Richard Beck over at Experimental Theology and written a fantastic article about about the phenomena of Bait and Switch Christianity.
When she reached spiritual matters we had the following exchange:
"I need to spend more time working on my relationship with God."
I responded, "Why would you want to do that?"
Startled she says, "What do you mean?"
"Well, why would you want to spend any time at all on working on your relationship with God?"
"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?"
"Let
me answer by asking you a question. Can you think of anyone, right now,
to whom you need to apologize? Anyone you've wronged?"
She thinks and answers, "Yes."
"Well,
why don't you give them a call today and ask for their forgiveness.
That might be a better use of your time than working on your
relationship with God."
Obviously, I was
being a bit provocative with the student. And I did go on to clarify.
But I was trying to push back on a strain of Christianity I see in both
my students and the larger Christian culture. Specifically, when the
student said "I need to work on my relationship with God" I knew
exactly what she meant. It meant praying more, getting up early to
study the bible, to start going back to church. Things along those
lines. The goal of these activities is to get "closer" to God. To
"waste time with Jesus." Of course, please hear me on this point,
nothing is wrong with those activities. Personal acts of piety and
devotion are vital to a vibrant spiritual life and continued spiritual
formation. But all too often "working on my relationship with God" has
almost nothing to do with trying to become a more decent human being.
It's a provocative thought and worth exploring. Jesus had the following exchange with someone seeking to live for God.
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt 22:36-38)
But he didn't stop there:
"And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt 22:39-40)
Our godliness can be increased when we take both of these together. When we work on our relationships with others, we are working on our relationship with God as well. When we go to those who have wronged us and forgive them, we are practicing godliness. When we help the poor and needy we are being Jesus to them.
The point is to be Holy people.