The painting above is an analogy of the Church today. You can see Christ in His Passion, and below him is presumably Mary, The Mother of our Lord or Mary Magdalene at his feet. The rest of the crowd is caught up in their own socializing. They seem to have forgotten that their savior is on the cross. This is the state of the American Church and many Churches around the world. Attending Church has become more about networking and business than it is about celebrating Christ and building up one another in faith. The diverse people in painting above depict different people who gather at or around the Church today. You have the king (President or CEO) to the right who is conversing with a scholar or philosopher of the world. To left of king is man with a spear and he has no halo. He represents the skeptical scientists today who probe and want to disprove True religion. Finally you have four people in view who have halos around their heads. The halos denote sainthood, but for this post let us say they represent all believers as a whole. Each of us who professes that Jesus is our lord and savior is a saint. We are counted among those who served and who still do serve the Almighty. Notice that only one of the four saints is at Christ's feet and even kissing them. We know that in Gospels it says, Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, "sat at Jesus' feet." (Luke 10:19) and that Christ himself said to a complaining Martha, "Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her." (Luke 10:42).
In Jewish culture, to set at someone's feet is to be a disciple; to study under them. Thus one could argue that the woman in the painting above is Mary sister of Martha; but more importantly it represents a sect of believers. Those who sit at the Savior's feet and wish to know Him personally and without compromise are The Remnant. This Remnant is all over the world and in every Church. They are people who fervently petition in prayer, who study Holy Writ and seek Christ without ceasing. Their very lives are defined by those who have less resolve or like those in the painting who do not foster such devotion. The critics call The Remnant fundamentalists, zealots, radicals, and Jesus Freaks. Like Martha, those who will not set at the Lord's feet scoff and complain and call them names.
The world around us would have each person believe that selling out completely to Christ is folly. The pseudo-experts would claim that following Christ without compromise is mental illness or that you need to have more balance in your life. They would even take Jesus' words and twist them to make their point and say, "everything in moderation." Jesus did say this, but never in regards to seeking God. He did not say only spend an hour on Saturday or Sunday. He never said only connect to Him when it is convenient or in balance with your other habits. No, devotion to Christ has no limits and should take precedent in each Christian's life.
A major inhibitor as I have said, to a zealous faith is the Church Establishment. Churches today have become like "white washed tombs," (Matt 23:27 & Jeremiah 4:14). They claim to be the epicenter for evangelism and entering the Kingdom of Heaven, but in reality they are more like banks and companies. You go to Church seeking a product: the best teacher, the best message, the best worship, and the best people. Each Church has It's own logo (cross or emblem) and brand name. Depending on what you are looking for, you can go to Church and get your fix and in whole process miss Christ and His Spirit all together. What happen to the Church being the Body of Believers? What happen to congregating being more than a social outing and being about seeking Scripture and the Spirit of God? What if we concerned ourselves more with meeting our Maker than a means to make our business and social life more profitable?
What happen to the practical part of Church? Where is the compassion of Christ? I am treated with more dignity and care at my local bank, than my Church! My banker asks me real questions and wants to help me with what they can. The Church I attend knows my needs and yet acts indifferent. What happen to, "true religion is taking care of window and orphan," (James 1:27)? Has the Church lost it's ability to even help people with the bare necessities? I would say yes and not just at my own denomination, but at many denominations that I have attended all over the world.
Why has this happened? How can the representatives of Christ be so cold or clueless to the needs of others? The answer is that they are not communing with Christ. Like the crowd in the painting above, they are busy chasing after their own desires. They connect with everyone except Christ on a regular basis and thus their hearts turn to stone. If you do not keep your eyes, heart, mind, and soul fixed upon Jesus Christ; you will lose the compassion and care needed to help those inside and outside the Church.
How can you be like Christ if you do not connect with him? How can you claim to be Christian if everything else is more important than your relationship with Christ? Jesus called for his disciples to come after him and it was not a decision of half heartedness. Jesus said, "If you want to be my disciple, deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24). Denying ourselves is not easy, it means to die to desires and to decide that the Lord is worth more than our will. Picking up our cross is the sufferings, the afflictions, and adversities we will face for following Him. Only when we do these two steps can we really follow Jesus.
In contrast to this call to discipleship, Christians are forgetting Christ. More and more believers are compartmentalizing their faith and pushing their Savior out of every sphere of their lives. The painting above should have the caption: "Have you forgotten me?" So many followers have fallen away from the faith. Jesus even says, "Will I find faith when I return?" (Luke 18:8). This is a chilling question and yet from what we can see everyday it is realistic one. People forget their God and turn to doctors, councilors, consolers, and everything else to medicate their problems. Addiction is at alarming record highs and the public has become so lawless because they do not know Christ or his message. The world is growing darker as governments outlaw and marginalize the placing of Christian icons and symbols in public places. Christ has been driven out of the schools, social sites, and even the sanctuaries of the Church. The demographic of Christians who do no care that the cross is being lost is in proportion to the Christians who are outraged but do nothing. A major reason America and the world in general is forgetting about Jesus and the teachings of the Bible is because believers are not standing up and making their voice heard.
The time has come to decide. Do we want to be like the woman at Christ's feet or are we going to continue to be the crowds not looking to Christ on the cross? Take heed, for there is a place reserved for the faithless believer called "the outer darkness," and "the gnashing of teeth." (Matt 25:30 & Luke 13:18). This outer darkness and gnashing of teeth is not hell. Christ in the Matthew says, "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:22-23, NIV). This is disturbing verse and Christian theologians debate It's meaning. Some scholars make the cases that the lukewarm are those heretical cults and sects of Church that claim completely different ideas and beliefs regarding Christ and the Bible. However, I have always sensed that it is referring to even the Body of Believers who chose not to known Christ in close relationship.
It will not suffice to be political Christian or to have your 'get out of hell free card.' Jesus died to save us from damnation, but also to re-connect us to the Father and Himself. The Lord wants a close relationship with us like He had with Adam in Eden. To turn your back on a close connection with Christ after all he is done is not only an insult, it is to turn your back on purpose of His Passion! It is as serious as saying to Him, "I do not care what you did and want to do what I want." So beware my brothers and sisters. Having a lukewarm faith is not going to save you. In Book of Revelation it says, "So, because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16). There is no place in heaven for half hearts. Christ wants full commitment; the same level of commitment He demonstrated to us on the cross. So be instead like Mary who was at Christ's feet and cease being the grumbling Martha in the kitchen.
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