A few years ago, I was driving to a client location and I ran into traffic. I grabbed my phone to call them and tell them I was running late. "Roaming ... cannot connect call". A half hour later, I finally got a bar and I dialed the number. "Hello?" Beep. "Call has been dropped."
Thankfully, my skills and work ethic were known, and the client was just thankful that I arrived safely. The service and work ethic of my phone carrier, on the other hand, were not as valuable - but a necessity as I was on the road often.
By the time I got home, it was a late hour and there was no customer service available. I was done! I scanned the offers from all of the competitors, and even with a small increase I chose one. The next day, I calmly explained my situation to a customer service representative. "According to your contract---" I hung up.
When you get a new service, a new gizmo, a new program, how often do you read the contract? How about the instructions? Unfortunately, most of us don't. We assume we know how a remote control for our cable TV is supposed to work and start clicking away!
One thing that I have seen with nearly all digital contracts (yes, I do read them - but hardly retain what it says), is that "contract can be changed without notice at any time." Usually we assume that the changes are unavoidable, and click on the "Accept" button. Recently, I found that the core charge on my electric bill had doubled - and there is nothing I can do about it.
Thankfully, God's covenant does not change. However, most people don't read the large print, the small print, let alone the red print.
If I told you that I went to the car lot and told the salesperson that I would pay $1 for a 2017 ****** *******, you can guarantee that I left in the same car I arrived in.
The same goes for Christianity. You go in believing - through Christ I can have anything I want. Or, if I am good then bad things will stop happening. But it is worse for those who have been in the CULTural Church for a while. Belief is a strong thing, but what if your belief is fruitless? Do you continue to believe? Of course you do! But you have to believe in something else!
Over my life, I've heard so many versions of CULTural Christian invalid nonsense that I have decided more than once to shop somewhere else. There are three reasons why I knew it was nonsense:
That's right! The majority of what has been said to me in CULTural Christianity has no Biblical backing! What's even more amazing is that I realized this when I was 6 years old!
An eager believer, I prayed for God to give me wisdom. Without fail, I would find the answer in the Bible. Without confidence (or Biblical mentor), I went to my church leaders with the Bible answer (the sticker price). The answer I received then, continues through today.
"We don't believe that here", is usually the nicest response. It's not like I was going to one fast food restaurant and asking them to accept a coupon from another. Of course, at a young age, I didn't really get the choice to change churches to one that would accept the Bible.
As I got older, and more responsible, I was able to change churches. As an adult, I am more of a church hopper than a member. Because I am not a member in a CULTural church, and not within their bubble atmosphere, more things happen - leading me to look into the Bible more - with or without the consent of CULTural Christians.
Unfortunately, I see too many people struggling within those bubbles. Blindly accepting what their gathering believes, their situation gets worse. "They weren't Called to be at our church", "They are backslidden", "Let's pray our scripted prayer for their deliverance" - this is the "nice" childish nonsense that I've heard said when the struggling children of God become overwhelmed with their issue and no longer attend.
In steps this unCULTured Christian with Bible in hand. Not trying to be the Savior - that's already done. Just trying to remind people what the Savior already said. The responses? "I know that's what it says, but that's not what it means.", "We [still] don't believe that here", "I never heard that before, let me pray about that". Of course, I wish they were honest about praying about it, but it is 50% platitude meaning "I gotta get out of here" and 50% that they will gossip to get me out.
These people suffer with a disease, I call, "The BOB Syndrome". It starts with a cheery bob of the head, then bobbing in and out of sight, and usually ends in violent rage! Yes, I have been jumped and threatened by CULTural Christians for reading the Bible.
But it is not the bobbing of the head that gives it the name, The BOB Syndrome. B.O.B. stands for:
This syndrome effects politicians who believe contrary to the constitution, DIYs that don't follow the instructions, and managers who make up their own rules. The standards of expectation are there, so when something goes wrong (or someone believes wrong), they can adjust their course.
Unfortunately, Belief is stronger than you could imagine. "I believe I deserve this", "I can quit at any time", "Those people are...", "The government should..I pay taxes" Do you see where I am going? We've become such an individualistic self-centered entitled people with less morals, self control, or respect that Belief has Overcome the Bible - especially with pew-seat Christians.
In the beginning...there was a tree...nom nom...I will dress you! Don't you think that God has a plan? Jesus came and told the disciples everything! He reminded them about what had happened in the past, cleared up the interpretation, then finally the disciples got it and were sent out. In Acts 7, there is a young waiter named Steven who was a follower of the disciples of Christ. Brought before the religious CULT of the day, he explained from the beginning - just as Jesus did on the Road to Emmaus - just as I am doing now.
I am well aware that the religious people have a history of gnashing their teeth when the Truth is preached. Perhaps some day I will tell you what I have endured. But my prayer is, with your help, we can find the cure for the BOB Syndrome and Christ will find the Church as He desires.