In case you weren’t at Gateway on Sunday, the fact that Christianity is NOT a namby-pamby religion is a statement that you missed. If you don’t know what “namby-pamby” means; then think of the words “spineless,” “weak,” “wishy-washy,” “pushover,” etc. and you will begin to get the picture. Hopefully, the sermon will be up on iTunes by the end of the week, so you can refer the message here.
What we need to understand in the world of Christianity is that yes, we are called out of something (darkness, sin, etc.); but we are called to something as well! The message of Jesus Christ was not one of “escapism” only, but of a call and charge to change the culture and reality of the places and times in which we live. We are to live and work so that the evidences of the Kingdom of God can be seen all around us. We pray that the Will and Power of the Father would be evident on earth just as it is in the Heavenly places.
The reality of Christ in our lives must be personal, but not private. It must show; but not in a “showy” way. It must allow us to stand strong; while still walking in humility. It must overcome and triumph; without destroying another. It must be done in Spirit and in Truth.
We understand that in our weakness, Christ is made strong. The problem with this, however, is that our weakness is really weak. It seems that we are overwhelmed and knock down when facing our weakness before Christ really has a chance to show up and be strong. Others in the body of Christ have not helped the situation, either. When someone falls, we usually kick them. If they don’t fall, but only have the appearance of falling; we tend to tell others that they have fallen.
What happens then is that there are many in the Church who are scared to death to face the world. When standing toe to toe with the very hell that has hindered you in the past, it seems that you are damned if you do, or damned if you don’t. Don’t mean to shock anyone here, but it is the truth. This condemnation from failure combined with the condemnation from others (whether you have failed or not) has kept the christian world (note the little “c”) from standing smack-dab in the middle of the world while, through the power of the Holy Spirit, not being of the world.
2 Timothy tells us that we are soldiers, athletes, and workers. We suffer, but we suffer together and for a prize in the end. In the middle of it all we stand strong. We also learn that we can advance and not be ashamed.
It’s not namby-pamby.
I hate that I missed church Sunday. Sounds like it was a good one.