“We are far too comfortable being Christian-ish…”
So what are we going to do about it?
Finley Peter Dunne wrote in 1902 that the job of a newspaper is to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable”. It’s a reasonable enough claim to suggest that the call of Christ on us as disciples is the very same.
During this continuing COVID-affected time it has been way easier to sit at home and catch up on that Netflix series everyone is talking about, improve our baking skills, or just zone out completely. Church on Facebook, YouTube or Zoom is OK however it’s completely passive, and we’re not called to a passive faith.
We may have let ourselves get overgrown by the weeds that surround us and they’re choking our expression of faith and we’re totally not sure what to do about it. The lack of activity can be the very thing that constricts the return to an active faith.
It’s way harder–and way more important–to acknowledge that God is asking us to do some heavy lifting during this time of distance and disconnection, including fully participating in however your church is gathering (all online, hybrid, or all masked up and in-person).
Have we, forced to restrict our movements and limit our gatherings, become too comfortable and ended up with a watered down experience of faith?
Community, relationship, and faith all take effort…especially at a time when even the effort is discouraged. The path of least resistance has been, in many cases, the only path available to us.
So here’s my challenge for 2021: Let’s not be Christian-ish.
Let’s stand together as faithful, humble, loving disciples of Jesus Christ. Even if it takes some time and effort. Even if it costs us something.
Let’s pray, read the bible, and worship God together. Even if it means we gather online once a week to do it, let’s do it. Even it means we plan a gathering for young adults so we can be in community and worship and be be challenged and get serious about our relationship with our Creator.
Let’s tell our friends and neighbours about the difference Jesus makes in our lives while we love them like God asks us to. Be the disciples we’re called to be in Matthew 28.
Discipleship costs something because it’s worth something.
Who’s with me? Reach out and let’s make an effort together! 
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Molk is the Senior Field Officer (North), and responsible for young adult ministry as a part of the PULSE team.
