Ken Kersten tells about seeing an ad in the paper for a drive-in passion play. It was like a drive-in movie in that you could watch the story of Jesus – the passion play – without ever getting out of your car. The ad said this: “Come and experience the life of Christ all from the comfort of your own car.”

But you know what? That’s just as wrong as wrong can be. The truth is that we will not experience the life of Christ or the life that Christ desires for us from within our areas of comfort. We will not be the church that God desires from within our areas of comfort.

The problem is that Americanized Christianity has become safe and comfortable. You don’t want to teach a class or get involved in a ministry? Don’t worry about it! Someone else will do it. You don’t want to give sacrificially to the God who has richly blessed you? Then don’t give! No one will know. Just show up to most of the church services and try to be a pretty good person the rest of the time, and you’re all set!

That sounds nice and easy and safe, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, that’s not what it means to follow Jesus. That safe, easy and comfortable brand of Christianity does not come from Scripture. It’s a lie that came straight from hell.

It was Jesus who said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27)

Loving Jesus above everyone and everything? Carrying a cross? Dying to ourselves? That’s not the message people want to hear in 21st century America. And yet, that’s the life Jesus has called us to live.

There are many spiritual gifts listed in Scripture – many ways in which you can be involved in the work of Jesus in this world. Being a Pew Warmer is not one of them.

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