Are you a 'Sunday Christian'?
The "Sunday Christian" phenomenon is a feature of lukewarm churches affecting all areas of the globe. The demands of modern life have taken their toll on the commitment of Christians. This publication serves to point out the dangers both for the spiritual life of the individual Christian as well as for the church.
Crowded Sundays and exciting Christmases are a huge contrast with the sparse numbers that usually show up for bible study, prayer meetings and other fellowship opportunities. Why are the small group numbers so low? Why is it so difficult for the small groups, places of such dynamic sharing and instruction in God’s word to attract who enthusiastically attend church only on Sundays?
It all comes down to our focus, our heart, what we see as important. We need to think through this issue; as a Christian, if you only busy yourself with things of the world, if you indulge in the pleasures of this world, if you only go to church on Sundays, how can you live an abundant Christian life? And how can someone like this be the type of Christian that God can use? How can this "neither hot nor cold" condition please God?
Ask yourself, is this one day a week enough to have an intimate relationship with God?
People who understand interpersonal relationships all know that if you want to establish a good relationship with someone, you need to be in touch often, whether it's making a phone call, or stopping by their house for a deeper type of communication.
Regular contact will not only enhance mutual affection, it will also increase mutual understanding, so you can communicate freely. In the same way, if Christians regularly communicate with God, they'll understand the heart of God. It's easy for someone who understands the heart of God to develop an intimate relationship with Him.
Furthermore, through communicating with God, you're allowing God to enter your heart, allowing Him to understand what's really in there, to empathize with you in your difficulties, and to carry your burdens. In this way, even if you run into difficulties or suffer setbacks, you will never have the bitter feeling that God has left you out in the cold.
However, because "Sunday Christians" don't have an intimate relationship with God, when they suffer hardships, even if they come before God, they don't know what to say, because they are too unfamiliar with him.
How can someone who is usually estranged from God draw near to him in an emergency? And even if he draws near to God in an emergency, he casts God aside at all other times. Isn't the kind of person who calls on
God when he needs help but forgets about Him the rest of the time the same as a worldly person who is eager for quick success and instant gratification?
And how can someone with a heart like this establish an intimate relationship with God? To state it harshly, this kind of person is just using God, despising His grace.
Why is it so hard to put this into effect in our consumption of spiritual food? Do we really think that spiritual growth is not as important as physical growth? Is the life of a Christian destined to remain in the infant stage forever?
Every Christian wants to become a "spiritual grown-up," one who can eat solid food and not just drink spiritual milk.
It's hard for a "Sunday Christian" to be integrated into the church family, and even harder for them to commit to the church. The church is just a place where they can "consume" at regular intervals. After "consuming" they clear out. They have no emotional attachment or ties to the church. Other than just going on a Sunday morning thy have no fellowship with the other believers to really allow for “iron to sharpen iron.
How can a spiritual life like this be fully committed to God? Actually, from the day one becomes a Christian he should present himself wholly to God and fully commit himself. And the church is the Body of Christ; commitment to the Church is an indicator of commitment to God. Commitment to the church means making it a priority, serving with earnest and zeal and not being haphazard.
If your role is to play an instrument be a dedicated player, be on time, put time in to practice your skill to enhance the worship. If it is to be a Sunday school teacher, take time to pray and ask God how he wants you to impart his word to young minds, spend time learning and reviewing the material rather than just regurgitating what is written in the Sunday school lesson outline.
A Christian must be a branch connected to God's grapevine if he/she wants to produce more abundant fruit.
In summary, "Sunday Christians" don't find favour with God, and it's difficult for them to establish a good relationship with God. Even more, because they can't create spiritual growth in themselves, "Sunday Christians" must constantly be on guard, keep returning "home," keep going back to the big church family, and keep returning to the refuge of God's love.
The committed and dedicated servant is the kind of Christian in whom God finds pleasure.
Summary: As a Christian, if you only busy yourself with things of the world, if you indulge in the pleasures of this world, if you only go to church on Sundays, how can you have an abundant Christian life? And how can a person like this be the type of Christian that God can use? How can this "neither hot nor cold" condition please God?
Adapted from Joann Pittman.