How Convenient is Your Faith?

Seriously, I’m asking you. Is your faith something you pursue when it’s easy or convenient for you? Is your faith marked by focused attention, free from distractions when you take the time to exercise it? Is your faith able to withstand the scrutiny of the puzzled stares and (sometimes) irritated looks of others?

I ask these questions in all sincerity out of concern. If you’ve been around any place or watched any person long enough, you start to notice certain trends if you take the time to look. I know that’s a lot to ask in today’s world when our focus is typically glued to some type of screen. But, I’m serious, and the current person under the microscope is the modern believer.

There are behaviors I have noticed inside and outside the Church that demand analysis. And, lest you think I’m ignoring the plank in my own eye or casting the first stone, I’ll readily admit: I’ve been guilty of all of these behaviors. But, my previous association with them does not imply my tacit approval of them. Previous association is the key. When we notice problems in our own lives, we should take great measures to change for the better, especially if it relates to our faith. So, here are three things I’ve noticed with the modern believer:

Quiet Times

Do these even occur? And, if they do, are they occurring regularly and with intention?

Having personal time with God each day should be a must-have for the believer. It is not something to minimize. If Christianity is based on a personal relationship with Christ (and it is), then we should be pursuing a relationship with God. Last time I checked pursuing someone requires quality time and conversing with the other person.

What does a quality quiet time look like? It’s intentional. It’s consistent. It’s not rushed. It’s authentic. It’s free from distractions.
That last one is a problem. If your phone is involved in your quiet time formula, rethink the equation. But Zach, I read my Bible on my phone! To that I say: Get a written copy.

Honestly, unless you’re putting your phone in “airplane mode” before opening up (or tapping on) the Word, you’re completely distracted.
Let me put it a different way. My bride, Bethany, is someone I passionately pursue and love dearly. How do I show this? I take the time to talk to her, to listen to her, to take her out, to share a meal with her. If my phone keeps dinging while we’re together, it’s distracting. And, Lord help me if I decide to grab my phone and answer it each time it beckons. Then, I’ll fall prey to the look.

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[quote bar=”true” align=”center”]Having personal time with God each day should be a must-have for the believer.[/quote]

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Does God deserve any less? I’ve had quiet times interrupted by texts or alerts, and it’s basically the equivalent of telling God, “Hold on…You were probably in middle of telling me something, but I just had to retweet that post or respond to my friend or…or…or…”

Ditch the phone and the distractions. The Lord deserves your best.

Worship Services

These days worship services take many forms with a spectrum of styles for worship music, preaching, and the order of service. There’s beauty in diversity, but reverence should not be lost.

I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church. One of my favorite parts of the service was the very end: The altar call and invitation. It was during this time in the service many years ago that I walked down to the front of the Church and gave my life to Christ. It was a powerful time in my life.
Now, I attend (you guessed it!) a Southern Baptist Church. I love that my Church recognizes the importance of the invitation. But, while some recognize the gravity of it, others completely ignore it.

There always seems to be individuals who use the invitation as a means of escape. No, not some spiritual, cathartic experience but a chance to make a bee-line for the exit signs. You’ve seen them. You may be one of them.

It’s wrong.

Zach, you don’t understand…
• I’m responsible for providing breakfast this week for my Sunday school class. That’s a great way to serve, but it can wait.
• I would really like to miss the traffic in the Church parking lot before it gets too crazy. That’s ridiculous, and you can wait.
• I don’t want to miss opening kick-off for the Cowboys game. I don’t even know what to say…the Cowboys stink this year, and you can wait.

Seriously, while a new name is being inscribed in the Book of Life and the legions of angels are rejoicing in Heaven, you’re leaving the party. At the very least we should strive not to be a distraction to others. In fact, if we are believers, we should be engaged in prayer during this time, begging that the Spirit may move powerfully in the room, so that another life will be changed.

Whatever you have after the service can wait. The Lord deserves your best.

Prayer Times

When you’re out in public, do you pray? When you sit down to eat at a restaurant, do you thank the Lord and ask Him to bless it?
We have progressed (regressed?) in society to a point where we have privatized our faith. By that I mean we may believe this or that, but in the public sector we should keep it to ourselves. Fortunately for the public, that’s not how Christianity works. We’re not called to bury our light under a bushel but let it shine before all men.

When the food comes to the table, and you resist the urge to pray, what’s stopping you? Are you afraid of the quizzical looks of strangers around the restaurant? Do you not want to evoke a reaction from your waiter or waitress? Are you in mixed company at your own table?
Whatever the reason is, you should still pray. Bethany and I always pray before a meal. In fact, we have found a nice little restaurant in the area where we enjoy a nice place of orange chicken and fried rice. Every time we pray the individuals serving the food wait at a distance out of respect. Then, upon hearing the “Amen,” they converge on the table and slap down the crispy wontons. It’s a bit comical, but they at least get to share the experience with us if ever so briefly.

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[quote bar=”true” align=”center”]When the food comes to the table, and you resist the urge to pray, what’s stopping you?[/quote]

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My faith is public, as it should be, but it’s not to build me up. It’s public, so that I may point people to Christ. Public prayer should be like drawing a moth to a flame. Be empowered when people ask why.

The food may be hot, but it can wait. The Lord deserves your best.

Z. Montgomery