Valerie Rae Hanneman
1 Peter 1:15-16 “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (NIV)
In the week before Christmas, while I was at work, I got a phone call from my mother. In addition to stopping at the grocery store she wanted me to go to Dollar World and pick up the makings of the Christmas stockings for my niece & nephew. “Why do we have to do the stockings?” I asked, “They have a mother. Why isn’t she doing it?” “”She doesn’t believe in Christmas.” “She doesn’t believe in Christmas?” I asked incredulously, “since when?” “It’s just part of her beliefs now - she says Jesus wasn’t born on Christmas Day so she doesn’t acknowledge it.” “Well, duh! Everybody knows Jesus wasn’t born on Christmas Day! But tell me, if she doesn’t believe in Christmas, what is she doing over at our house eating Christmas dinner and opening Christmas presents?” I said, (a little snottily)(I know that is a surprise to you) “She participates, but makes believe that it isn’t a Christmas celebration.” “How convenient her faith is! (I was still acting snotty - it was a bad day all around) She gets all the fun of Christmas - but none of the work!”
In the end - of course - I got the stuff for the stockings. Although her convenient faith irritates me - I am not responsible for my sister’s faith - just for mine. I am not responsible for her behavior - just for mine.
Convenient faith isn’t just restricted to my sister, it pervades all of the Church. To be honest, even as I write this, I think of the many compromises I have made in my faith. Compromises made simply because it was more convenient to give into the world than to hold strong to my faith. I give myself excuses as to why God will understand and accept what I am doing - even as that small still voice tells me that I am just lying to myself. “Just this once won’t really matter,” even as I pave the road for the next “just this once”
From “little white lies” to sexual immorality to the heresy of false beliefs - our Christian walk becomes more and more convenient. We lie on our taxes because everybody does it, we are in sexual relationship outside of marriage because we have “needs”, we allow the Word of God to be watered down because it is politically correct, The problem is that God is not an “everybody does it” God. He is not an “I have needs so it is okay” God. And He is certainly not a politically correct God. He is a holy God, a never changing God, a just God - and He calls us to be holy as He is holy.
God is not a convenient God - and when we practice convenient faith - at the very least we grieve Him - and at the very worst - we make Him angry with us. But when we stand firm and say, “No! I don’t care if everybody else does it! I don’t care if it meets my “needs”! I don’t care if it is politically correct and I don’t even care if it is more convenient. All I care about is if what I am about to do is holy before a Holy God. And if it isn’t - I am not going to do it!” And when we make the inconvenient choice and choose God first I believe that Heaven is filled with His joy. I believe that He laughs with delight and sings with joy and points us out to the angels and says, “That’s MY kid!” (like any proud parent).
We have three types of plates in my house. We have paper plates. We use those paper plates when we have picked up Chinese food, or when we are having hot dogs with greasy french fries. They are convenient because we use them and throw them away. Then there are the everyday plates. They are not as convenient as the paper plates because we have to wash them in the dish washer when we are done eating. A number of them have chips in them because we use them most often. They are a little less convenient than paper plates, but they are also more durable. Then there is my mom’s “special plates” These plates are pure white china with a platinum border. You don’t even want to know how much they cost! Personally I think that my mom has owned them for a larger number of years than the number of times we have used them. She treasures those plates. We have to wash and dry them by hand before we use them - and of course again when we are done using them. No dishwasher for these plates! Heaven help you if you chip one of those plates! These plates are not convenient at all - but when we use them it is because we are celbrating something special.
If your faith were a plate - what would it be? Is your faith like a paper plate? Always convenient - but not very strong. Used when you need it - but then thrown out when you don’t? Or would your faith be like an everyday plate? Not at convenient as paper - you do take some care of it so that it can be reused. It is more durable - but you are sometimes careless with it - so it has it’s fair share of chips and cracks. Or is your faith pure white china with a platinum border. Are you ever mindful of the price paid for your faith - not by you but by Jesus? Are you willing to be inconvenienced by your faith because you treasure it? Do you strive to make sure it is never chipped because it is so special?
Just as we value the special plates over the everyday plates and definitely over the paper plates, Father values our special faith over the everyday faith and definitely over the convenient faith. He calls us to be holy as He is holy, He calls us to an inconvenient faith that chooses Him over the convenience of the world.
Choose wisely.
Holy Father, all to often I chose paper plate faith when it is more convenient for me. All to often I settle for everyday faith with all of it’s chips. What I desire is to be Your special pure white china faith with a platinum border. Help me to choose more wisely. Help me to be holy as You are holy.
Contact Valerie or subscribe to our e-Ministry at valerie@fresnofirst.org
Posted by Valerie at December 31, 2004 07:39 PM