Laziness is the mother of invention” is indeed a true statement. Certainly, countless inventions have made everyday work much easier. Therefore, if laziness motivates individuals to create devices and machines to make our life easier, could that be the character trait that tries to make following God easier? Or is it something deeper? Could the motivation that tries to simplify our walk with God be explained in Jeremiah’s description of the heart? “The heart is deceitful above all things and it is extremely sick; who can understand it fully and know its secret motives?” Jeremiah 17:9 (AMP)
I recently heard a Christian radio tagline, which deeply concerned me due to what this belief is capable of producing in the church. It said, “Jesus died and rose again and your sins are forgiven, past, present, and future!” The “greasy grace” that is permeating our church culture is an attempt to simplify Christianity and appeal to an anti-authority sect of quick fix gen-Xers and Zers. This new flavor of “easy believism” bypasses any repentant soul searching or Godly sorrow over sin. In my opinion, the prayer-answering gods that serve this false religion are fallen angels sent to lead people astray from the true gospel and any true spiritual growth.
Ever since creation the attitude of individuals and people groups toward God has been on a continual rotating cycle away from God, then eventually back to Him, sometimes generations later. Throughout the Old Testament God chose to use prophets to live very near to His heart and will and to watch over His children’s spiritual condition. Prophet after prophet sounded the warning cry to little avail. The problem is that once something seems to make life easier or more pleasant, people do not want anyone telling them that their actions are displeasing to God.
Sadly, throughout history, every generation has indeed tried to come up with schemes to make following God easier. During the time of Christ, the Jewish people had decided that it was a lot easier and a lot less messy to just go to the sheep market and buy their sacrificial animal, than to haul their own much-loved baby lamb from their homes to Jerusalem. Consider this contemporary ad-lib of what a typical family might have said back then; “Let’s make it quick and easy, right? When we get to Jerusalem, we grab a room at the nearest inn; Mom takes the kids for a gyro sandwich and a trip to the park in town, while Dad swings buy the sheep market and picks up the lamb for the sacrifice. Dad then stops by and visits the priest. Zip zap, the priest does the sacrificial micro ceremony at the discounted family rate. As a bonus, we get to catch a show in the outdoor theater that night and head home in the morning!”
However, such casual sacrifices greatly grieved our Lord. Many people miss this when they read the account of Christ overturning the moneychanger’s tables at the temple in Luke 19:45. The reason that He was so angry was not only because the moneychangers were cheating people in the coin exchange, but also more importantly, because the people were offering up sacrifices without their hearts being broken in repentance over their sins. Christ was seeing a representation of the fulfillment of the words of the Psalmist, who said, “For you do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalms 51:16,17 (NKJV)
Are you one who quickly prays “Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins.” then immediately rattles off your prayer list? Or do you instead experience heartfelt contrition, and humbly, acknowledge your weaknesses. Do you then sincerely ask Him to empower you to live a Godly life, and only then continue with your list? Have you been introduced to a microwave conversion or one proven and written in the stone of His-story? Sometimes put your faith to the test and read the old-fashioned prayers of our forefathers! You will be wowed by your efforts!
Good thoughts Nolan. Reminds of what Bonhoeffer referred to as “cheap grace.’ As you mention, it has been around for a long time, but seems to be hitting a high point at this time in history. “Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace. Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks’ wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church’s inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing….[45]” God’s peach to you.