Welcome to the wonderful world of oxymorons! A little pregnant, alone in a crowd, artificial grass, baby grand, casual Christian, devout atheist, dry ice, extended deadline, firm pillow, fresh frozen, guaranteed forecast, honest crook, Hell’s Angels, icy hot, jumbo shrimp, kosher ham, loose knot, liquid smoke, mild abrasive, man child, non-fat ice cream, numb feeling, one size fits all, oven fried, pretty ugly, quick fix, recent history, same difference, speed limit, true lies, unbiased opinion, vegetarian meatballs, working vacation, xenophobic foreign secretary, young adult, zero deficit. They all have a certain humor, but there are a few that make you wonder. And it was the phrase “casual Christian” which caused me to scratch my head.
As believers, there’s nothing casual about following Christ. For the one who died for and loves us, He is committed to the work He has begun in us all. Jesus gives us direction when we’re lost and strength when we’re weak. We receive joy for sorrow, wisdom for confusion, rest for weariness and provision for poverty.
Casual implies complacency, a sense of settling for the “whatever.” As Christians, we study to show ourselves approved. We suit up in the armor of God. We equip and train for all contingencies because casual Christians would rather wrestle with unforgiveness than know our battle is not “against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6). Casual Christians pay more attention to what the world says than to the adversary who comes in to “kill, steal and destroy” (John 10:10).
In my research, I came across a blog article from Steve Crain entitled “How to be a Casual Christian.” This is an excerpt from a sermon given by his pastor challenging the casual Christian. Feel free to pass it on!
You might be a casual Christian, if you value comfort and personal pleasure over the pursuit of the Kingdom of God. “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22 NIV).
You might be a casual Christian, if your desire for independence is more important than God’s will. “A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD” (Proverbs 19:3).
You might be a casual Christian, if your friends have more influence on you than God does. “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
You might be a casual Christian, if your eyes are dry and you have no passion for the lost. “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).
You might be a casual Christian, if you listen to the Gospel without being moved to respond, again.
You might be a casual Christian, if your plans for your future end in retirement and stop short of “well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
You might be a casual Christian, if you have no pleasure in giving to God and hold your tithe for yourself. “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers…” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).
You might be a casual Christian, if…
…your care for what other people think deters you from obedience to the Lord.
…your passion for Jesus was hotter when you were first saved than it is now.
...having fun is more important than serving God.
…what you have and the pursuit of having it is more important than the pursuit of God.
…you avoid the uncomfortable and opt instead to live inside the sacred comfort of your routine.
…you avoid burdens instead of seeking them and carrying them.
…broken relationships stop you from forgiving others.
…if worship is elevated based on the quality of the music rather than on a personal connection with the presence of God.
And you might be a casual Christian, if serving God is regarded as work for those whose rank is lower on the totem pole than yours, or you say that such work is not your “gifting.”
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