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The death of Casual Christianity gives us hope for a resurrection and transformation.
Here is a perceptive editorial at the Washington Post: “The end of casual Christianity.”
For conservative Christians, a psychological adjustment is taking place. In a de-Christianized culture, it becomes harder to imagine yourself part of a “moral majority.” This was never quite true, but now, with the decline of casual Christianity, it is incredible. So how do 62 million evangelical Christians and other theological conservatives — not a majority but a significant minority — view themselves and their cultural role?
The “end of casual Christianity” will not be fun, but it’s a welcome event.
It won’t be fun, because human brokenness will increase as “old rules” which gave a certain measure of social and personal protection are cast off, leaving an even greater number of lives to founder on the rocks of human depravity. Idols will be sought to take God’s place, and each and every one of them will disappoint, leading to greater and greater despair, anger, and violence.
It is welcome, because like a placebo in a medical drug trial “casual Christianity” provides a false hope of ultimate healing, but fails to eradicate the disease that is sure to condemn everyone who doesn’t embrace the authentic Jesus of Nazareth. One of the saddest parts of the Bible is in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus talks about the last day when many who were convinced they knew Christ will be told, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” As the late, and sorely missed, Dr. Francis Schaeffer was fond to say: “There is only one reason to believe in Christianity—because it’s true.” There is nothing casual about true Christianity—you’re either in it, all the way, or you’re tragically on the outside and in grave peril. As Jesus Himself said:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”
Christianity has been buffeted by friend and foe alike, but the most damaging blows have been inflicted by those who feign allegiance, but whose lives and demeanor demonstrate them to be casual Christians, indeed. As the heat ratchets up in the coming days and years, we will discover who is “casual” about the Messiah, and who is not. I sincerely pray you and I will be among those for whom the fires draw out impurities, leaving only God-glorifying humility, truth, and love behind.
Wow! Very, very good!