Anyone else noticed that the believers who call their faith things like “messy” or “difficult” are often the same ones who make excuses for compromise?

I’m not interested – at all – in naming names or harassing anyone. I read a lot of blogs, and more than a few magazines, and lately I’ve been noticing a pattern that bears discussing.

Photo Credit: Allie

When someone questions our lifestyles we rebut.

“I can ignore the lyrics and just listen to the music.”

“If Christians made good movies, I wouldn’t watch these.”

“Paul told Timothy to take a little wine.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“… all things to all men …”

But why does it seem like a lot of these lines are coming from people who struggle with their faith? Why is it that the same writers, bands, artists, etc., in many cases, use words and phrases like, “bipolar,” “messy,” and “a fight” to describe their faith?

I appreciate authenticity, especially in people whom others look up to as leaders. And I am not, of course, saying that faith is always easy – but it should be the execution of our faith that is difficult, not faith itself.

Maybe faith is messy because you’re inhaling the world’s value system through prime time programming.

Maybe it’s a fight because you really can’t remain wholly uninfluenced by the lyrics in the music you listen to. Maybe you feel like a bipolar Christian because it is a big deal, or because you’re trying to find your lifestyle in the word of God instead of trying to find His life.

Believe me when I say I’m not trying to point fingers or condemn anyone. I really like the individuals and bands that I’m hearing this from, and I’m genuinely concerned. I’m genuinely asking us to look at the parallels here, and consider the call in scripture to be “holy” for our God is holy. It’s Old Testament and New.

I’m genuinely concerned that we spend more time making excuses for playing with the world than we do pursuing holiness in Christ, and that we don’t seem to connect it to a weak faith.

The men we read about in Acts struggled to live out their faith in the face of terrible persecution, but we never see them struggling with faith itself. They heard the word of God, or they encountered God in some way, and they laid down their lives – all of their lives.

They even separated themselves from things in the world that they didn’t really have to.

27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; … 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10)

Can you watch horror movies and not become a murder? Probably. Can you listen to rap without cheating on your wife? Sure.

Can you choose your own pleasure over the glory of God and maintain a resolute, fruitful faith?

Doubtful.

Can you draw a line in the sand and camp out right next to it, and still expect the same intimacy with the Holy of holies?

Not likely.

Why do we even bother? What about God’s word isn’t captivating? What about His presence isn’t enough? What about a song of praise isn’t perfect beauty?

What about Him isn’t worth abandoning everything for?

So that when someone comes to us and says, “Hey, I think this thing in your life is a bad influence,” why do we make excuses instead of at least trying to listen? Why don’t we respond in humility and appreciation, and abandon like a sinking ship whatever that thing is – even just to see if the accusation is true, because we’re so desperate for more of God’s presence that we’ll give up anything that might be in the way?

8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” (Psalm 27)