"Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." Galatians 6:17
Maybe it's because I'm sick. Maybe it's because I haven't felt well for over 2 weeks and it doesn't seem to be progressing the right way. I don't know what it is - but here is what is on my mind:
Christians in the United States are sissies.
The more I understand about the global Church, the more I realize that I am product of a too-comfortable, elitist, sissified version of Christianity that much of the majority world Church doesn't know anything about. Ok, I know it sounds a little tough, but I don't think that I am far off.
I get bombarded with questions every week like, "What do you think God wants me to do with the bonus I got from work?" or "What's God's will for my life?" or "How do I find fulfillment in my life?" or "What are the top ten secrets to a happy, efficient, successful life?"
Those questions are not the questions being asked in the rest of the world by believers. They are praying things like: "God, please spare my life as I take your gospel to this village" or "God please provide food for my family and I today as we serve you" or "Father, please allow your gospel to run freely in this nation even if it costs me my freedom."
Or maybe, "Don't give me any grief about petty stuff please........I've got beating marks all over my body" like Paul said. I wonder what Paul and the early church believers would say to our questions? Probably not much......it's kind of hard to talk with your mouth wide open and tongue on the floor. We need, at times more frequent, a good dose of perspective.
We are free. Comfortable. Wealthy. Professional. Educated. And sissy.
Convenience is the god of the hour, and inconvenience the great devil. We "go" to church instead of "are" the church. Church is a thing we attend, not a mystery we become...........at least far too often.
What will it take to awaken us? I don't know. Economic upheaval? Governmental persecution? Sulfur rain? World war? Not sure.
What I do know is that the Apostle Paul was awake........and he had the marks to prove it.
