Everybody says they are a Christian around here. Everybody has the right bumper stickers. Everybody says the right things. Everybody listens to the right music. Most people attend church on Sundays. Most people can even quote scripture. They even profess their belief in the existence of God. At first appearance and even first sound you’d think this is a deeply rooted Biblical nation, but it’s not always what it seems.
In fact you might be thinking, “Where is he talking about?” “That sounds a little bit like southern America.”
“Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” Matthew 13:5-7
You are correct. That does sound a lot like southern America. Quite frankly that’s the spiritual state of southern America and southern Africa as well. I’ve never travelled and stayed anywhere else in the U.S. to speak to their spiritual state. But something I have seen my whole life in the south is rootless faith.
“…something I’ve seen my whole life is ROOTLESS FAITH.”
I had heard from friends who had done work or are doing work in Africa that it is hard to find a deeply rooted church. I had also heard that the gospel goes an inch deep and a mile wide there. After living in Malawi and Zambia for a month each, I got to see that first hand. Some people could quote scripture backwards and forwards, but still had a very shallow relationship with God. I’m not saying all of this in judgment or condemnation…I’m saying this as a call to go deeper. It saddened my heart. I wanted more for them. Then it made me think of home…
“I’m not saying all of this in judgment or condemnation…I’m saying this as a call to go deeper.”
I thought of what I had grown up seeing and hearing. They call it the Bible belt. We jokingly say, “There’s a church on every corner.” I grew up hearing people say they were Christians, but I saw no evidence of a relationship with God in their lives. I even grew up around family who claimed to believe in Christ yet acted in opposition to His teachings and standards. I’m certainly no judge of persons. That is not my place nor do I want that responsibility. But what I do desire is to see people take their faith seriously and know where they stand. I also desire to see faith that is rooted in the word and in a relationship with God.
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16
Some translations read that as God wanting to “vomit” the lukewarm people out of His mouth. My heart is burdened for those in the lukewarm state. I want to see people on fire for God and deeply rooted in their faith in Him. So this is a call to everyone out there reading this. Please, for your sake, dive head first in total abandonment into a relationship with God. Meditate on the word day and night. Pray without ceasing (constantly talk to God and see what He is saying). Surround yourself with Christian community. Get someone strong in his or her faith to start discipling/mentoring you.
This is also a call to those already rooted in their faith. It’s time to start making disciples folks! We must attack this rootless faith head on with intense passion. We must pray for the passion and burden God has for others. Make your prayer this, “God help me to see people the way you see people, and help me to hear them the way you hear them. God break my heart for what breaks yours, and move me to act on it.” I can promise you that if you pray for more attributes of God in your life they will become evident.
“This is also a call to those already rooted in their faith. It’s time to start making disciples folks!”
Africa really opened my eyes to my calling. I’ll talk a little bit more about that in my next blog. What it also opened my eyes to is the effects of rootless faith. It’s so easy to be tossed by any wave that comes or blown away with any gust of wind that passes through. Our faith can no longer go an inch deep and a mile wide. Our roots must sink deeply into gospel-enriched soil! We cannot settle for the people around us or us ourselves to be lukewarm Christians.
“Our roots must sink deeply into gospel-enriched soil!”
