We are living in very interesting times. People are becoming more and more health conscious. This has birthed an increase in reading the labels on the things that we eat and drink. There are now a wide variety of foods that are labeled “lite”, which supposedly means less potentially harmful ingredients.
This phenomenon has invaded the Church. We are living in the age of Christianity “lite”. We have taken Biblical terms and “lightened” them up to mean what we want them to mean, and not what they actually mean. For example, sins, like drunkenness or drug abuse (Galatians 5:19-21), have become a “dysfunction” or an “addiction”. Sexual immorality (Romans 1:24-28), according to Christianity “lite”, is now an “alternative lifestyle”. Instead of taking up the cross (Luke 9:23), which is a place where self is supposed to die, now according to Christianity “lite”, we’re to avoid “poor” or “low” self-esteem. Drama and theatre have replaced apostolic doctrine (Acts 2:42-47) in our pulpits (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Instead of having an attitude reflecting the sacrificial mind of Christ (Philippians 2:4,5), the vast majority of church goers have more of a consumer, “What is in this church for me?”, mentality.
The absolute sovereignty of God (Daniel 4:35) and Lordship of Jesus (Acts 2:36) make most professing Christians feel a bit uneasy, because the God of Scripture will not barter with the carnal whims of His creatures. To God, our being happy is not more important than our being holy (1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:3).
My prayer is that our lives would reject all forms of Christianity “lite”! Walking with Jesus (Colossians 2:6) and living a Spirit-filled life (Acts 1:8) leave no wiggle room for carrying on a private love affair either with the world (1 John 2:15-17) or with self (Mark 8:34-37).
