There is a general rule across the world that killing is bad. Some will say that there are those who perhaps deserve to die, usually due to atrocities that they have committed against innocent people, but for the most part humans agree that it is wrong to kill another human, There are those who reject the Christian faith based on the fact that whilst it clearly tells us not to kill, the Old Testament is full of people doing just that.

In the New Testament, just after Jesus returned to heaven, what we now call the church came under tremendous persecution, and a number of believers were killed. The Gospel is deeply offensive to those who do not believe, and sometimes people are killed for their faith.

Over the centuries since then, at least in the Western world it has become significantly less common to die as a result of our beliefs, whatever they might be. Churches have become safe places to be found, as over time hard fought freedoms have been won that ensure that what we do regularly on a Sunday morning is legal. There is even a recognised, tolerated if not fully accepted branch of the church that is expected to take the lead in performing religious acts at key points in the calendar. The country accepts this version of Christianity because it is safe. It doesn’t challenge the norm or expect people to change significantly. It is often the subject of comedy, at least here in the United Kingdom.

We celebrate this freedom and it is right that we do so.

There are some parts of the world where that freedom doesn’t exist. There are parts of the world where people don’t just ‘pop along to a church’ to check it out.  Seeker services are unheard of. You are either totally in, or totally out. If you are in, you must accept that there are significant risks involved. In China, arrest and imprisonment are a daily concern. This weekend in Sri Lanka the risk was death. Death, simply for going to church on an Easter Sunday.

Even before the atrocities of this weekend I have been challenged about what it means to go to church for me. It is so relatively simple in this country to admit that you are a Christian. There may be a bit of teasing and name calling. The worst that might happen is that so-called friends would stop asking you to go out with them because “you wouldn’t be interested.”  

Church is safe. Christianity is safe. That makes it easy to belong. It makes it easy to do the bits of Christianity that fit with our schedules, families and work patterns. We can say yes to some things, and no to others without risk.

The question I have been asking myself is “would I go to church if the odds were I would be arrested that day and thrown in prison without legal representation? How about if the chances were that I would be beaten up as I walked home afterwards with my children? If simply going to worship meant that I may not make it home to loved ones?”  There are countries where this is a daily question. If these are the risks, you have to be sure that they are risks worth taking. Christians in countries such as China, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran are sure. Am I? Really?

I’d like to say yes. I’d like to say that I was throwing everything into this. I’d like to say that I am 100% committed. My heart wants to mean it. I wonder if my life proves what I say I believe?

He is the Pearl of great price. The problem is that in the West we haven’t had to pay very much to buy it. We have become apathetic and comfortable in our nice seats, 1 ½ hr services that fit nicely into our Sunday mornings, before the roast is cooked.

I am utterly convinced that if we really do give 100%, we will see 1^st Century church growth with thousands coming to faith each day. We will see the sick healed simply by walking past them. We will see access to governments and social change making a difference in the lives of the neediest in our society. The dead will rise at our command.

But it won’t happen all the time we are happy to feel safe. If we are content with the way things are, nothing will change. If, however we really are ready to risk it all, anything can happen.

The differences between a caterpillar and butterfly are obvious. The sole purpose of a caterpillar is to eat enough to provide the nutrients necessary for one of natures most amazing transformations. The butterfly seeks out nectar, pollinating plants as it goes.

Once it reaches the appointed time, the caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon, and emerges days later completely different.

It was once thought that everything turned into some sort of soup, only to be reformed, but scientists now believe that some of the things that existed in the caterpillar are used (sometimes differently) in the butterfly. Small clusters of cells are used in structures of the adult butterfly. Tissues are broken down into clusters of cells that are used to build muscles. Structures such as the gut, trachea and parts of the nervous system are remodelled and used again. Apparently, some memories are retained in the butterfly, suggesting nerve cells remain connected during the transformation process.

As I read the article that the information above came from, it struck me that the life of a caterpillar is not dissimilar to that of a person who comes to Christ.

The bible tells us that we are new creations. (2 Corinthians 5:17) The old person has gone, the new has been born. The reality is that whilst this is true in a spiritual sense, the old physical body still exists. The transformation from one who is at enmity with God, to one who is accepted as a beloved son is instantaneous at the point, we say yes to Him (Romans 8:15). That our bodies and our minds take a bit of time to catch up with the condition and position of our spirit man is something that takes some longer than others to deal with. My experience, like that of the caterpillar is that some the memories from my past life still play in my mind. It is only by deliberately taking every thought captive that I am able to live as one who is seated in heavenly places with Christ. (Ephesians 2:6)

The process of changing me into the person who I was created to be will inevitably involve some disassembly and reworking, but I believe that if I allow Him to do the work, trusting in His master plan He will create something far more beautiful than the way I was. If I trust that He is good, and any changes He wants to make, regardless of the pain of making them, are only made to make me more like Him, then the process will be shorter, and the results far better.

The thing about caterpillars is that once they become butterflies, there is no way back. The transformation is complete, they will never crawl around looking for food again. They will forever be airborne, looking for nectar.

So too with the Christian. Once the transformation has occurred, there is no way back. The old man has died, the new man lives. The thing that troubles me is that there are some in the church who seem to want to bring the old man back to life. They keep trying to revive him, not understanding that there is no way to bring him back.

There are some things that we were never meant to carry beyond the cross. As we reflect this Easter on the death and resurrection of our Saviour, let’s leave the old man there at the cross. Let’s move together, forward into our new reality.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

I saw a cartoon the other day (pictured above) which made me smile.

At least I smiled for a moment – then I began to think about the message behind the picture. What started out as an amusing comment on the stage of allergens and food preferences made me think about how we treat things that God gives us.

We are happy to accept whatever He has for us, as long as it’s on our terms. We don’t want to feel like we are living by faith, but we don’t want to be too challenged. We are happy to experience the warm fuzzy feeling of His presence, but don’t want to be disciplined by Him. We are keen to worship Him ‘in spirit and in truth’, but the truth is that if it doesn’t fit into a couple of hours on a Sunday morning then we really don’t have time for Him.

The Christian life isn’t supposed to be a snack when we are hungry. It is a proper sit down seven course banquet. Of course we will find that the odd snack will keep us going for a bit, but the nutritional value will be limited. There is a promised land for each of us, but the only way we are going to possess it is if we are in peak spiritual condition. To be in the right shape, we must commit to the meal set before us.

I’ve written before about making sure that we feed ourselves and to not expect our church leaders to provide the only meal that we (spiritually) eat each week. In the same way, we must allow Jesus to provide all that we need. Some of what He provides may not be to our taste. It might lead us out of our comfort zones, taking us to places that we feel vulnerable.  

Are you prepared to accept that the one who made you, knows best what you need? The bible tells us to “taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8)

It’s not about worrying about whether we should sing hymns or songs, use the KJV or the NIV or whether we have pews or seats. It’s about whether we are prepared to say “Yes”, without question or hesitation. I remember years ago hearing a comedian describing a letter he had received. The conversation went something like this. “How much make-up should a Christian woman wear?”. He replied, “I don’t know sister, it depends on your face.” He went on to explain, that “in a world that is going to hell, we don’t have time to worry about Maybelline.”

The gift that He gave us is worth everything, and it’s free. Following Him on His terms means we get to things on earth as they are in heaven. Following Him means that we get to bring light to a dark world. Following Him means that there is nothing in front of us that we cannot beat.
Sticking with Him may get difficult, I’m not suggesting it won’t end in suffering, hardship and pain. We may see things we don’t understand, situations that we struggle to explain away. What I can promise is that surrendering without question is the only way to find the peace that you have been longing for.

If we believe that God is good then we can be confident that that which He supplies is going to be good, and good for us. Francis Frangipane once said, “too many of us attend church each Sunday, not to be filled with the Spirit, but to be inoculated with just enough religion to make us immune to God for the rest of the week.”

Let’s stop trying to be good church goers, lets start being disciples this Easter, following the one who rode into Jerusalem, hailed with shouts of Hosanna. Ready to follow Him wherever He leads, unconditionally, even if sometimes it feels like Friday night.

Sunday IS coming.