In today's technology-influenced, cynical, anything-goes-world, is Christianity practical? Is it realistic and useful, or just a 2,000 year-old fairy tale?
All you have to do is look around to see that modern society seems to condone just the opposite of Christian principles: Grab yours first. Don't worry about the other guy. Do whatever you have to to get to the top.
Money is the most important thing in life. Have sex with as many people as you want. Don't be concerned about other people's feelings. The poor are lazy, stupid people who don't want to work. There's no god, heaven or hell, so live it up and do whatever you please. That, unfortunately, is what millions of people believe.
Maybe that's a pessimistic assessment of how things are today. Yet that's exactly what we see on television and in movies.
Are Christians naive suckers who are being conned by feel-good preachers promising pie-in-the-sky? Is Christianity practical or is it a just a quaint relic from a simpler time?
A recent book on the missional church argues that we need to "reinvent the church" in "revolutionary" ways so that we can "incarnate the gospel within a specific cultural context."
I found one example of such a church on the Internet, a congregation in Florida whose very name is Relevant. Here is its description:
"Relevant is a casual, contemporary, Christian church meeting at the Italian Club in Ybor City, Florida. Our service is designed specifically for college students, urban professionals and young families. At Relevant, we feel that it's our responsibility to "clear the way" for you to come to church. We want you to be able to experience the great music, encouraging messages, friendly people and enjoyable atmosphere that are a part of Relevant."
People who shut out God go from one thing to another trying to get peace and fulfillment, but they never find it.
Materialism? A house full of junk brings no peace, just a hunger for morejunk.
Affairs? Sooner or later, the shallowness and futility of that life ends in the terrible toll of self-loathing.
Career? Companyloyalty is a joke. Have a bad month or a bad year and you're thrownaway like a piece of trash.
Jesus Christ is real. Jesus Christ matters. Jesus Christ is eminently practical and totally fulfilling, moreso in today's worldthan ever before.
Who knows better how to live than the God who created your life? Whocan teach you lasting values better than the God who has alwaysexisted? And who can heal your hurts better than the God who loves you so much he took alll your sins upon himself to save you?
Is Christianity practical? It is the only way practical in this world, and your only guarantee of neverending happiness in the next.
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