I've been pondering this idea of what it means to be an active, growing Christian. The thoughts have been stirred because it's our topic in youth group for the next few weeks. It's very difficult for me to communicate what it means to be a passionate Christian without sounding methodical. For example, there is no formula that generates an instant good Christian. 7 days of Bible reading + 2 church activities + 14 prayers + 1 small group + 2 retreats a year = 1 really passionate Christian. Wrong answer. While i do agree that many of these things are important, I don't think it necessarily reflects a change on the inside because many of the so-called "fruits" of being a Christian can easily be faked and often times forced upon a person. We would hope and pray that something would click and a genuine love for God would develop after all the rituals, but more and more I am seeing a generation of youth who have grown up in Christian homes- sheltered in their little Christian worlds- and all they have become is expert fakers! How that must break the Lord's heart! After He gave everything for us, we slap Him in the face by turning our Christian self on & off with a careless flip of the switch.
It's like that parable about the sower. "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop..." Matthew 13:3-8
Lord, may your regeneration process be invited and spur change in our hearts so that we may truly be seen as passionate Christian people. Root out the sin of hypocrisy. Amen
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