We live in an age of opinion. If you get three people in a room you’re likely to have four opinions. I find it amusing how people will even offer opinions on subjects they know nothing about. In addition I find I’m very swayed by the opinions of strangers, particularly when it comes to reviews on products on Amazon, restaurants to eat at, movies to watch or even politics. And while you and I are swayed by opinions, we all know deep down that they can’t be trusted. Sure it’s probably no big deal when it comes to buying something or spending a couple of hours in a movie theater, but when it comes to how we live our lives and what we believe in, we all have this sense that there’s nothing really solid to believe in. I’m discovering that more and more of us live with a subtle skepticism about most things and I believe it’s in large part to the plethora of opinions, opinions that can’t be trusted.
The confusion that our current situation has placed us in, I believe has caused us to be half-hearted creatures. We don’t want to commit to anything and if we do, we now need to be convinced without any room for doubt. All of this has set up a nearly impossible environment for faith to thrive. So more and more of us attend church, do “Christian’ things but are very reticent to commit or go all in. Maybe not because we doubt it’s truth, but because we’ve been conditioned to not commit to anything! Jesus calls for commitment and without commitment no one changes and little impact is made. Yes we are conditioned to resist this, but that doesn’t mean we should. When you and I are committed to a cause, especially one with the backing and transformational power of the Gospel we have amazing potential!
The gospel’s forward movement is dependent on committed, all-in kind of people. Sure, we may have reason to resist but I believe we have more reason to insist! When we are committed the gospel and it’s mission it changes us first of all. Mediocrity is not inspiring, does not motivate and ultimately will have little impact on our lives. Have you ever tried to “sorta diet”? how about “sorta save money for something”? Sorta anything leaves us bored and without positives we want. In addition our commitment has impact on other people like few if anything else can. The world and people will never become a better place with half-hearted, half-way, sorta kinda faith. We need to live compelling lives, lives that motivate others. And when you add the Holy Spirit of God to the mix, now you have an unstoppable, world changing, people transforming power that brings meaning and joy to life.
Don’t settle or justify a half-hearted life. You were made for something more. Our world needs something more!
