’s just not fair.
You don’t really expect me to surrender my will, to lay down
my life, to humble myself, and give 10% of my earnings on top of all that.
That’s just ludicrous. The guys in the yellow robes with the tambourines and
incense just want me to meditate for a few minutes every morning. If you want
my business, you have to be competitive. You have to make it worth my while, and
entice me, and that whole thing about righteousness and holiness unto God is
just a nonstarter, let me tell you.
What we are seeing in the modern day church is the direct
consequence of having presented Christ not as Lord and King, but as some
beggarly fellow just looking to grant us favors, clean up our messes, intervene
on our behalf, and be the all-around go to when we need something.
Mister Fix It in a tunic and sandals. That's the picture of
Jesus many of today's believers have firmly cemented in their mind's eye, and
it's a difficult task indeed to equate reverence, worship, and sovereignty to
someone like that.
If, on the other hand you see Jesus as He is, for who He is,
the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son of the living God who lived, and
died, and rose again and now sits at the right hand of the Father, you can't
help but be humbled to the point of tears for the love He shows you every day.
If you see Him as He is, and not as He has been rebranded by modern-day
vultures who are more interested in your tithe than your eternal soul, you
can't help but be overwhelmed by His mercy and grace.
It is when we see Jesus as He is in glory and majesty, high
and lifted up, that we bow before Him, obedient and faithful, ready to stand
firm against the darkness and do great exploits in His name.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
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