Consumers vs Participants
We now have the ability to consume incredibly powerful biblical content from many great communicators and pastors, anytime and anywhere. We are so used to hearing convicting messages each week, that conviction gradually has become the goal. We will talk about it, get excited about it, and share it, but that is where it ends. There is no action that follows. If you are hearing the Word of God and not doing anything with it, you are deceiving yourself.
We’ve conditioned ourselves to hear messages without responding. Sermons have become Christian entertainment.”
Most of us use ‘I’m waiting for God to reveal His calling on my life’ as a means of avoiding action. Did you hear God calling you to sit in front of the television yesterday? Or to go on your last vacation? Or exercise this morning? Probably not, but you still did it. The point isn’t that vacation or exercise are wrong, but that we are quick to rationalize our entertainment and priorities yet are slow to commit to serving God.
-Francis Chan, Crazy Love
Because of online tools, we are able to consume (hear) even more incredible biblical strong content. There will be times where there is deep conviction from God’s Word. Remember conviction is not the goal. It is the tool which should lead to obedient action. Let’s not be consumers of the Word only but active participants in what it says.
James 1:23-25
This is a great reminder. With the internet, it's hard not to be a consumer.
Great post and a timely reminder that as we are consumed by the love, wisdom, teachings of God it should produce a fruit of action. Sometimes we sit like big, fat sponges and soak it all up but there should be an overflow onto the lives of others. Maybe God will come and give us a big squeeze! lol
Nice post dude. Chan is on fire in Crazy Love… our guys are gobbling it up… the test of time will tell what actions will follow. Seems that information overload is driving a current problem to new extremes.
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