S.T.S. 1.4 [Closing Comments]

I bring this issue to a close by offering some thoughts on how certain aspects of American culture (as it now stands) have contributed to the "fragmented spirituality" practiced by many "professing" Believers.

Here in America, we have grown accustomed to a way of life that basically tends to separate who we are (beliefs & values) from what we do in a sense (actions-behavior-conduct). If you don’t believe that, just open your ears during election season!! This mindset, in turn, has slowly crept into American Evangelicalism.
In America, we so over-compartmentalize our lives that the only consistency in us is the fact that there is none. If there ever were such a thing as a walking, breathing "oxy-moron," it would have to be the run-of-the-mill American whose thinking has been taken captive by the prevailing ideas and notions of popular culture. Unfortunately, this is all-too-commonplace in many Churches. I’m willing to bet (not really) that this is an underlying principle in the following scenarios which I’ve devised to make the point:

1. Your co-worker claims to be a born-again Christian, but he sees no correlation between his
"beliefs" and his work ethic. Better yet, he sees no problem hitting the local pub after work to
have a drink with the crew. I mean, after all, who are we to judge? "I’m not the role model
Christian," he affirms, "but at least I am a good ol’ boy." (all the while, he never sees the
inconsistency)

2. Your friend (not being the beacon of personal integrity) believes her personal, private lifestyle has no bearing on her professionalism at work. She facilitates classes on leadership skills while
on the job, but is a loser with her husband/kids at home. "What I do behind closed doors
doesn’t affect anyone but me," she says every now and then.

3. A nameless Senator (running for President) claims that his personal belief is that life is a gift
of God that begins at conception. Unfortunately, this type of belief (since it wreaks of
Christianity) has no place in this candidate’s contradictory public policy ideas. "I have to
uphold the U.S. Constitution, which calls for a strict separation of Church & State," he whines.
(No, John, it doesn’t . . . read it again – this time in context, please sir!)

4. Multitudes of professing "Christians" believe that they have their "fire-insurance" (after all,
they have walked an aisle . . .). "Whether we choose to ever live for Christ is entirely another
matter," they say. (Maybe I’m missing something, but what about passages such as Matthew
7 & 13:24-30; 36-43/John 3:36/2 Corinthians 5:17 & 13:5/Ephesians 2:10/ and James 2:14-
26? Also be sure to re-read this month’s quote, which sums things up nicely.)

I think there may be a common denominator running through the very heart of the 4 common scenarios above. What about you?

Until next month’s issue . . . . . . . don’t be ashamed to peel back those Surfaces in order to see what’s worth holding on to. Some will thank you for doing so, while many others (Christians included) will seek to marginalize you for it. When everything is said and done, however, at least you can say that you escaped the shackles of a mere day-to-day existence in order to get outside of the box. I want to warmly wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!