Fake And Shallow

A missionary rode on a plane to go back home. She set by a native of the country she served. She asked him what he thought about the American church. His answer stings. He said only two words in response, "Fake and shallow." You may take offense at that statement as you think about yourself and your local congregation.

For all our Bible study, worship gatherings, plentiful resources, and freedoms let me ask. In this time of trial answer the following questions in light of that man's description of the American church. Have any Christians been hoarding food and toile paper giving no thought to their neighbors? ? Have any Christians been overcome with fear more than faith? Have any Christians reacted selfishly instead of willing to sacrifice to help others? Have any Christians mourned the loss of their stock market losses of surplus incomes while common folks have their hours cut or businesses shut down and no source of income? Have any Christians talked big talk and then given into cowardice?

Taylor and I watched a sobering movie last night titled, Tortured For Christ, about a persecuted pastor named Richard Wurmbrandt. I read his book by the same name years ago. Watching this pastor get arrested and tortured beyond belief made me think about the American church and the current crisis. How will the fake and shallow American church hold up under adversity, trial and a little suffering?

I'm humbled when I think about persecuted people all over the world for Jesus and how easily we whine and whimper when things don't go our way. How quick we are to doubt, pout, and curl up in the corner. Persecuted believers live in danger every day. To own a Bible, to gather in secret to worship, to sing a gospel song or to pray. All those thins are dangerous. Testifying is forbidden in these countries as well as personal evangelism. Strangely they do it anyway. They accept the consequences. They stand firm in faith. They even love those who torture them.

One of the oddest parts of the movie last night includded Wurmbrandt praying in prison. He said he did it every night even though it was forbidden. Each night the guards made their rounds. When they discovered him praying, they jerked him from the cell to torture him some more He prayed anyway knowing what it would cost him. . One night a guard found him praying and came in the cell angry. He yelled, "Why do you pray. You have lost everything. Your God has not saved you or delivered. What do you possibly have to pray about?" Wurmbrandt replied, "I was praying for you." That shook the guard and he retreated shocked.

Wurmbrandt endured that horrible treatment for 14 years. Yet upon release, he said he loved the Russian soldiers. He hated communism, but loved his persecutors to the end of his life. That is neither fake nor shallow.

Wake up American church. Ho canw we stand before God in the presence of such believers and not hang our heads in shame. We have been given so much. To whom much is given much is required. It's time to look in the mirror. Am I fake? Am I shallow? Are you? Are those we worship alongside?