Cynicism- troubling the modern Christian

By Chris Brantner

I can’t count the number of times that people have told me to “stop being so cynical!” My typical response involves eye rolling and something like “quit being so naïve.” However, now that I’m well into my 20’s, I find myself looking inward and reevaluating my character. Here are the questions I’m asking of myself:

1. What exactly does “being cynical” mean?
2. Am I really a cynical person?
3. Does being cynical make me miserable?
4. Do I think I am better than other people?
5. Can I truly be a Christian and a Cynic?

While the answers to these questions meant little to me a few years ago, I feel like they’re necessary to further my journey into full-fledged adulthood. If you’re still a teenager, don’t think this doesn’t apply to you. You’ll be where I stand in the blink of an eye.

Modern Cynicism- I Don’t Know You and I Don’t Trust You

First of all, we need to know what cynicism means. Not to be confused with the ancient philosophical movement, modern day cynicism is basically extreme skepticism of the human race. In other words, the modern cynic pretty much distrusts everything and everyone.

So in reference to my second question, yes I think it’s safe to say I’m a pretty cynical guy. When I meet someone new, I almost always mistrust them. When I see a politician on the television promising me things, my stomach hurts and I change the channel. As a matter of fact, I stopped going to church for almost 10 years because I had a hard time swallowing the words that came out of the preachers’ mouths.

Don’t get me wrong, my skepticism isn’t directed at any one type of person. It’s just people in general. I find that people tend to do bad things and are almost always out only for themselves. And don’t think I haven’t put this idea to the test. Nearly every time I’ve given someone the benefit of the doubt and trusted that they had genuine motives—well, they let me down.

Cynicism and Happiness- Can I Have Both?

If you ask me, I’d say I’m a pretty happy person. I know I’m blessed with lots of good things. A successful career, a loving family, fun friends… I’ve been given lots of things in my lifetime and I recognize they all came from God.

But how can I be happy and enjoy the company of friends and family when I’m so wrapped up in assuming the worst in people? Well, that’s a good question with a difficult answer. First of all, I’m not one of those people with a large friend group (I know you’re shocked by that). I generally hang out with my immediate family and a mere handful of people I’d call true friends. These are the only people in this world that I genuinely feel like I can trust.

Trust is something I don’t give lightly. Trust takes work. You have to build it over a long period of time. Everyone I call a friend (including my close relatives) has put in many years of earning my trust. And likewise, I’d like to think that I’ve worked really hard to gain theirs.

Outside of my small friend group I have acquaintances. These are people I know, converse with, and maybe even hang out with on occasion. For the most part I enjoy their company, but usually in small increments. Do I trust these people? Eh… not really. Underneath all the casual conversation and friendly smiles, my brain is spinning, wondering what motivates their behaviors. And frankly, nothing surprises me. When I find out an acquaintance is in jail for some crime or has betrayed me behind my back— am I shocked? Not at all. Because I believe people are motivated by self-interest.   

The nice thing about my extreme skepticism is that every now and then someone comes along who surprises me (e.g. my recent bride and random new friends).

So does that mean I am both happy and cynical? You bet. Since I don’t allow people’s negative behaviors to surprise me, I don’t let them get me down. And when someone like my wife comes along and offers me a pleasant surprise, well I think I actually appreciate it more than the average person. When you have low expectations and someone comes along who completely blows them out of the water, well it’s that much better.

Do Cynics Think They’re Better Than Everyone Else?

I can’t answer this question for other skeptics, because frankly I think I’m better than them… Okay, just kidding. But in all seriousness, I can only apply this to my own experiences. Does distrusting the motives of others force me to set myself up on a pedestal? Well, yes and no.

All my life I’ve tried to hold myself to a higher standard than others. I think I do a good job of analyzing actions and possible consequences. I also try my best to make good decisions. But do I always make the right choices? Of course not.

So if I sometimes make terrible, selfish decisions, does that make me a hypocrite? According to www.merriam-webster.com, a hypocrite is:

1. a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2. a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

As for the first portion of the definition, I try really hard not to put on the appearance of anything to anyone. And for part 2, well if I subscribe to the idea that humans in general are self-serving, doesn’t that mean I would expect myself to be the same way? When I say I hold myself to a higher standard, I mean that I recognize the problem with the human condition. This in turns makes me handle others with suspicion. It also causes me to strive to be different.

Do I fail? All the time. I’m warring with my humanity.

Can I Be a Cynic and a Christian?

To me, a true Christian is someone who tries to be like Christ. That said, could you describe Jesus as cynical? Eh, I suppose you could try. But admittedly, Jesus wasn’t focused so much on human intentions. His main focus was on loving people. Let’s face it, if we truly believe Jesus died for our sins, then that includes everyone’s sins. Mine, yours, and the dirtiest, stinking liar you know.  In fact, Jesus frequently ministered to the dregs of society.

What does that say about me– does my cynicism keep me from being a Christian? Honestly, I’m not sure. I want to be like Christ, yet I fight with my skepticism on a daily basis. And when it comes down to it, I realize that someone could make the argument that my cynical beliefs actually backfire and turn me into what I can’t stand- a selfish jerk.

So now what? I don’t know… but I’m praying for the answers.

What are your thoughts on the issue?

By Chris Brantner

 Lots of people are predicting the end of the world in just two short years. Having survived a few apocalypse predictions myself, I can’t help but wonder how the modern day Christian should respond to this large-scale apocalyptic prophecy. While I’m generally skeptical of doomsday prophecies, the sheer magnitude of this one deserves a close examination.

How is the rest of society handling the “impending doom?” Well, as is the American way, people are cashing in on the trend. A mega-blockbuster film called “2012” came out recently, starring John Cusack. The film grossed over $750 million dollars, capitalizing on our fascination with the apocalypse. One company has even created a 2012 beer. Why am I not surprised?

Some people are responding in fear, stocking up supplies, ammunition, and whatever else could aid in survival. A man named James B. Birkhead recently got arrested for possessing bomb building materials in his home. His excuse? He was preparing for the end of the world in 2012, of course.  

Others respond in apathy or skepticism. Either they don’t really care or they think it’s all a big sham. Either way, they aren’t going to get worked up about it. As far as they’re concerned, after 2012 comes and goes, they’ll still be here on Earth doing whatever it is they were doing before.

Why all the hype?

Here’s the short answer. Many people think the world will either end or drastically change in the year 2012 due to a handful of sensationalized predictions. For the long answer, we’ll break it down by the sources of 2012 apocalyptic predictions:

1. The Mayans- If you know anything about the 2012 predictions, you’re probably aware that it’s connected to the ancient Mayan tribe. The Mayan’s calendar provides 2012 believers with their primary source. Plainly speaking, the Mayan calendar resets to zero after December  21, 2012. However, this did not signify the end of the world to Mayans, but rather the end of an age. That said, at some point the resetting of the Mayan calendar morphed into the end of the world. The question is- why?
2.  Winter Solstice- Since the beginning of time, humans have searched for answer in the heavens. It just so happens that the Winter Solstice occurs on the December 21, 2012; the same day the Mayan Calendar ends. On this particular Winter Solstice, the Sun will align perfectly with the center of our galaxy, supposedly producing energy altering effects.  What exactly does that mean? Who knows! 
3.  Nostradamus- Chances are you’ve heard this name before if you know anything about doomsday predictions. Nostradamus was a French prophet from the 1500’s. For whatever reason, his prophecies have gained resurgence in popularity in the last couple of decades. The funny thing is, none of them worth mentioning have ever come true. However, like anything dealing with the apocalypse, people love to dwell on it. So when Nostradamus predicted a giant comet would fall from the sky and destroy the Earth, the masses took notice. However, few seemed to notice that the year for the comet to hit was 1999. Strangely enough, 1999 came and went, and the comet prophecy got applied to 2012 instead. How convenient.
   
4. The Bible?- You may have heard people claiming that the Bible predicts the end of the world in 2012. But does it really? I think this answer deserves its own section…

What does the Bible really say in relation to the apocalypse?

Let’s be clear about this- the Bible never specifically mentions the year 2012. Some proponents of the Bible Code claim they’ve found lots of 2012 references hidden, but the actual Biblical text never mentions a date for the end.  However, the Bible does hold plenty of prophecies about the end of the Earth.

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks specifically about the end times. He makes perfectly clear that people won’t see it coming. Comparing it to the Great Flood, Jesus says men and women will be eating and drinking and then BOOM! It will happen. Does this sound like 2012 to you?

What is going on in our world right now that could signify the end times?

Well, here’s where it actually starts getting scary. Looking back on the last 2 years, our world has seen disaster after disaster. While large natural disasters occur fairly often throughout history, the first half of 2010 has seen disasters affecting humans more than usual. Here’s a quick list that’s resulted in the loss of over a quarter million lives and massive interruption of human activity.

• Haiti Earthquake- This earthquake hit one of the poorest areas in the world, destroying the poorly built homes and causing a loss of approximately 250,000 lives.  Completely heart-breaking.
• Chili Earthquake- While this earthquake was 500 times stronger than Haiti’s, it only killed about 1000 people, since Chili is a more affluent country with stronger buildings.
• China Earthquake- This earthquake struck a sparsely populated area, killing at least 675 people.
• Iceland Volcano- While the death toll wasn’t huge, a massive cloud of steam and ash blanketed nearly an entire continent, resulting in hundreds of thousands of airplane passengers getting stranded for about a week. The giant plume of smoke also caused the already-reeling airline industry to lose millions of dollars.

The list is staggering, and after a close look, even a cynic such as myself has to at least consider the possibility that we are nearing the end.

What’s the bottom line?

When it comes to predicting the future, no one can prove anything. All you can do is what I’ve done- offer your thoughts, opinions, and hopefully some logic to back them up. But when it comes right down to it, you’re just speculating. So while the jury’s still out on whether or not 2012 will really bring along the apocalypse, how should we deal with it as Christians?

First of all, save yourself the time and respectfully decline to engage in arguments about 2012. Instead, consider engaging in meditation and conversation on the following question: what should your life look like if 2012 really was the end? Imagine the impact Christians would have on this planet if we all put aside our petty differences and treated life as if it really would end in 2 years.

I know what you’re thinking- the church is too far gone, too separated. There’s no way we can all learn to get along and put others before ourselves. And maybe you’re right.

But, what if it started with you?

By: Dave Fidlin

For two-and-a-half centuries, evangelicalism – a belief system marked by the concept of being “born again” – shaped many Protestant’s approaches to Christianity across the globe. But the world is changing now more than ever before, and an offshoot of this belief system has emerged as society is being transformed.

Several factors are attributed to post-evangelicalism, a movement that has started picking up steam in recent years. Christians subscribing to a post-evangelical ideology differ from traditional evangelicals for any number of reasons, including opposing views on culture, politics and theology.

Scholars generally trace evangelicalism’s roots to Great Britain in the middle of the 18th Century. In addition to the aforementioned concept of being converted – or “born again” – some of the other fundamental beliefs within evangelicalism have included a high emphasis on the Bible and the Gospels, as well as the death and resurrection of Christ.

Evangelicalism was long lumped into one category, but it began to splinter in the 1950s when such popular preachers as Billy Graham started packing arenas to share the joy one can find in walking with the Lord. A separate grouping, fundamentalists, began breaking away because of disagreements with some of these popular preachers’ tactics.

Within the past six decades, new societal issues have bubbled to the surface. More than ever before, people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds are talking amongst themselves. Because of this, the spectrums within evangelicalism have stretched even further.

On one far extreme are people who have that more fundamentalist view of their faith – meaning a continued strict adherence to traditional theology. On the other end are those who have tweaked traditional beliefs and conformed them to modern society. It could be argued evangelicalism is in the center. But the spectrums are growing increasingly complex, and attempts at simple categorization are difficult, if not futile.

Generally speaking, post-evangelical Christians take aim at mainline evangelicals’ narrow views on the thorny issue of homosexuality – evangelicals tend to view the lifestyle as a flat-out sin, while post-evangelicals tend to embrace people within this community. 

Followers of the post-evangelicalism movement also take aim at evangelicals for perceived narrow, partisan political views – many back the Republican Party in the United States, regardless of who the specific candidate is – and a seeming deaf ear toward the intellectual community. Additional criticism toward evangelicals has been linked to little or no emphasis on the arts and media.

Michael Spencer runs a Web site, the Internet Monk, devoted to post-evangelicalism. In his Blog posts, Spencer says this movement is still in the defining stages.

“I do not recognize the boundary lines of American evangelicalism as the boundary lines of true Christianity,” Spencer wrote in a 2006 post on his site. “I recognize that Christian belief emerges from a matrix of the text of Holy Scripture, the history of interpretation, cultural and sub-cultural presuppositions, the use of reason, the place of experience, the wisdom of the teachers of the larger church and the work of the Holy Spirit in revealing more light.”

Post-evangelicalism, as a movement, also has received ink in a book, “The Post Evangelical.” The British-based author, Dave Tomlinson, grew up in a Christian household, but says the constraints within evangelicalism smothered his quest to find where God was calling him in his life journey. Once he began looking outside the boundaries, Tomlinson says he began experiencing an authentic relationship with his Maker.

In his book, Tomlinson says evangelical churches in England have oftentimes failed when it comes to addressing social justice and poverty. Tomlinson in published reports says he hopes Christians desiring to live out their faith in a deeper, more socially-relevant manner, will begin to question some of the constraints mainline evangelical Christians have placed on ideology.

Graham came to prominence at a time when television began as a medium, and he quickly realized the public airwaves could be a powerful means of spreading Christianity. This led to the emergence of other so-called televangelists. There have been a plethora of them, at times with differing views amongst themselves, in the United States in the past six decades. Televised preachers have included Jim Baker, Jerry Falwell, Joel Osteen, Pat Robertson, Charles Stanley and Jimmy Swaggart.

But the very public sins of some of these televangelists has led some people in the post-evangelicalism movement to take a critical view of the hypocrisy and lack of authenticity that can sometimes crop up in mainline evangelical circles.

Traditional evangelicals, not surprisingly, have concerns linked to the post-evangelical movement. Criticisms include diluting or outright ignoring the Bible and faulty theology. Other people within the evangelicalism movement discredit the popularity of post-evangelicalism.

On the Blog site First Things, author Joe Carter says evangelicalism remains a vibrant, growing and effective movement.

“The idea that the collapse of evangelicalism is currently under way is more wishful thinking on the part of post-evangelicals that anything that can be backed up with evidence,” Carter wrote in a 2009 Blog post. “There are more people that attend a Willow Creek associated church than there are post-evangelicals in all of America.”

Nathan Martin, another writer on First Things, says evangelicalism is in a refining stage, but makes a case for its continued existence in a Blog post from 2009.

“As Christianity is moving out of the mainstream, it’s harder than ever to be a Christian in America,” Martin said. “There has been a shaking off of the chaff and wandering from the fold of many church-raised children. But this doesn’t indicate the failure of evangelicalism, as it does the failure of churches within the evangelical community.”

While Protestant ideology is going through a transformation – and countless strands are developing – one notion is certain: God remains a profound force in Christians’ lives. In a world with millions upon billions of people, He gave everyone a unique, custom story. Human beings are so different, yet so alike, and this mind-bending concept is evidenced through the debate between the evangelical and post-evangelical movements – and all other ideologies.

by Brandon Deroche,
Causecast Music Manager
(Guest Post from Causecast, check them
out at Causecast.org. Used with permission.)

Starting with last year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival, I’ve had the opportunity to conduct research with many of today’s top musicians by disguising it as interviews. While some of these conversations were focused on specific cause-related efforts the musicians were involved with, we also asked many of the artists the same questions, such as “Do you feel that music can be used as a vehicle for social change? Who has inspired you to want to be active? What is the biggest struggle as an artist in today’s music industry?” and so on.

The first question we’ve decided to share responses from pertains to the word peace.

Peace has been a common word used amongst changemakers, hippies, anti-war activists, spiritual leaders and world leaders. Peace has a symbol, it’s a simple hand gesture and has also managed to replace the traditional “goodbye” for many. For such a frequently said word, how many people are actually conscious of what it is they’re referring to? If peace is the goal, do we have a common understanding of what it is we’re trying to achieve?

At many of these interviews, I’ve gotten to ask the music community what the word peace means to them. Below are a few of my favorite responses:

Brandon Boyd of Incubus:

Slash:

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot:

Tegan and Sara:

STS 9:

Nneka:

State Radio:

David Crowder:

Mike Einziger of Incubus:

READERS: Let us throw this back at you: What does peace mean to YOU?

By Pablo Darelli

The annual debate starts predictably after the first leaves of fall begin cluttering gutters and blanketing lawns, and then continues right up until the last present is hastily ripped open on December 25th.  No, this will not be another rant decrying our materialistic habits, the War on Christmas, or how the true meaning of the holiday has been forgotten. Though the contentious topic of the commercialization of Christmas merits examination and everyone should at some point question the virtues being extolled by the manner in which it is celebrated, I will not re-tread the well worn arguments that have been used to either support or demonize our gift giving and sometimes secularized holiday traditions.  Instead I would like to take a more critical look at what occurs during the other 10 months of the year when Christmas is not at the forefront of our collective conscience.

Christian oriented products and services are a 4.5 billion dollar a year industry fueled by the wallets and checkbooks of millions of Christians. There are board games, jewelry, calendars and even auto insurance policies that are geared specifically towards this demographic.  Christian music has a large following as well, with many bands gaining prominence on the national stage.  The scope of these efforts to market to Christians and evangelize compels one to question the effects of such an extensive commercialization of Christian beliefs, values and traditions.  Is a Jesus action figure an appropriate plaything for a small child?  Will one’s faith be strengthened by the mug with a scripture verse etched on it?  Is it ethical for entrepreneurs to make a profit off of another’s religious beliefs?  The answers to these questions can be occasionally uncomfortable to consider and are difficult to uniformly apply.  The mixing of business interests with a
religion that encourages altruism is not always easy to reconcile.  It is a delicate balancing act that requires equal attention be paid to our inner spiritual growth as opposed to only focusing on the outward expressions of our faith.

The possible danger of purchasing toys with Biblical themes and characters is that children may confuse religion and fantasy.  What’s the difference between a comic book superhero and an Old Testament prophet or even Jesus Christ if it comes packaged in the same form?  Teens, young adults or even twenty-somethings may only be superficially attracted to Christianity due to the popularity of a particular trend, celebrity or musical group. The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson raised some amount of controversy by stressing the suffering that Christ endured while rarely emphasizing the importance of his teachings.  It may have encouraged some to come closer to Christ, but it did so in a sensationalist and perhaps less substantial manner.

Surrounding ourselves with figurines of Biblical figures, wearing t-shirts with religious messages, or having a Christian bumper sticker attached to the back of the car does not make one a good Christian, it simply provides the means to generate that appearance.  A too zealous approach in acquiring and displaying such items can blind one to more important aspects of Christianity.  Instead of simply proclaiming Christian virtues, it may be better to put more effort into allocating resources towards causes in line with them.  You can donate money to a local charity and emergency relief agencies or perhaps volunteer your time to aid the less fortunate.  Even more troublesome could be using Christian paraphernalia as a substitute for faith and conviction.  Regular personal prayer, scripture study and pondering Christian teachings are better solutions when doubts and difficulties creep into our lives. 

The potential positive aspects of having a range of Christian products available should not be ignored.  They can remind us of our commitments to both our God and to our fellow men.  A ring, a cross necklace or a daily bible verse may spur us to make better decisions on a day to day basis. Incorporating religious elements into family or recreational activities can reinforce the concept that Christian mores and teachings should not be limited to only Sunday services, but are in fact an integral part of living a good life.  They offer an alternative to the mainstream concept that in the ‘real world’ one must check religion at the door.  The difference between a useful reminder and a purely ornamental accessory or product though, is whether it can influence actions and attitudes.  The usefulness of having a vibrant Christian music industry should also not be dismissed.  The Christian music scene provides a refuge from the often times denigrating and
amoral attitudes that are evident in popular hip-hop, rock or metal song lyrics.  Large social music events can provide the support and camaraderie that can make living a Christian lifestyle a more fulfilling experience.

It is possible that in some cases the act of ‘commercializing’ Christianity is in actuality a practical step in introducing the gospel to non-believers. Most religiously apathetic individuals would likely reject a knock on their door, or a pamphlet passed along on the street, but may instead be receptive to the advice of a pop singer.  When examining the effects of commercialization it is vital to consider the intent and purpose of the product, and whether it has sufficient potential of drawing yourself or others closer to God.

Do you view the commercialization of Christianity as negative or do you see, within it, positive aspects that can promote the faith? Let us know!

By: Samantha Zavala

There are many times in life where it seems that you are going backwards or even standing still, instead of going forward.  There is an uncertainty to your own abilities and whether you will be a success or a failure. In spite of those realities, there are also the things that make you happy and excited once they have happened or have been achieved.  Stephanie Smith is familiar with all of these things.

Stephanie and her brother were raised in Pennsylvania by her mother.  Her father was in the Midwest, keeping his distance from the family. Regardless, Stephanie and her family were active in their community and their church family.  She attended a non-denominational church growing up.  She was shy, but there was someone who noticed that she had an impeccable gift.  It was her youth leader, Jonathan.  He became a father figure to her and was able to help her realize her gifting and helped her to break out of her shell.

But it hasn’t always been easy.

“It’s weird on your psyche,” she says as she describes what it feels like to go from singing in a packed-out auditorium at night, to waking up at the crack of dawn to serve coffee.

Switching gears like that would definitely be hard to do.  And even though there may be a struggle, Stephanie focuses on the big picture.

“God has been specific in making my dreams come true,” she explains.

As a little girl, she dreamt of singing in front of crowds. She also wanted to perform with Tobymac and be with Gotee Records.  And so far, all those dreams have been checked off the list.  She performed at Creation Festival in Pennsylvania and has done many performances at churches in the aftermath of her successes. 

But there is still a challenge.

“It is hard to keep dreaming when things are not going as planned,” she says.

What a true statement!

What Stephanie means by this is that there is always that smidge of uncertainty that can prevent you from dreaming big because there is always a chance that what you dream for will not play out as expected.  Everyone has this feeling.  However, she remembers that God has given her a gift and as long as she has a dream, He will make it happen for her.

“The burden is on the Promise-Maker,” she tells me convincingly.

God has always reminded her of that.  He is the Promise-Maker. That keeps Stephanie going.  And that also forces her to extend and challenge her dreams while taking a humongous leap of faith.  God is always there for her.

Another one who is always there for her is her road manager Emily. She is Stephanie’s best friend/roomie/travelling companion.  She helps Stephanie with whatever she needs and is always supportive of what Stephanie does.  Stephanie is really grateful to have a friend like Emily because being an artist in the music industry sometimes can be grueling and unsettling.

Even though her main ministry is her music, Stephanie is also active in three other ministries, Soles4Souls, Compassion International, and Pure Freedom.  Soles4Souls is an organization that gets donations of shoes and in turn, donates them to people who are in need of shoes worldwide.  Compassion International helps in sponsoring children who live in poverty-stricken environments. Stephanie was given the opportunity to meet her child, which is something that cannot be done on a regular basis.  The other ministry that she is a part of is Pure Freedom.  Pure Freedom is an organization that teaches about purity and modesty and what the Bible says about it.

It is apparent that Stephanie has a heart for helping people. 

“I love my girlies,” she says excitedly.

Although it is her goal to touch all lives, Stephanie has a heart to reach young girls and teenagers.  It is apparent in her music, especially in her song Superstar.  Her lyrics are full of emotion and honesty.  They are also filled with words that encourage you to keep on fighting through what may be trying to hold you back.

She will also have more opportunities to spread her message this fall because she will be a featured artist in the Winter Wonder Slam Tour.  She will be accompanied by part of her Gotee family, Tobymac and B. Reith, as well as Relient K.  She also plans on releasing an EP prior to the tour.

I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed when I was listening to Stephanie speak.  She spoke with honesty as she described what she goes through in the pursuit of carrying out her dream. Some people think that by doing so it would make you vulnerable. But in my opinion, I see her as a fighter and a heroine.  Even in the face of uncertainty, she plows through with formidable, God-given strength and ability.  She is trailblazing as a solo, female, Christian rock artist. 

You can learn more about Stephanie by going to her website http://www.stephanieisagirl.com. And of course she has a Facebook, MySpace, and a Twitter account.  Go there to learn more about Stephanie and to keep up with tour dates and album info, etc.

 
Most people all over the world battle with this question, what is life all about? If you are looking for the answer in anything but the Bible, you are going to be disappointed. Life has no meaning if Christ isn’t in it. You can spend all your life searching for something significant or meaningful but will never find it. The only thing significant or worth living for is Christ. The apostle Paul put it best when in Philippians 1:21, he said “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. The apostle Paul hit the nail on the head; life is significant as long as you are living it for Christ.

Why are the rates of suicides, self injurers, addicts etc going up? The reason is simple; these people find no sense in living, if everything is going to come to an end someday, why not end it today? Or still others are living for friends, loved ones, money, happiness etc and when all of this ends, they see no hope or value to life and decide to call it quits. If you are living for reasons that depend on earthly things, life is never worth it!

So why live for Christ? What significance does He give to life? In the Bible, there are a dozen reasons why living for Christ is worth it but the one I think most dear is the fact that this Perfect, Holy, Righteous Lamb died for your sins and my sins and paid our ransom in order that you and I might have everlasting life and this He has given freely! And I can’t think of a more fitting response than Isaac Watts’s in his hymn where he says, But drops of grief can ne’er repay The debt of love I owe, Here, Lord, I give myself away – “Tis all that I can do.

Another amazing reason to live for Christ is that He gives hope not only for this life but the next! So while living with Him in this life allows us to conquer sin and be content in any situation, we even have hope for a sinless life. For when we die in this world because of His death and resurrection, we too will rise to a new home, heaven in which there will be no sin, for we shall be like Him. We will have conquered both death and sin! How Blessed is that?!

Hence, every Christian who is living his or her life for Christ, is living a significant life, one that’s worth it and can voice the words of Apostle Paul, For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The recession has hit every country hard and has got the entire world shaken up, including the Christian world. Most Christians are asking themselves or their pastors, why is there a recession? Sadly, many have forgotten that God is Sovereign even over the recession. Yes, God does have a purpose even behind this recession.

Many of you are probably thinking that God is very cruel to allow the recession or why would God do something like this? Let us take a look at God’s word and see what could possibly be the purpose behind a recession? Remember, Scripture always has an answer to everything. Why is there a recession, how do you beat it? All the answers are in the scriptures, you just need to find it.

When I heard about the recession, the first verse that came to mind was Exodus 20:5 “Our God is a jealous God”. What does this have to do with the recession? To answer that, here is yet another verse, Matthew 6:24 “You cannot serve both God and Money.” I think the recession is here because we have chosen the wrong master. Our God is a jealous God and wants us to serve just one master, HIM! The recession is here to bring us back to God and give Him the Glory due his name.

Take a look at the world around, what is it about the recession that has affected us? Lack of money! Yes, definitely we all need money, there is no debating it but have we let God decide how much money we need? Most of us have a target salary and we don’t settle for anything less than that. In reality, what we are doing is, trusting our money to meet our needs and not God! By this act we are causing our God to be jealous. 

When you are not content in your okay paying job and are constantly on the look out for more money, you’re not honoring God, you’re dishonoring him! You are telling God “Hey God, money is more important to me and sorry I don’t trust you can provide for me and my family if I’m not doing enough earning!” You are telling God that He doesn’t know what you need and that you Infact know better.

How do you treat money and jobs? The book of Haggai really offers us one of the best perspectives. Haggai 1: 6 “You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it”. Isn’t that true? Don’t you feel like the money we earn is never sufficient? We as Christians ought not to be troubled by the recession but depend on the Lord for meeting our needs. Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Money, sadly today is our main concern. We forget that we worship a Jealous God! He will strip away distractions to bring you back to him.

Let this time of recession be a stripping away of your love for money and a time of giving our Jealous God his dues!

About the Author Esther Rathnam:

Hi! I am 23 and bubbling with life. I love life and ever since Christ came in there has been meaning and more joy to it. I have tons of friends and a huge family(practically half the city’s population is known to me). For those of you who think being a Christian is boring or taxing, I am here to let you know that you are missing out on a whole lot of fun! There is no greater joy than knowing Christ, Amen!