VEGAS FAITH

There is a slogan commonly used when describing a trip to Las Vegas: “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”  The idea is that when people go to Las Vegas they get license to do things they would never normally do, to act like they would never normally act, and to sin in ways they would never normally sin.  So what if you cheat on your wife, this is Vegas!  So what if you are irresponsible with your money, this is Vegas baby!  

The problem is many Christians are living their faith this way.  When you compartmentalize your faith the slogan becomes “What happens at church stays at church” or “What happens away from church, stays away from church.”  Many Christians are living out their faith only on Sundays at church.  And when they don’t feel like being a Christian, they stuff their church selves away until Sunday when they need to be good again. 

We are called to be Christians not just some of the time, but all of the time.  We are called to be Christ-like in all of our actions, not just some of our actions.  Therefore, a more descriptive term for Christian should be Christ-follower. This says in title form what a Christian is and does— following Christ’s example. 

When Christ-followers live a Vegas faith, they do a great job being a good Christ-follower at church on Sunday but come Monday morning or even in the parking lot on the way out all bets are off!  You fill up on Sunday with a dose of the Word of God and respond with perfect Sunday School answers, but come Monday when your co-worker is late with a project…the evil thoughts take over and pluck away any good fruit that was being produced the day before.

The Bible says that we can be recognized by the fruit we produce in our lives.  “A tree is identified by its fruit.  If a tree is good, its fruit will be good.  If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad” —Matthew 12:33. What kind of fruit are you producing?  More than that, what kind of fruit are others noticing you are producing when they see you on a daily basis?  Are you producing the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?  
 
The challenge of the Christian faith is living for Jesus 24/7.  The challenge is to live for Jesus not just when everyone is looking but also when no one is looking.

Comments

  1. DiwakarAugust 11, 2015 at 9:22 PM

    Hello Pastor. So good to know you through your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I glad to stop by your post and go through your challenging exhortation on living for Jesus 24/7. I am also in the Pastoral ministry for last 37yrs in the great city of Mumbai, India a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the broken hearted. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai on a short / long term missions to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have your young people and adults come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. I am sure they will have a life changing experience. God willing I will be in Dallas ,Texas in the last week of August and can be with your church on 30th August. I will be very glad to share with you and your church members about the ministry we have to the poorest of poor in the slums of Mumbai and also about the opportunities for the young and the adults to work with us on a short/ term basis. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and ministry.

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