The thrill is gone…

We’ve become so used to the testimony of a radical month directly after conversion, only to be followed by a downward slump, that we’ve learned to accept mediocre non-revolution as a Christian norm. Some rare leaders become “celebrities” in staying wild for God, but we reduce this to the exception, justifying a continued, lukewarm Christianity in Plebville. If we had to ask around for an average description of today’s Christians, I cannot imagine words like “wild”, “selfless”, “dangerous”, “adventurous” or “risky” to top the charts. It is sad.

Where did the thrill go?
Thrill comes with danger, with taking risks, and with daring journeys where much could be lost or gained. Thrill comes with responsibility and caring deeply about something to the point of self-sacrifice. Thrill comes when you can say ‘no’ to desirable things and lucrative options, because a great simplicity reduced your options to single-minded focus. There is a thrill in doing right, even if you are misunderstood.
This is true of sports, business, outdoor adventures and falling in love. It is also true of the Christian life.

Where does this safe, domesticated life come from?
Let’s be honest now… Self preservation, hidden agendas, sophistication, half-hearted calculations, neglecting our first love, anxiety, busyness or laziness, just to name a few. One thing I do know, is that Saul was knocked off his donkey, led to Damascus, and prayed for the infilling of the Holy Spirit by Ananias. He lived with divine urgency all of his remaining days. Could it be that many Christians today are living a form of Christianity while denying the very power of it, just because they don’t know the power of the Holy Spirit? It must be.

So, what am I saying here?
We all lose the wildness of true Christianity sometimes, and God always seems to help us get it back, but I’m not writing this to admit seasons of winter and summer, so we can all feel good about losing our fervour every now and then. I am writing this to say to myself (and to you) that I don’t want to accept a theology of indifference, or a doctrine that maintains my suburban priorities, or a creed that pampers fear as the new faith. It is one thing to fall in a hole every now and then, but another thing to live there.

I conclude. May we embrace the idea that God is “good, but not safe”. May we remember how bloody the births of our children were, how ferociously the lion eats away at the beautiful gazelle, how turbulent the oceans are, and how Jesus died.

We’ve lost truckloads of thrill because we invented a domesticated God.