All night long, the South African winds howled, and the heavy rains beat down on our roof. Our mission team was safe and secure inside of our sturdy home. Yet all throughout this wintry night, I could not stop thinking about the others that were not far from me geographically yet were experiencing a much different night.
For several days, our mission team had explored the different Jesus-loving churches that were began by our missionary friends in several townships of South Africa. These townships are mostly made-up of shacks. These shacks are roughly erected and usually house several people at once. Just a few days earlier, we had passed out little bags of chips in one of these townships and had invited the recipients of these treats to a church service. Word caught-on quickly. Throngs of excited children and even adults soon surrounded us in the trash-covered streets. I truly wished I had several more bags to give away. They were so excited for such a treat. I looked around at their poor conditions and my heart could not help but be stirred. They were on day three of no running water. Yet beyond their lack of worldly goods, their greater need was for Jesus to save them. Our friends had been here for years reaching so many of these beautiful people with the gospel, and yet there were hundreds of thousands more who had yet to hear about the saving power of Jesus. Who would tell them?
So as I laid in bed thinking of these townships of shacks trying to weather the storm, I wondered how these precious people were dealing with it all. I had heard that often in rainy times, if they weren’t trying to catch rain with buckets, then they were probably standing on those buckets in a futile attempt to not get soaked themselves. Though this Texan was shivering with the cold African winter temps, I knew how spoiled I was to have several blankets. Our roof was not leaking. We had running water. Our kitchen was full of food. I truly had no clue what it meant to be in “want”.
The next morning came early. Our team got ready and ministered in several different township churches. The missionaries told us that the attendance would no doubt be much lower than normal, due to the night of rough weather. However, all I could see was a lesson from God unfolding before my very eyes. I saw child after child and adult after adult making their way into the modest church building. They had no doubt slept little if at all. Many probably had standing water in their homes. They had to dodge mud puddles just to walk to the church. They did not arrive to a posh building with a warm heater. These church buildings do not have heaters and sometimes do not have covered windows. Yet, what I saw was a joyful people. I saw missionaries and their kids smiling. I saw township people smiling. I heard them praising Jesus through their singing. And not just any singing. But lively, passionate, God-honoring singing.
I couldn’t help but think back through the many years of my life that I had been in ministry and had fielded complaints after church services. Complaints about the a/c not working properly, how it was too hot or too cold, the music was too loud, the song was too new, someone sat in “their pew”, someone didn’t say ‘hi’ to them, the bulletin had changed or had a spelling error, etc. I’ve watched so many pews remain empty when the weather wasn’t “just right” for venturing out to church. And sadly, I’ve not been exempt from some of the things on this list. I, too, had often fallen victim to “petty, American Christianity”. You know what I mean. The kind of Christianity that attends the social club called “church” with my mental score cards ready to go as I rate each part of the church service. The kind of Christianity that asks myself, “Hmm. Do I feel like going to church today?” And then when I go, I ask, “Does this portion of the service meet my expectations? Does it please me?”
As I reflect on the beautiful church services I attended in Africa, I can’t help but be forever changed. We have every resource at our fingertips in America, and yet it has spoiled so many of us. Could our conveniences and ease of life be leading to our demise? So many have become less faithful, less God-fearing, less passionate in worship, less loving… and I’ve decided I want nothing to do with that kind of “Christianity”.
Has church become a place of robotic movements, blank stares at a screen, inward yawns, and glances at our watch? When I reflect on all of the above, I’m convicted by my own complaints and behavior over the years. I detest living like a spoiled Christian. I detest mentally rating the special music, the sermon, the lighting, the audio, etc. instead of focusing the most on worshiping Jesus, gleaning truth from the preaching of God’s Word, and loving on others. Truth is, while spoiled Christianity is taking over at rapid speed, there are souls dying at rapid speed who are going to Hell. The whole world needs Jesus and they’re not going to hear without someone telling them. Souls need to be saved, but instead, we are arguing about church decorations and temperature settings.
Lord, forgive us. Forgive us for being so enraptured by the ‘rat race’ that we have forgotten this world is not our home. Forgive us for spending most of our lives working for things we cannot bring with us when we die. Forgive us for majoring on the minors. Forgive us for losing our passion for souls. Help us to think of these beautiful people on the other side of the world that will walk through mud to sit in a cold sanctuary if it means they get to worship You with other believers. I want that kind of passion. I want that kind of joy. Strip me of ME, Lord, and help me re-focus on what truly matters.
Some hope…How can we make a change in the right direction?
- Be grateful for every little thing we’ve been given and speak that gratefulness out loud (it’s contagious) (I Thess. 5:16; Phil. 4:4)
- Attend church faithfully – make it a shock to people if you’re ever not there (Heb. 10:25)
- Serve the Lord with your family – show them a way of life that is more difficult and yet more fulfilling than you could ever imagine (Psalm 100:2)
- Take your kids on a mission trip – show your kids other parts of the world and how the entire world needs to hear about Jesus (Matt. 28:19)
- Do what it takes to keep your passion for Jesus and souls ablaze; to fight the complacency that is so easy to have amidst our comfortable environments (Prov. 30:7-9)
- Stay faithful in prayer and Bible reading – for this is the foundation of our thoughts, our emotions, and our behaviors (Ps. 1:1-2)
“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” Prov. 30:7-9
Just a Mom’s View 