A Religion Of Convenience --- Part II

Convenience is the father of neglect. Our church buildings are full of Christians who neglect to obey the commandments of God because of convenience. They read where the Bible commands the Christian to study its sacred pages (2 Timothy 2:15). Yet many brethren cannot find the time or opportunity to obey this dictate from God. These are the same brethren who crumble when difficulties or persecution strike their lives (Luke 8:13). They are so spiritually anemic that they become easy prey for false teachers and digression (2 Timothy 3:5-7).They will pay dearly for their neglect in the Day of Judgment.

Other Christians allow convenience to cause them to neglect the command of Christ to evangelize the world (Matthew 28:18-20). It is not convenient for them to knock on their neighbor’s door and inquire about their spiritual welfare. The weather is too hot or too cold. They don’t know what to say. They might be rejected, etc. (Luke 6:44). Some brethren have been so neglectful of soul winning that they don’t produce any fruit at all! They are like a sterile fruit tree – producing beautiful blossoms but no fruit. Someday they will be “hewn down” (Matthew 7:19). Jesus wants us to bear fruit; not just good deeds, but souls as well! (Luke 8:15).

Convenience also influences some brethren to not contribute to the Lord’s work as much as they are able. They fail to give as God has “prospered” them (1 Corinthians 16:2). No time is convenient for them to contribute to the Lord’s work. If they do obey the Lord’s command they do so grudgingly or out of necessity (“Everyone is watching me. I had better give something!”); and certainly not cheerfully (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:7). Whether they realize it or not, convenience is determining how they worship God. They are missing out on a great blessing (Romans 12:8 ASV cf. 2 Corinthians 9:6; Luke 6:38).

Convenience is the brother of unfaithfulness. How many sermons have been preached and bulletin articles written on the topic of “unfaithfulness?” (see article). Only the Lord knows the answer to that question. The excuses for unfaithfulness in attendance are endless: “I like to sleep late on Sundays.” “We travel a lot on weekends.” “I’m too tired to come to Bible study on Wednesday evening.” I wonder if it was “convenient” for the Lord to carry the cross to Calvary on that Friday morning 2,000 years ago! (Hebrews. 10:26). Let us beware, making our Christianity into a religion of convenience! —Roelf L. Ruffner ..... See Part I here.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets