Is it okay to profess you’re a believer, attend a few worship
services, occasionally relax and maybe read a few Christian books and call it a
day?
The answer to that question is “yes” and “no”. Yes, because
there will always be times when we need a break and choose to coast through a
day or two. The Bible remains unopened, misplaced somewhere in the house. Our
iPhone is muted. And our eyes turn sightless to the needs within our homes and
the outside world. Even prayer is temporarily put on the back burner, so to
speak, and you promise you’ll get to prayer as soon as your favorite TV show is
over.
Speaking of television, I like the Febreze TV ads showing
people “nose blind” to the smelly environment they may be living in. Apparently
if we hang around smells long enough we adjust and no longer detect offensive
odors hanging over our heads. The ad suggests we take action (like using
Febreze!) because we get complacent with our environment. It's amazing how fast a
slice of cold cuts in the refrigerator can turn and develop off-smells.
The answer to the question is also “no” because we quickly
adjust to complacency and become comfortable coasting with our Christianity. There
is no quick fix to believer complacency like spritzing some Febreze into the
air.
In James’ epistle he reminds us that faith by itself is not
enough … unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless (v2:17).
Have your coasting day … don’t get complacent … open you eyes
to the needs looking into your face. But just don’t look, respond!Here’s your question: How do you deal with believer complacency? Let me hear from you.
Robert Parlante
July 2015
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