When I was 18 I got baptized. It was the right thing to do after growing up in a Christian household and going to church my entire life. I was the first one to be baptized in the group that had made the decision with me. Uniquely, I was the only member of the group who was born into a Christian household and therefore the only one to become a Christian as a child. I didn’t have a flashy story or years of sin and turmoil to mull over, my story was short and to the point. Now, you are probably wondering why I am telling you this; what does this have to do with anything?
The problem with my baptism is that it was handled insincerely. Instead of a way to profess my faith publicly and to outwardly declare myself a child a God, it became a warm-up for something better. There were about five baptized that day, and each salvation story was more intense. The finale involved a couple on the brink of divorce who testified that after they found our church, God wiped all their problems away. This testimony is not a way to show people Christ’s love or of His faithfulness to those still struggling or still hurting. Instead, it was a way to sell a brand and to reel people in. That’s a problem.
Many churches make this mistake. A big event such as a baptism or a special holiday service brings visitors. Therefore, the church displays testimonies that say ‘look at not only what God did for me, but also make sure you see how good this church is and they can fix all of your problems too.’ This atmosphere creates an awful situation where people’s real struggles, heartache, and lowest moments are used as selling points to get numbers in a church.
In contrast with this insincerity, why not show a consistent Christian whose life is a testament to years of following God and His mercies? Or better yet, why not humanize the Christians who seem to have it together by showing their vulnerabilities? Why is it always the ones the world would deem ‘messed up’? Until you give yourself to Christ, you’re ‘messed up’ too. Why is it we dwell on someone’s past when God has made them a new creation?
We remember Abraham and Paul for their Christian acts more than their past lives. I do not mind if someone, in an act of humbleness, wants to share their story because they want others to know of Christ; this is something Paul did often.
I encourage people to stop exploiting past sin as ways to get numbers. I encourage the Church to invest in everyone; both the drug addict that doesn’t know Christ and the clean-cut community leader that doesn’t know Christ. I discourage the Church from using human struggles and common societal ills being ‘cured’ as attendance boosters and encourage them instead try showing God’s love and mercy by interacting with those struggling outside of the safety of church walls. Invite those struggling to church, but do not give up if they never come. Lead them to Christ without indoctrinating them into their particular brand of Christianity or ministry needs.
Teach people to be disciples of Christ, whether they think like you or not; to really care about the problems in the world, that is what Christ calls us to do. Let’s stop making Christianity a show and start making it lifestyle.