Reality TV Christianity

I know it has been a while since I have written on here. Life has been busy and I haven’t had internet. I have also been lazy and when I have had internet I have been scrolling Facebook and watching Netflix (sooo productive…). I decided to write tonight because I am unable to sleep, the reason I am unable to sleep is because I am recovering from whiplash. This past Thursday I was involved in a car accident. The tread on my tire disintegrated while I was driving around a curved off ramp, I ended up doing two 360’s before winding up on the side of the road. By pure miracle I was not hit, my car was basically undamaged and I am pretty much unhurt, except for the pain in my neck and shoulders.

As I was lying in bed I was debating what I wanted to do, there really isn't much you can do at 2 am. My options were read a book, watch Netflix or listen to music. I didn't really want to do any of those things because they required some movement so I just lay here thinking for a while. That was when I was reminded of a thought I had the other day. My thought was this, why are we as Christians not making a bigger impact on the world?

I think one reason (speaking as an American Christian who observes American Christians) is that we tend to take ourselves out of the picture when observing others. We see someone with the means to help the poor yet walks right by them and we scoff and judge. We see someone dressing inappropriately and again scoff and judge. We watch families fall apart make comments on what should have happened, or how they should have fixed things. We watch Church fights and arguments; remaining silent when there is a chance to speak but when off to the sidelines making comments as if we are experts. It is as if we have turned the Church and our fellow brothers and sister in Christ into Netflix shows instead of real people. I say this because I know I have been guilty of it.

I think back on how many times I have seen situations arise and just sit on the sidelines waiting for the next bit to happen, until something more interesting comes along. Or how many times have I jumped onto the latest Christian bandwagon because it was “cool” to support something that everyone else was supporting and then watch it die out when the next new “fad” came up?

 When did feeding the poor, helping the broken hearted and making lives new become just another piece of entertainment that we tune into when our other programs get boring? When did loving people turn into “This person’s story line isn't changing the way I want it to or as fast as I think it should so I am just going to switch programs, to something I like better, that suites me better”. We aren't making an impact because we aren't willing to take the time to be an impact. We want to change the world for Jesus yet we don’t want to live the way Jesus did. Jesus went out and helped people. He lived life with those that he wanted to change. He did that because he actually loved and cared for them.

When life got tough for Jesus he didn't move onto the next thing, he stayed the course. I think I have hit myself over the head a few times with my own writing. I want to make a difference but am I truly willing to make the sacrifices for that difference or am I looking for just another source of entertainment to fill my time. I hope that my answer from now on will be a resounding yes, but I know that at times I will fail. I just hope when I do the Lord will remind me not to treat those around me as TV show. Instead I pray that I will be reminded that I am actually a part of the life that is going on around me, I am not just viewer waiting for the next segment. I can be a main character with a purpose.