Walmart Christianity
"Everything we do, beloved, is for the sake of building you up." (2 Corinthians 12:19c)
In an age when people treat churches like Walmart superstores, this passage of scripture stares us in the face. Many people walk into a church and ask, "What can you give me?" The spiritual art of giving has often been replaced by the cynical "What spirituality can I buy at the cheapest price?" The Apostle Paul is encouraging those already in the faith to focus on their faith and bring those new to the faith, or those with an immature faith, to a deeper relationship with God.
Walmart Christianity tries to get the most from the church. Faithful Christianity tries to give the most to the church. The more mature one's faith, the more outwardly focused one becomes. The more mature one's faith, the less needy our spiritual life becomes. Deeper spiritual maturity leaves more emotional and spiritual time to focus on "building" up the rest of the community.
As I age and society changes, I long to have more constancy. There are times when I long for the "good old days" when no one was preoccupied with a cell phone, where blue-collar workers could find a well-paying job, and where the world didn't feel quite so threatening. Yet, giving up the comfort of my "good old days" fantasy is a small price to pay to build up those who need a closer relationship with God. If doing missions in a new way brings new people to the faith, it is a small price to pay.
Imagine a church where everyone was more concerned with others than with their desires being met. Imagine a church where decisions are made based on others' needs rather than one's comfort level. Imagine a church so focused on the other that we can work together on a single project. Imagine over a thousand people focused in the same direction on a worthwhile project that glorified God and met basic human needs. That is a church I want to take part in supporting. We can be that church.
It takes a recognition that we are strong in the faith. It takes trust in God's mercy and forgiveness to embrace our weakness, knowing God's love is greater than our ability to sin. So, today, think about the ways your faith is already mature. Prayerfully ask God to strengthen your faith to be less self-centered and more other-centered. Finally, you and I should pray that everyone in our church can be humble enough to agree to try focusing on the same mission with enthusiasm and determination. Then, watch how God will "build" us up and do great things in God's holy name. Others will want our church's mature, life-transforming commitment, and they will no longer be satisfied with a Walmart faith.
This devotion was originally published in April of 2017