what we can learn

On the one hand, being surrounded by temples and mosques can be extremely uncomfortable. For me the discomfort had nothing to do with my physical safety. Each and every day I traveled amongst Hindus and Muslims alike exchanging smiles and pleasantries. The only worry I had was for those who might try to clean my pockets without my knowledge.

My discomfort rested in the various practices these two groups engaged in as a part of their worship. It's very different to say the least. Loudspeakers beckon people to come. Chantings can be heard as people pass by. Huge festivals are thrown where all sorts of activities take place. Animals are used for an assortment of different purposes. People dress in the garb of their particular god. It's all very public and unusual for a person such as myself. And along with the discomfort comes a sense of sadness as these people do their best to appease their god and earn his/her favor. If anything it just reiterated why God called me to serve for a time and LCMI permanently.

But I believe a sense of shame and guilt also added to my discomfort. Christianity is all about the freedom we have in Christ because of what He did for us on the cross. Christians love to speak of this freedom when comparing ourselves with the other religions of this world. We sing songs and talk about how Christ's love has freed us from the religious obligations and rituals. And with this freedom we believe we can go about our lives void of any religious responsibility.

Have you ever woken up to the sound of the 5am prayer call from the local mosque? It happens every day. Have you ever traveled to the temple to pray? Most do it every single day. But our response is, "we don't have to do these things because our relationship with God is based upon grace not works." True. But do we want to do such things? Would we ever welcome waking up at 5am to pray to our Father? Do we ever go to church simply to pray, especially during the week? Doing these things doesn't earn us any extra love, but doesn't it express hearts overflowing with gratitude for what God has done for us?

Have you ever had someone identify your faith by merely looking at you? It's a part of their every day life. When people enter your home do they know without a shadow of a doubt just who it is you serve? It's plastered all over their walls. Again our response is, "we don't need to wear anything or post something because God desires our hearts far more than our physical expressions." True. But should we desire these things for our lives? Do we want people to know we belong to Christ just by looking at us? Would we be comfortable with people walking into our homes and immediately identifying God as the source and aim of our worship? Such things won't grant us more blessings, but shouldn't our hearts rejoice at the thought of being identified with Christ in all that we do?

We love to declare religion as empty and void of significance, because it declares works to be the means by which we approach God. While true, this doesn't make the works meaningless and lacking in value to the life of the Christian. If anything we should be eager to perform our works since we were saved unto to them (Ephesians 2:10), and we see our faith proved by them (James 2:26). Daily reading the Bible, daily praying, regularly going to church, giving regularly, fasting, meditating, and the many other disciplines we like to label as "religious" are not necessary for our salvation. Christ is. But they are absolutely essential to our conformity to the likeness of Christ and daily worship of our God who saved us according to His grace.

And if we are here to give glory to God by being more like Christ, shouldn't we be willing and eager to make them a daily and frequent part of our everyday lives?