Dear Faith Family, 

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matthew 3:2). 

Just heard a report from a friend of mine (He’s a turkey hunter so you know he’s a good guy!). Apparently, the church in China is growing. I think he used the word “exploding”. He added that the church is praying for more persecution! In answer to the question, “Why?”, came the response that they didn’t want to become like the American church, complacent. Ouch! 

Just because we might be more concerned about what’s for lunch than we are about the privilege of corporate worship doesn’t mean we’re complacent. And just because we’re too busy to meditate on the word of God, doesn’t mean we’re complacent. And just because we’ve bowed down to other little “g” gods (like work, or stuff, or money, or me – we probably shouldn’t insert cell phone here because that’s a tool not a god, right?) doesn’t mean we’re complacent. And just because prayer is sometimes an afterthought doesn’t mean we’re complacent. 

Or does it? 

Complacency wears more than one mask. When disappointment with God (like when His answer to prayer doesn’t match our request) settles in it can mask, even endorse, complacency. When something more intriguing makes us feel better it can mask, even encourage complacency. When we can’t see or don’t understand what God is doing it can mask, even excuse complacency. 

Interesting to work your way through the seven letters in the early chapters of Revelation. To the church in Ephesus, who had abandoned their first love, repent. To the church in Pergamum, who were being led astray, repent. To the church in Thyatira, who were being seduced, repent. To the church in Sardis, who were dead, repent. To the church in Laodicea, who were lukewarm, repent. 

Wow! Time plus comfort all too often equals complacency. The place to begin is to honestly face our propensity for complacency.  And then? Turn from it to our not complacent big “G” God! That is the call to repent – to turn from our sin to our gracious, forgiving Father. What a gift! 

May God grant us repentance, 

Pastor Karl