Christianity for Dummies (aka: Christianity Lite)

Susie and I watched a documentary last evening called "Beyond the Gates of Splendor" based upon the famous killings of five missionary men in Equador in the 1950s (I saw the movie last summer). While both movie and documentary contain surprisingly few references to "missionary" and fail to make mention of the Gospel story, the viewer who is aquainted with the true faith these men possessed cannot help but be overwhelmed. These were men who could stand head-to-head with the biblical Daniel, Ruth or Joseph for their willing example to "put it all on the line" for their Lord.

I have also been reading a novel called "Safely Home" about the persecuted church in China and recently finished a book about Margaret Werner who spent nearly 10 years in the Soviet Gulags where she learned so much about faith and perseverence. While she did not become a Christian until after her release, she recalls seeing signs of God's benevolence in her life during her imprisonment, pointing her to Himself.

In contrast, when one surveys the mediocrity of much of the Western church today, compared to the likes of the afore mentioned figures, a distinction is clear. While I do know many very committed believers in my church context, there are far too many signs of compromise in the Canadian church as a whole. Many have opted for a non-offensive, materialistic, and morally soft version of Christianity, or "Christianity Lite" as I regretfully call it. I sometimes wonder how many of us would be willing to take a bullet, do jail time, or lose a spouse on some distant beach for the sake of proclaiming the Good News? In many ways I hope we're never put in a position to find out. Then again history seems to indicate that the church grows stronger under trial. The Bible itself tells us that the testing of our faith produces (the much needed element of) perseverence.

I think we can learn a few lessons from those who have endured much for Christ. One of which is to live examined lives in light of Christ's life and those who have reflected Him best-to embrace courage, boldness and purity as a means of honouring our Saviour and living up to our "high calling".