The Issue of "Lifestyle."

The objection that “being a Christian will screw up my lifestyle” almost always plays a role when a person begins considering Christianity.

It’s an issue that goes all the way back to when Jesus himself was walking the earth. And let’s be frank: The Jerry Falwell contingent has sent the message through the media that being a Christian means no drinking, no drugs, no pre-marital sex, no rock n’ roll music, no cussing, and no movies (except those rated G).

Slip up? Hell’s where you’re headed, Mister. And you, being human, have bought into the media’s distorted message that “Jerry Falwell speaks for all those Christian weirdoes.”

I’m here to tell you, he does not. Let me give you a more accurate example of what “becoming a Christian” is like:

You go out and buy a really righteous mountain bike, because mountain biking looks like something you’d like to do. Now, does buying the bike make you a master mountain biker? Does mere bike ownership mean that you can shred the most difficult trails, and execute the most difficult aerial maneuvers? And – most importantly – does it mean you’re a failure if you don’t?

Of course not.

You bought the mountain bike, and said, “I’m in…I’d like to learn the sport…right now I don’t know anything, but with time, practice, and a lot of wipeouts, I may get good at it. I may never learn the triple-inverted-double-twist-flipomatic, but that doesn’t mean that one day I can’t be a mountain biker.”

Trust me, living the perfect Christian life is almost impossible. (It’s only been done once, and that was 2,000 years ago.)

In fact, living even a “good” Christian life is the triple-inverted-double-twist-flipomatic, and achieving it is extraordinarily rare.

The truth is that most Christians spend most of their time on the trail wiping out. But here’s the thing: Like recreational mountain biking, the course is not timed…there’s no penalty for wiping out as long as you keep trying…and there’s a monster-sized eternal trophy at the end of the course.

Let me digress for just a moment: Some Christians come to their faith with a bang—Something happens, and God delivers to them a huge injection of “talent” for the faith. In short, they become instant, overnight mountain bike experts.

Now, let’s consider your conversation with them on the sport of mountain biking:

Them (Very loud): Dude! Did you hear??!! I’m an expert mountain biker! It’s awesome!

You: Huh? I saw you a week ago. You didn’t even own a mountain bike.

Them: I know! That’s what makes it such a great sport! It’s easy! You just get on and go!

You: Easy? Are you friggin’ nuts? You’re going down a mountain at, like, 50 miles an hour.

Them: Wrong! All you’ve got to do is want to be an expert, and you are an expert, see? I rode Mt. Everest yesterday with no hands! It’s so simple!

You: Dude, it’s not simple.

Them: Yes, yes, yes, it is simple. All you’ve got to do is want to be an expert.

You: Okay, I give…how do you want to be an expert?

Them: You just want it, and then you’ll feel a massive rush of talent, and then you’re an expert!

You: But, I –

Them: Listen to me! This is an awesome hobby! Quit all your other hobbies immediately, give away your snow skis, and motorcycle, and parachute, and skateboard, and tennis racquet, and baseball glove, and your boat, and focus everything on mountain biking! You can be like me! Overnight!

You: But I like doing other sports. And I’m not sure I want to be like you.

Them: Oh, then mountain biking ain’t for you. Sorry.

This hypothetical situation is simply not true.

Most Christians aren’t blessed with the big bang of faith, and come to their understanding of God’s word step-by-little-step…little by little…year by year.
They buy the mountain bike, and learn how to ride on a flat level surface. That seems okay, so they practice turns, and braking. They get the hang of that, and move on to riding in grass. Learn to make repairs. Learn to do preventive maintenance. At each step, they find themselves enjoying the growth process, and they consciously make the decision to pursue more-- they do so because they want to.

It works the same way with the “lifestyle” issue. If you’re the biggest party-animal-sex-crazed-drug-snorting-racist on the planet, you’re still welcomed in the house of God. You’re still welcomed to learn His words, and learn His ways. Chances are, with time, you’ll modify your lifestyle because you want to, and God will help you by changing you from the inside.

If you don’t? If you never change your ways? That’s an issue between you and God.

No one in the church has any right to judge you, as only God can judge. Compared to the guy who created the heavens and the earth, we’re all worthless little vermin, so who am I to say your sins are worse than mine?

Once you make the decision to become a Christian, and you let Jesus play a role in your life, then you begin to absorb the “talents” for the faith at the rate He gives them to you-- which is always at a rate you can handle.

Who knows? You may not get the big “bang” of talent a month into it. You may never get the big bang, and instead learn things one tiny bit at a time—but either way, the end result is the same: You’ll make lifestyle changes because you will want to be a more skilled participant.