Drive-by Christianity
Aug 2, 2021 4027
Some people practice drive-by Christianity. What do I mean by this?
My family sometimes like to order at drive-by restaurants. I don’t like it at all. I enjoy the experience of going somewhere, sitting down, and eating the food. But these days, no one seems to have time to wait for anything. They just want to get the food as quickly as possible and eat it in the car.
I mean that their Christianity consists of going to church on a weekend, get through the programme, hoping that it doesn’t go on too long, and then they get back to their everyday lives. And they usually don’t take much of what they got in church home with them. We sprinkle a thin layer of Christianity over the other six days and basically live to please ourselves.
That isn’t Christianity. It isn’t what being a follower of Jesus is all about. The Bible doesn’t talk about visiting the house of God. It talks about dwelling in the house of God:
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple (Psalm 27:4).
Drive-by Christianity isn’t what being a follower of Jesus is about.
This isn’t really talking about living within the four walls of your church. This is talking about living continually in the presence of the Lord. It’s talking about a Christianity that’s twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
What’s wrong with drive-by Christianity? It is the same as drive-by food. You pick and choose what you like and you end up with a junk diet. In drive-by Christianity you try to take the glory without the suffering, the abundance without the sacrifice, and the victory without the surrender. But Jesus taught that,
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Matt 16:24–25).
The pursuit of Christ is a pursuit of the whole mind, heart, and life.
Inherent in this statement is the reality that the pursuit of Christ is a pursuit of the whole mind, heart, and life. It requires complete commitment and surrender, as he taught in the parable of the pearl of great price (Matt 13:45–46).
Of course salvation is through faith, by believing in Jesus. But it’s easy to say that you believe because you “drive through” the “religion driveway.” But that doesn’t make you a Christian any more than an attending weddings and funerals at church makes an atheist a Christian.
Faith isn’t some kind of superficial mental assent. Faith is trusting for real. Trusting is surrender, and not many are willing to surrender. That’s why Jesus said,
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13–14).
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Debra
Aug 19, 2022
This all of the churches I've attended in California. Other issues is perfect people which is uncomfortable unless you think you are a perfect person. Too ritual, no discussion, wary, cautious, judgmental, cliques, don't take the Bible seriously, barely act like a Christian toward other people, remember and recite the 20 or 30 universal Christian Scriptures, rarely want to reach out (the Great Commission), frivolous, and fill their lives with possessions.
Trex.Avosa
Aug 13, 2021
The mesage.of god has really touched my inner being ,and felt that got is right next to you and me.He sits next to us humbly see our performance..and action..of what we do.he is so pwerful. AMEN.
Ayiga Charles
Aug 10, 2021
Thanks for always standing with us, in this generation most people are going to the churches for miracles people need the miracles of God in their lives but they don't mind of having strong relationship with God through Jesus Christ. People love to take milk but not to keep the caws.
Hugh Morgan
Aug 8, 2021
This message made me think about my friend who invited me to her church. She attend this huge church and sits up in the balcony and after the service I said, what would happen if they did an alter call, you would never make it.
Kelvin Saydu Karbah
Aug 8, 2021
Hello Sir, Thank you for this great massage on Drive by Christianity. It is true to day, most Christians today do not have the time to sit in the house of God To get the message for the day, people just in rush......I pray that God have mercy on us, I am included. May put in moor time to listen to his words in Jesus mighty name, Amen Evangelist Kelvin Saydu Karbah West Africa, Liberia 🇱🇷
Eliezer Gonzalez
Aug 20, 2022
Thank you for your insightful comment, Debra - Eliezer Gonzalez