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Undoubtedly
today's world has many "conveniences": cell phones,
instant pudding, remote controls, drive through restaurants,
and microwave ovens. There's nothing inherently evil about
conveniences, but living in such a world can lead us to
develop unhealthy spiritual attitudes. Below are some examples
that if practiced, lead to "microwave religion."
Salvation
without sacrifice. Jesus said, "If anyone desires to
come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow Me." (Luke 9:23) But about the
only thing that differentiates most "Christians"
from people of the world is that their name is on a church
roll somewhere and they show up once in awhile for a worship
service (maybe!). You can't have salvation without sacrifice!
Jesus asks for our sacrifice, not occasionally, but
"daily"!
Remission
without repentance. Repentance is perhaps God's hardest
command. Repentance is more than saying you're sorry (2 Cor.
7:10). It requires us to change our mind and our behavior (Matt.
3:8). Repentance is an absolute requirement! "Except
ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3;
cf. Acts 17:30). "God…now commands all men
everywhere to repent," that's you, that's me, that's
everyone! (Acts 17:30)
Righteousness
without obedience. Many people excuse themselves of
obeying God, "I'm just human!" they cry. But the
Bible says, "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we
keep His commandments." (1 John 2:3) Claiming to
know God without keeping His commands makes us a liar! (1
John 2:4) Jesus is "the author of eternal
salvation" to "all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:9)
and His commands are not "burdensome"! (1 John
5:3)
Morality
without self denial. We live in a society without
self-denial. But it is impossible to live a moral life without
self-denial (Titus 2:11-12). Even Paul said he had to
"discipline" his "body and bring it into
subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself
should become disqualified." (1 Cor. 9:27) Are we
greater than the humble apostle? Nay, we must practice the
same!
Growth
without diligence. Unfortunately most Christians remain
spiritual "babies" (Heb. 5:12-14). Peter said
we must "give all diligence" to "add"
certain things to our faith (see 2 Pet. 1:5- 7). If we
fail to do so, he said we are "shortsighted, even to
blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old
sins." (2 Pet. 1:9) Are you growing or forgetting?
Knowledge
without study. The amount of Bible knowledge possessed by
most Christians is truly pitiful! Evidently they don't realize
God said, "My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge." (Hos. 4:6) We need to be diligent
students of God's word (2 Tim. 2:15). Otherwise we'll
fall too! (Eph. 4:11-14) How are your Bible study
habits?
Truth
without controversy. By its very nature truth is
controversial. But in our "politically correct"
world few are willing to "earnestly contend for the faith"
(Jude 3). Does the truth make you squeamish? Remember,
"Good preaching sounds reveille, not taps." What
about your religion? Is it true to God's book? Is it the
religion taught by Jesus and the apostles? Is it sacrificial,
obedient, and self-denying? Or, is it a religion of
convenience, a "microwave religion"?
Craig Thomas
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