A Cry for Christian Renaissance

My heart bleeds for a renaissance of the Chrisitian faith. For the better of part of two centuries, Christians have appealed to the lowest common denominator of thought and dynamic while preachers brag out bottom-shelf preaching. Our form and diction displays repudiates rigorous and thorough practices, and the closing of the evangelical mind has resulted in astronomical consequences. There was a day when Christians where the innovators of their day, on the forefront of the academic disciplines in study, skilled in the arts, framers in political life and governmental affairs, and maintained a spirit of excellence in living a skillful life in the fear of the Lord. I think of the Puritans who were probably the greatest Christian society in history, or the first century church and the church fathers, the leaders of the Great Awakening and founders and presidents of Ivy League schools, shapers of modern doctrine and revolutonaries with a pasionate pen and pure life as in the days of Luther, Calvin, Owen, Melanchthon, Huss, Knox, and others. Education was preeminent over sports and leisure, and accomplishments accompanied lives that were well spent. Today, we have been confined to our evangelical ghetto eating our cotton-candy religion that tastes great but doesn't fulfill. We don't need another revival meeting per say, or even a trendy program to appeal to the masses; rather, we need a renaissance of epic proportions - one that will have staying power and enduring legacy for generations to come. Right now, we Christians are content to be the off-brand of the secular world, praise our second-rate skills and hand-me-down agendas that are the worn-out products of yesteryear that have been simply refurbished with a glossy, spiritual appeal. Like gum already chewed and spit out, we pick it up and hope to find some flavor only to be disappointed that once again, we have become the laughing stock of those ahead of us. We don't want the honest truth, because honesty doesn't sell - at least not on the front shelf. We have replaced catechisms of old with little acronyms and cliches; we have concerned ourselves with keeping up with the times rather being a prophetic voice against the times; we have tried to reach the world only to find the world has reached us . . .and done so on our own territory, the church. There is much to be done, and I don't know where to begin. I am hurting over this. People tell me to "keep the main thing the main thing" and don't get sidetracked over this because it's not worth it. Yet we rush into instant gratification and don't know how to live for a cause that may not find its fulfillment until the dash declares it so. Like Michaelangelo who spent his entire life on a painting, or Origin whose life work was in the Hexapla, or William Carey who spent his life translating the Bible in over 40 langauges, we look and say, "How does that benefit us now? What's the point?" And this is why I cry for a Christian renaissance. A new way of life. Of elevated thinking and dynamic devotion. Disciplines that drive us to "run in such a way so as to win," and leveraging life for a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. We can learn much from those who have gone before, and as we look ahead for ages and generations to come, what will be said about us? While we should be expectant towards Christ's return, we have become so gullible that this eschatological crazy has enamored believers to the point that they can fathom doing something that may last for centuries, for they think that we won't be here next week. And history tells us that in almost every generation since the first century church, people have thought that Christ was to come back in their time. And here me, He may come today, but does that mean that we should embark upon trivial pursuits under the sun? I hope not. Yes. A renaissance affecting every aspect of life. A rebirth of holy affection of Christ glorified in all things for the joy of all peoples. A resurgence of undying fervor to rise above this subnormal state of low living and embrace the call to change the world one thought at a time, one word at a time, one person at a time, for times to come. May it be according to the good pleasure of God.