I believe that the culture we live in unintentionally removes an element from Christianity. Generally speaking, we are raised in the best environment in the world for comfort. How often do you have to worry about getting to eat your next meal, being able to drinking water that is clean enough to actually benefit your body, or finding a sufficient shelter from in pending thunderstorm? The point is that we live in an incredibly low risk environment.
If American society is an airplane, God is the parachute.
If your were to ask people, "Do you trust a parachute to open and bring you safely to the ground?", the most common response would probably be "Yes."
If you were to ask people while in flight, "Do you want to use the parachute (that you trust so readily) by jumping right now from this commercial airplane?", the most common response would probably be "No."
This is my first thought: the American dream is not conducive to the Christian dream. The American dream is self-serving and comfortable. If you ride on the plane, then you will probably not only get where you want to go, but you will most likely enjoy some food and entertainment along the way. The Christian dream (to know and be known by Jesus) does not necessarily end at your intended destination, probably scares the living heck out of you, requires a leap of faith, and is wholly dependent upon God for success.
Now, before I type out thought number two, I want to clarify something. I believe you can be a Christian that sits on the plane. Salvation is not contingent upon your actions, just as it is possible to sit on a 747 while wearing a parachute. I also think that this is what a LOT of American Christians are missing.
This is my second thought: life is vibrant while falling. You get to experience the sunset and sunrise firsthand. You have the freedom to move yourself around within a violently beautiful matrix of air rushing past you. Your body can spin and flip and rotate -- not limited by contact. The fear of imminent danger awakens your senses and calls for a deeper trust in the thing strapped to your back. Those awakened senses take in more of the beauty around you -- you are experience the world on a whole different level. The further you fall, the better your perception of the world becomes. You and your parachute.
My challenge: (to myself included) JUMP. I want to jump in the way that I live life for God. I do not want to be caught up in the American dream. I want to be so dependent on God that it scares me to no end. I want to release a finite monotony and embrace an overwhelming dance.
I think that American culture readily removes some things from a person's walk with God: Ferocity. Passion. Truth (to a degree). Purpose. Vulnerability. Identity. I think it leaves us confused about our wiring. I think that if Christianity "didn't do it for you" then you never jumped from the plane -- because this is what we are made for. It fits. It resonates. It grows. It spreads.
I think that we can "jump from the plane" in the ways that we choose to live at school, in the office, on the court, at home, behind closed doors, and in front of crowds. No jump is too small or too large for your parachute, and I am willing to wager that every height is invigorating for he who makes it.
Escape American mediocrity, and seek life to the full in Christ.
"Only skydivers know why the birds sing"
No comments:
Post a Comment