“Mile-wide and Inch-deep”

I was 3rd grader when I was introduced to a Christian Church that shares not a religion but a relationship with the Savior Christ Jesus. It was vague though for a so young mind to understand, yet little by little and over the time, I was able to see the clearer picture… until, I then could grasp the always-talked-about TRUTH.

Along doing things to deepen and ignite the faith seeded in, I learned the significance of which to motivate and to devote to so as to experience God moving in my life. Like said, when you seek, you shall find… and so as the Father to my desire to seek more of Him. He let me understood how it is to be in His dwelling place, floating in joy and peace. It seemed as if reaching for Him has not even been a task to toil on. Not to mention that several of the Christians that time were just either (1) ablazing in faith or (2) dead cold. No lukewarm and mediocre are in a noteworthy percentage then. In fact, to know who’s Christian and not was just so apparent that many could easily tell. Not certain though if it was about the clothing or attitudes or whatever. It doesn't really matter big.

Anyway, that was the last scene of the movie I remember before I took a turn. I had to be out of the church to pursue some priorities and opportunities I didn’t weigh good, I could tell, and had to be totally drowned into the worldly pleasure of recognition, contentment and sins. This is whole different story to tell but to make it short, I had to be out for a while to see what’s out and enjoyed it and when got tired and wounded, I went back in and tuned to the movie I was watching.

I went back to the church after 5 long years and tried to reconcile with God and renewed my acceptance of salvation. And as I stay on, I was a little puzzled of where did the story go and it seemed several things happened and new sets and twists associated along. Too many to mention… but what painted most in my mind is the vast increase in number of Christians from all walks of life. And praise be to God that He allowed and helped the gospel through in many people. Even friends I know, who I met again with, were already involved and even leading groups for same purposes in other different churches. But to my surprise, they that lead the small groups for Jesus are the same people who sing seculars in loud, and drink liquors and smoke and should I say, are WORLDLY.

Not being a conservative, perfect and sinless Christian because I am actually not and I am an "open-to-every-possibility" type of a believer, but the remarkable transformation of what I know and what I experienced just startled me to deep. Was I left behind of new trends in Christianity or was I just being an unintelligible critic that rides pessimism?

In my pursuit, it takes several researches to be read and several more studies concerning both sociology and God’s words to be looked on and deeper, more stable prayer life to build before I understood what’s going on. And the fact is, there really was a twist in the story so abrupt that the story became so vague and led to the total loss of the original storyboard. Now, a "mediocre" is introduced big and the "lukewarm, religious Christianity" is just everywhere.

Just recently, I was forwarded by dear sister in Christ with a link to a blog-study entitled Theo-tainment vs. Discipleship (http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/mCraven/11635336/). As I went on, the indistinct reality I am looking at all this time suddenly became clearer to me – it is true that Christianity grew mile wide yet just an inch deep. Church has become a place of professing faith in Jesus Christ yet not actually following Jesus. Yes. It became just an empty place where people would fellowship but without nurturance and spiritual maturity pursuance. Sad fact.

True to words, "mile wide and inch deep" Christianity is very evident in today's world. With its growing popularity, more in RELIGIOUS aspect and not in a RELATIONAL facet, makes it more difficult for many, especially new Christians, to really know what and how it is to have a true relationship with Jesus Christ through faith that works. In fact, in a youth group of 10 once asked "Whose Christian here?” about 7 or 8 might raise an excited hand up. But once further solicited with "How they say so?” mostly will just say "Because they attend the church," and nothing else.

In simple terms, many are Christians in "TAG" but "REAL" ones are becoming rare.

However though, this is not an issue of who's in or out of REAL and RELATIONAL Christianity. This is rather an issue of calling unto God to help us correct whatever is wrong that may soon become a TRADITION that could already be hardly altered due to practice and thought that all these are the right thing to pursue. And of course, those who understand, then, have to do ways to really fulfill the Great Commission.

This shook me to my feet. I might be just one of those who help in mile-widening the Christianity and ignore the depth to truth. Search heart and God opens the door to the truth when we knock. Seek more of Him and grow wide and deep!