Casual Christianity

Lately, I have become quite a blog-reader. In fact, I have become a pretty regular reader on certain blogs that update relatively frequently (unlike mine). I was reading a blog yesterday when a thought hit me that I feel is very important in the Laodicean church age in which we live. The article pointed out that churches today value style over substance. Church advertisements on the radio, etc. point out that you can "come as you are," and "wear your jeans," and enjoy the "live band," and "fun activities for the kids." The various features of a particular church aren't necessarily wrong, but we are sending the wrong message. In our 30 seconds or 60 seconds of radio time or interaction with the grocer or paying for gas, we should focus on the substance of our faith, not the style of our Christianity.

You and I, they say, should make our moments count by communicating the most important message. While this is generally accepted in Christianity as true, I am of the opinion that this philosophy of "substance over style" can miss the point. When the substance of our faith does not effect the style of our Christianity, what does it effect? Don't misunderstand. I agree with the principle that we should focus on Christ and the eternal destination of the lost soul over a particular singing group, etc., but to say that style does not matter is naive. Let me explain. I am not saying that we should focus on style over substance. But doesn't the style betray the substance? For instance, if I should hear a radio ad promoting a live band, youth activities, and a dynamic atmosphere, I am hearing about their substance! The correct substance portrays the correct message.

During Speech class at the College yesterday, I was hearing an Informative Speech on a particular church in our town. This young lady (yes, true ladies are rare down at the college) described her church as fun, exciting, and a host of other adjectives I can not recall. This church is called Northstar Church, and is your typical non-denominational church that is really no more than a continual Christian rock concert. During Q & A after the speech, I asked her what about her church stood out as the reason she loves it. Her answer? "The dynamic environment." I responded with, "Oh, I thought you were going to say it drew you closer to the Lord, or something like that."

I don't know for sure, but maybe the reason they choose style over substance is because style is their substance. If that's all a church has to offer this dying world, and for most churches it is, then let them advertise it, because the last thing we want them advertising is a perverted gospel that gives false assurance. Rather, those of us who do have true substance should focus on spreading the truth of our faith, and living that substantial faith so that the style of our Christianity is immediately associated with the substance that we speak of.

And the lesson to learn is this: our style betrays our substance. Do you have real substance to your faith? If so, does it show in your style? Does our style resemble our substance? Let us live the substance our faith commands.