The Crisis of Casual, Complacent, Counterfeit Christianity
In the West, many who would call themselves Christians have a very casual approach to their faith. Being a Christian can mean relatively little, perhaps accepting Christian doctrines, agreeing to Christian standards of behaviour and going to church occasionally. Even the atheist Richard Dawkins claims to be be a cultural Christian. This has always been a problem in churches.
In contrast Alexei Navalny, the Russian politician killed by Putin’s regime for his beliefs once said,
“If your convictions mean something, you must be prepared to stand up for them and make sacrifices if necessary.”
When John wrote to some early churches he pronounced what Jesus thought of them. The Ephesian church had ‘lost its first love’ and they were urged to return to the relationship that they had with Jesus at first. The churches in Pergamum and Thyatira were compromising with the immorality of the local temples, the church in Sardis needed to ‘wake up’ and the church at Laodicea was only ‘lukewarm’. This is all described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. The remedy given to the Laodiceans was a personal one and applied to all the churches, ‘Come back to me’, says Jesus!
“So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” Revelation 3:19-20
The ancient church in Rome also needed to ‘wake up’. It seems that sexual immorality and alcohol were a problem amongst them too!
“The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 13:11-14
Contrast this casual attitude with the seriousness with which some Muslims approach their faith.
Ayaam Hirsi Ali’s experience
Ayaam became involved with the Muslim Brotherhood when a child and young adult. She subsequently became a refugee, and atheist but has now become a Christian. Her debate with Richard Dawkins which occurred just six moths after she had left the Neo-Atheists saying that she had become a Christian is well worth watching. She describes the devotion many Muslims demonstrated to their faith.
“I was a teenager when the Muslim Brotherhood penetrated my community in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1985. I don’t think I had even understood religious practice before the coming of the Brotherhood. I had endured the rituals of ablutions, prayers and fasting as tedious and pointless.
The preachers of the Muslim Brotherhood changed this. They articulated a direction: the straight path. A purpose: to work towards admission into Allah’s paradise after death. A method: the Prophet’s instruction manual of do’s and don’ts — the halal and the haram. As a detailed supplement to the Qur’an, the hadeeth spelled out how to put into practice the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, God and the devil.
The Brotherhood preachers left nothing to the imagination. They gave us a choice. Strive to live by the Prophet’s manual and reap the glorious rewards in the hereafter. On this earth, meanwhile, the greatest achievement possible was to die as a martyr for the sake of Allah.
The alternative, indulging in the pleasures of the world, was to earn Allah’s wrath and be condemned to an eternal life in hellfire. Some of the “worldly pleasures” they were decrying included reading novels, listening to music, dancing, and going to the cinema — all of which I was ashamed to admit that I adored.
The most striking quality of the Muslim Brotherhood was their ability to transform me and my fellow teenagers from passive believers into activists, almost overnight. We didn’t just say things or pray for things: we did things. As girls we donned the burka and swore off Western fashion and make-up. The boys cultivated their facial hair to the greatest extent possible. They wore the white dress-like tawb worn in Arab countries or had their trousers shortened above their ankle bones. We operated in groups and volunteered our services in charity to the poor, the old, the disabled and the weak. We urged fellow Muslims to pray and demanded that non-Muslims convert to Islam.
During Islamic study sessions, we shared with the preacher in charge of the session our worries. For instance, what should we do about the friends we loved and felt loyal to but who refused to accept our dawa (invitation to the faith)? In response, we were reminded repeatedly about the clarity of the Prophet’s instructions. We were told in no uncertain terms that we could not be loyal to Allah and Muhammad while also maintaining friendships and loyalty towards the unbelievers. If they explicitly rejected our summons to Islam, we were to hate and curse them.
Here, a special hatred was reserved for one subset of unbeliever: the Jew. We cursed the Jews multiple times a day and expressed horror, disgust and anger at the litany of offences he had allegedly committed. The Jew had betrayed our Prophet. He had occupied the Holy Mosque in Jerusalem. He continued to spread corruption of the heart, mind and soul.”
There is now much evidence that the Qur’an and the Hadith’s cannot have the authority that Muslims claim but still the level of devotion to their belief puts many Christians, whose faith is built on very strong foundations, to shame.
Complacent Christianity
The Bible says much about complacency amongst Christians, the attitude of being spiritually indifferent, content with where they are and neglectful of what God has commanded his people. This form of religion is one where a person sees their faith as being centred on themselves. They want forgiveness and to be accepted as one of God’s people but their faith is essentially egocentric, They have yet to understand that Christians have been chosen to live for God’s glory, not theirs. Without the deep-seated change where we live for God’s glory and not our own, any religion is phoney.
Jesus makes high demands of his people. It is surely significant that the first three gospel writers emphasised this saying of Jesus:
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34
“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Jesus explains what following him will involve:
“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38
We show we are ashamed of him when we fail to speak about his importance to us.
Several other Bible passages address the dangers of this mindset and encourage Christians to pursue faith actively.
The Danger of being Lukewarm
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16
This message to the Laodicean church reflects God’s rejection of half-hearted, complacent faith. Believers are called to be fully engaged in their walk with Christ, not indifferent or spiritually passive.
The Danger of Complacency
Here, complacency is associated with foolishness which is a word used in the Bible for those who live without God.. It implies that neglecting to pursue God’s wisdom and his righteousness leads to hell..
“For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.” Proverbs 1:32
The Danger of Laziness
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:12
This verse urges believers to avoid laziness in their faith, encouraging persistent pursuit of God’s promises by imitating the lives of faithful people.
This danger is also described in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) which illustrates the need for spiritual vigilance. Ten virgins await the bridegroom who symbolises the Lord Jesus, but only five are prepared with oil when he arrives. The unprepared ones are shut out, showing that complacency in waiting for and working for Christ’s return leads to eternal rejection.
The Sin of Omission
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:17
This verse highlights how neglecting to act when you know what is right is considered sinful. It challenges Christians to take initiative in their faith, rather than slipping into passive complacency.
The sin of being ashamed of Jesus
“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38
We can do a self-assessment on ourselves very easily. Look at how we spend our time. Is meeting with God and other Christians a real priority? Is learning what the Bible teaches important? Is prayer a vital part of my life? Do I love to share the good news about the salvation there is in Jesus with others? Do we regard the gifts, including money, that God has given us, as being there for the Lord’s use? Do we use our homes for Christ? Are we looking forwards to being with our Lord in heaven?
Casual or half hearted Christianity is a sham. It is a form of religion that takes what we like from the ‘faith’, such as friendships, assurance and something to believe in but has not put Jesus on the throne of our life. Such people will rarely seek to explain to non-Christians how they can get right with God and why faith in Jesus is essential. They will want to cling on to secret sins that they keep quiet from others. How foolish. Don’t they realise that God sees into our hearts and knows all that we are thinking and doing. Such people do not care about this - but God does and they cannot enjoy a close relationship with the Lord. Tim Keller described some Christians as ‘faithful’ but not ‘fruitful’. It is so easy to hold to comfortable doctrines and yet to be of little use for the Lord.
Heath and Wealth Teaching
Another form of ego-centric Christianity that unfortunately many preachers advocate today is a ‘health and wealth’ form of Christianity. They emphasise the love of God for people and say that he wants to give people what they want, just as an earthly father would like to satisfy his children. So ‘name it and claim it’ has been widely taught. God is our heavenly Father but he certainly does not want to raise spoilt, self centred children. The Old Testament tells us, again and again, what happens to God’s people who are not living for God. This God has not changed. He wants all his people to learn to think and live differently.
Holiness requires training
The ‘Beatitudes’ and subsequent teaching at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount emphasises the way God wants his people to think. It is only through this utter change of outlook that we will experience the blessing of God.
In heaven there will only be holy people, people who have spent their lives on earth preparing for this by learning to live for the Lord Jesus here on earth. It is in heaven that our joy will be complete.
“‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 17:16-17
The purpose of our lives here on earth is to prepare ourselves for living in the presence of God.
God is not here to ‘dance to our tune’, we have been chosen to serve him and nothing less. Christians pray,
“Your will be done.” Matthew 6:10
In heaven, our joy will be ecstatic. But we must remember that heaven is a holy place and only those who have a love for holiness will be there. God’s purpose for us now is to prepare us for heaven by giving us a love for holiness.
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:27
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14
If we do not have this desire now we will never be in heaven but in the other place. This change in character is what Jesus is teaching us all at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount with the beatitudes; ‘Blessed are those’ whose character is becoming like that of Jesus.
Jesus has become the sin offering that has propitiated for the sins of those who have become dependent on him but there is still a response that God expects from us. We also still have a sacrifice to make:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
Casual Christians think God is satisfied with enthusiastic lip service but this is not true. The prophet Amos realised that God is dissatisfied with Israel’s worship practices because they did not come from a sincere faith:
“Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:23-24
Religious ceremonies, when they are disconnected from a love for the Lord that controls all our life and is seen in our just and righteous living, are meaningless to God. The prophet Amos criticises the people of Israel for their hypocrisy—outwardly performing religious acts while neglecting the new life God has given us. God’s focus is not on music and offerings but on a life of justice and righteousness.
This passage highlights the idea that worship without God-centred living, without care for the oppressed, for the truth, and for justice, is meaningless to God.
If my religion is meaningless to God, it will become empty for us. Ayaam Hirsi Ali discovered this emptiness when she was advocating Neo-atheism. She experienced this vacuum that resulted from what she was teaching and became very anxious and depressed that no therapy or pills could shift. When a counsellor suggested that she might be suffering from a spiritual vacuum she recognised that this was her problem and asked God to restore what she had lost. This he has done - she became a Christian.
The Bible consistently warns against complacency in Christians. Whether it’s the parable of the ten virgins, the message to the Laodiceans, or the admonition in Proverbs, God calls His people to active, intentional faith. Complacency leaves believers vulnerable to sin and spiritual stagnation, while diligence and vigilance lead to blessings and the fulfilment of God’s promises.
Who does not feel inadequate in the light of such teaching? This is why we need to daily rely upon the death of Jesus to pay for our continued sin. We do not become Christians by trusting in what Jesus has done for us on that cross and subsequently grow as a Christian by keeping to Christian rules. No - we become Christians by faith and we continue to live our new lives by loving and obeying Jesus himself. We are saved by faith and then live by faith.
“See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.” Habakkuk 2:4
The apostle Paul himself recognised how he constantly sinned and lived in ways that were not in tune with the Almighty, all-holy God. He wrote as a Christian,
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 7:24
What joy and peace are given to those who continue to live trusting in Jesus because we understand:
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
Even if you are truly a follower of the Lord Jesus you will feel that your life cannot satisfy God. The word ‘satisfaction’ comes from the Latin ‘satis’ which means enough. A school teacher in the old days used to write this in school reports about students who have reached the right standard. The second part of the word is from ‘facere’, ‘to do’. The fact is that none of us can ever do enough to satisfy God - only Jesus can do that and the gospel is that he is willing to share his ‘righteousness’ with us. This is why to stray from Christ is a disaster, we need to stay close to him everyday. It is only by living ‘in him’ that God will be satisfied with us.
It is because of all that Jesus has won for us that we must determine never to be casual, complacent Christians but instead to be committed, self-controlled Christ-filled people instead
Keep on living with Christ
Several Bible passages emphasise the importance of remaining faithful to Jesus Christ throughout our lives, urging believers to persevere in their faith and continue growing spiritually until the end. Here are some of the key verses:
Press On
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me… I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14
This passage from Paul urges believers to continue striving in their faith journey, aiming to grow closer to Christ. Paul acknowledges that spiritual growth is a lifelong pursuit, not a one-time event.
Finish the Race
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Paul reflects on his life of faith, comparing it to a race that requires perseverance and endurance. This verse encourages believers to remain committed to Jesus until the end of life.
Run with Perseverance
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2
The Christian life is likened to a race that requires ongoing effort and perseverance. Believers are encouraged to stay focused on Jesus as their ultimate goal.
Don’t Grow Weary in Doing Good
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
This verse emphasises continuing in good works and living faithfully, knowing that there will be eternal rewards for perseverance.
Abide in Christ
This is the key message of God, nothing is so important and everything else flows from this.
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4-5
Jesus teaches the importance of abiding in Him continuously to bear spiritual fruit. A Christian’s connection to Christ must be ongoing for growth and effectiveness.
Continue in the Faith
“…if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.” Colossians 1:22-23
Paul emphasises that believers must remain steadfast in their faith and hold on to the gospel throughout their lives to receive the promises of Christ. Stepping away from the Lord Jesus puts our salvation in peril. Without him there is no salvation.
Conclusion
The Bible is clear that following Jesus is not a one-time decision but a lifelong journey that requires endurance, perseverance, and faithfulness. Believers are called to press on, remain in Christ, and run the race to the end, knowing that rewards await those who finish well.
During China’s Boxer Rebellion of 1900, insurgents captured a mission station, blocked all the gates but one, and in front of that one gate placed a cross flat on the ground. Then the word was passed to those inside that any who trampled the cross underfoot would be permitted their freedom and life, but that any refusing would be shot. Terribly frightened, the first seven students trampled the cross under their feet and were allowed to go free. But the eighth student, a young girl, refused to commit the sacrilegious act. Kneeling beside the cross in prayer for strength, she arose and moved carefully around the cross, and went out to face the firing squad. Strengthened by her example, every one of the remaining ninety-two students followed her to the firing squad.
Why is so much of our Christianity today spineless and weak? Could the basic problem be that we have lost the emphasis Jesus and his apostles had, that the next life is more important than the here and now? This present life is meant to train us in holiness so that we are prepared to live for eternity close to our creator. All the decisions we make should be on the basis that we are on a journey to the Promised Land, much like Christian in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress was. Churches will continue to be feeble until we rediscover this truth.
Paul wrote at the end of his life:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
That is to ‘live by faith’. Our Lord longs for all of us to have this perspective.
BVPalmer
October 2024
