KICKS & GIGGLES

At the last Bible study, we were talking about why Jesus did what He did as it pertained to miracles, in particular with the blind man that He healed in a two step process in Mark Chapter 8. During the different opinions and reasons being given for why this could happen, one person said, “He did not do if for kicks and giggles.” Meaning that Jesus did everything for a reason and when we read Scripture we should be striving to see what that is. Jesus had a purpose and was not doing things just for party tricks or for laughs, He was on a mission.

Then I thought even more about how often many take Christianity for just kicks and giggles. Do we take our faith very seriously, or is it just because that is what our parents did, or it is what our friends do? Or do we take our faith seriously?

Christianity is not to be taken lightly and we should definitely not be taking it for granted and making light of it in any fashion. It is not a faith of party tricks and for that great emotional feeling, but of eternal destiny. We are called to a higher calling and called to a mission field.

Think about it, Matthew 7:21 says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.” There is a seriousness regarding our faith, and we should take it as such. If you continue reading it says these peoples did miracles and prophesied in His name, but in the end Christ says He never knew them and they are sent away. Maybe they were doing it for the “kicks and giggles,” as they wanted the attention and were not doing it because they believed, but because they liked the attention.

In 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 Paul says, “But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a reviler, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what is it to me to judge outsiders? Do you not judge those who are inside? But God judges outsiders. Put away the evil person from among yourselves.” If you call yourself a believer, first are you guilty of any of these offenses, and if so repent and get into discipline and accountability. Secondly, how many of your “Christian” friends should you no longer be hanging around if we followed what Paul says over and over again in his writings about Christians being in relation with other Christians? Or do you just rationalize that you are not to judge and that is just who they are; taking your faith for “kicks and giggles.” You just want to have “fun” and not lose friends.

How much more should the church be doing this? How many elders would lose their seats? How many deacons would have to step down? How emptier would the pews be if we started church discipline again? Or is the church in it for the money, the numbers and the building, which is just another way of saying for “your” enjoyment or “kicks and giggles.” How would your church or you fair today if Christ came back? Would you hear, “well done good and faithful servant,” or “I never knew you, depart from Me.” Maybe you would not be told to depart, but you would be the person or church that buries their talent because they are too afraid to do what God asks. Christianity became about you and not Christ.

You have to choose. Are you a bond-servant of Christ, or are you trying to make Christ a bond-servant to you? Are you serious about your faith, or is it just for “kicks and giggles?” You decide. You are either for Christ or against Him, there is no in between.

Matthew 12:30, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”