History repeats?
Let's look at a factious example from 500 years ago and link it in with trends today. Meet Barry from the 1500's. Barry is a potato farmer living around 100 km from London. Barry's farm has been in the family for generations. Nothing much changes in Barry's village. Well, that is until recently. Massive societal changes mean Barry's farm is no longer productive and he is forced to move to London to find a new job.
The world is changing. There are stories of a plague that has wiped out millions around Europe. In fact there is so much news and new religious thought swamping London through the invention of the printing press. This has spread a "protestant" view of the church that is ruffling feathers. Barry is in a changing world. He feels overcome by all he sees and hears in London.
So where is the one place to which Barry can escape and know that everything is comfortable and predicable? The answer: the Roman Catholic Mass. Barry knows that the liturgy never changes. It is his comfort. He may not understand a word of the Latin spoken or understand any of the symbolic meaning of the service, but it is a comforting place in a world of change.
The challenging message of the gospel and the risk of following Christ never enter into his thoughts because the chants and prayers are his "happy place." Church, for Barry, is about tradition and comfort from a world of change.
Fast forward to Bill living in 2014
Bill lives in a changing world that means he will have multiple career paths, many moves and little job security. He hears of worldwide Bird flu's, climate change, and natural disasters threatening millions. The internet means information is everywhere (the productive use of that information is another matter). Technology advances at such a rate that it seems impossible to keep up.
Bill is in a changing world. He feels overcome by all he sees and hears. So where does Bill go where everything is comfortable? Is the answer Sunday church?
Has our church today become like the church 500 years ago? More about our comfort and complacency rather than the risk of taking up our cross and following Jesus? Has the church today become a comfortable environment? For example, enjoying a nice church service following the same comfortable pattern of: favourite hymn, short prayer and feel-good sermon followed by a cuppa, biscuit and conversation about footy? Or a church with happy songs (never Psalms of lament), a motivation message followed by cappuccino?
I am not saying these are bad in themselves, but is the message to repent and follow Jesus constantly challenging you? Do people understand what it means to be protesters (the original meaning of "being protestant")? In the 1500s these new radical churches spoke the common language, encouraged people to read the Bible, and preached to the people, challenging them about their response to Jesus. Or are we like the exodus generation that hear the challenge to enter the promised land, but like the ten spies, seek comfort rather than risk trusting in God?
Uncomfortable
One of the greatest threats to our faith is comfort. Following Christ is not comfortable. It wasn't for Paul (read 2 Corinthians 11 verse 24-28) or the early church (read Acts). While risking things for Christ might seem scary, the honour to have a relationship with God through Jesus is the greatest gracious gift, ever.
Risk helps us to grow. Comfort deadens our faith.
Want a challenge? Read "Risk is right: Better to lose your life than waste it" by John Piper
Jeremy Dover is a former sports scientist and pastor
Jeremy Dover's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/jeremy-dover.html