Photo by Karl Fredrickson on Unsplash
The other day, I watched a church service live-stream on Facebook. It occurred to me that I was seeing the exact moment of the lie taking place – yet no one was lying on purpose. The pastor asked if anyone wanted to accept Christ, and many came forward to pray. At the end, he said, “Congratulations! Now you’re born again! All things are made new!”
The lie is in the mood music they’re playing. The warm, welcoming church workers guiding people into their religion. The parishioners nodding as if you’re doing a great thing, this is a big step, your life is about to completely transform!
But that’s the lie of it. That’s the production. The musical number of it.
We expect all vestiges of our former life to just fall away. For all of our insecurities and problems to disappear. Poof! For this encouraging crowd of fellow believers to be there for us always, patting us on the back and giving us a high-five.
Not that anybody’s lying about what faith can do for you. It truly can change your life completely. But that’s the heart-work. That’s work you and God do together, and it happens over time, like a scroll unfurling. No one else can do it for you, and there is no magic prayer to make it happen instantly.
When I took the altar call years ago, in my mind it was more like the “alter call,” as if it would completely change my life instantly. What I came to conclude is that you walk the path with God and maybe alchemizes into of course. Is that you, God? solidifies into a firm foundation of faith.
It’s like that “Just Say No to Drugs” commercial from years ago, that showed an egg frying in a pan, with the voiceover, “this is your brain on drugs.”
In our version, we’ll show the sun rising, flowers blooming, and the earth turning. Massive, mystical, magical happenings – the only common denominator is the One holding it all together.
Good people, This is your soul on God.
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4 comments
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September 25, 2017 at 2:04 pm
loristrawn
Wow! What a faith-powered blast of truth for a Monday morning! I feel recharged!
September 25, 2017 at 11:03 pm
rhcwilliams
Thanks, dear heart! We give each other that spiritual boost, right when it’s needed. ‘Preciate you being there, always, Lori!
September 27, 2017 at 2:31 am
calensariel
I can’t say amen to this enough. We just talked about this at doubt night at church, how the church expects you to hang your hat with your brain inside on a peg when you come in and just believe what you’re told — those same kind of lies.
And I believe this way of evangelizing is bass ackward to what Jesus modeled. He didn’t make an altar call and once the disciples has shed emotional tears invite them to come follow him. He first said come follow me and do what I do. Then when you understand you can choose to be a part of this ministry. For me that’s where the “alteration” happens. I love alter! Perfect word.
September 27, 2017 at 4:46 am
rhcwilliams
You’re speaking true, Lady Calen! And doesn’t it seem as if some denominations say that theirs is the only way? When I was going to a Pentecostal church decades ago, they had people “speaking in tongues” and, while I didn’t get it, I took it on faith that it was the real deal. Over time, like you, I’ve gotten more jaded about all the claims of “the holy.”