The Profaning of Christianity

Christianity has become a profanity. 

Now, before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify. 

As a Sociology teacher, I'm using the term "profane" in its sociological terminology meaning "ordinary, everyday."

Christianity has its music playing on countless radio stations, bookstores with all manner of topics ranging from deeply spiritual to inane, our message has become commonplace on bumper stickers and pithy church billboards. 

The measure of your devotion to Christ is increasingly measured by your political views, your views on adoption and/or homeschool, and which social justice movement you join. 

Not that any of these things are, in and of themselves, wrong. They can be good things, for the of the world. They can shape your day-to-day world for the better. 

But they are just profane. 

The relationship with Christ is intended to be one that is sacred- sociologically speaking "connected to the supernatural."

And the Church I see today is less sacred and more profane. 

Take worship music. The music I used to hear in a sacred worship service is now played daily on the radio. Dozens of different artists cover the same song, with little new interpretation or presentation. When Christmas music is heard everywhere I go from Halloween to Christmas, it loses its power. When worship music becomes the background noise of life, is it still sacred?

I am also increasingly concerned with the Church's embrace of social justice. We should fight against racism and corruption and hunger and discrimination- but it MUST be under the banner of Christ. Lately, it seems that we try to point out the injustices of the world and how we should rectify them for all those who suffer. That's great, except we are not to called to rescue people primarily for their own good. 

We are called to do it for the glory of God. 

God seems an afterthought, or worse, a sound bite we tag onto our views to win the spiritual crowd over. I feels subtle pull from my Christian brothers and sisters to accept the doctrine of "God helps those who help themselves."  I've tried this doctrine, and it is hollow. 

It is profane. 

I've lived with doing the right thing because it's the right thing. It makes me feel good about me, but it does not make me feel as though I am connected to and trusting Christ. When I do what's right because it's right, I am believing a doctrine of formula, with a sum of pride. 

If we are to engage in the good things, we must do it first for the Name of God, then for the good of Man. I think the message if Colossians 3:17 says it best:   And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Christianity is nothing without the sacred, the supernatural of an empty tomb and a Counselor sent to guide us, a faith that can heal, and exorcise, and overcome, and prophecy, and restore, and forgive, and repent. 

And no amount of "tongues of men and of angels" (1 Corinthians 13:1) can make us sacred. No amount of good intentions or righteous acts can save us. 

Just the bloodstained cross and empty tomb and the Risen Christ can do that. 

Just the sacred. 

Not the profane.