Slumber Part 1

Reading the book, The Slumber of Christianity, by Ted Dekker. I picked it up from somewhere, not even sure exactly where. I was heading to the beach and thought I would take it along, not knowing what it really was about. Wow. So impacting already and I am only half way through it.

Part 1 deals with the problem — Christians are in a slumber. “The general failure of life to produce the happiness of achieving dreams is especially interesting for Christians because, judging by their actions rather than their claims, Christians on the whole are no more happy than people of other faiths. It’s the open secret of the church — we make all kinds of incredible claims based on the scriptures, but our lives are pretty much the same as the unchurched.” He goes on to talk about the divorce rate for non-born-again couples is 35% … the same rate as those who claim Christianity. Christians really are not a whole lot different, he says. Not when you think about the stream of messages coming from pulpits across the nation — “prouncementts of love, joy, and peace. One would think we would be a lot more happier and more fulfilled. Yet, “we spend our money on the same kinds of entertainment, we buy the same kinds of food and clothes, and we spend as much time searching for purpose.” Why is this? What is going on? His first basic answer is this: “that Christianity has become preoccupied with finding true pleasure and happiness and purpose on earth rather than in the age to come.” International House of Prayer KC founder, Mike Bickle, speaks often of living for another age – a reality echoed in the music of Misty Edwards. Dekker goes on to say that “nothing in this life can satisfy unless it is full bathed in an obsession for eternity. Nothing. Not a purpose driven life, not a grand adventure, not the love of a dashing prince or the hand of a beautiful maiden.”

So often we begin a journey of searching for meaning, for truth, for happiness. We look to things because they are tangible and temporarily seem to fill holes. Solomon says that we were created for happiness in Eccl. 3:12-13 — I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Which brings us to one of the most significant concepts in the Bible. Hope. “If there is one universal symptom of hopelessness or depression, it is sleep. A slumber could easily be defined as a separation from reality that provides sweet relief from hopelessness. Think of sleep as a drug that anesthetizes the hopelessness and deadens the pain of life.” At this point I was thinking, well I work in ministry… and sure I have some off days here and there, but generally I am pretty hopeful and positive.

But then I got hit with these questions: “Are you breathlessly yearning for the day you step beyond this life into that life prepared for you after death? Does the hope you have for heaven raise the hair on the back of your neck or make your belly float? Are you obsessed with eternity? Does it preoccupy you, so that all gifts on earth pale by comparison? Are you, like the overeager bride about to be wed, so excited about your final union with God that nothing around you seems to matter anymore? Do you regularly, like the apostle Paul, honestly crave to die and be with Christ, because departing to be with Him is better by far than living to serve Him?” So, that got me to thinking that, in fact, I could not say that I was doing any of those things regularly or at all. Sure when I talk about giving, I know that what I sow on earth here matter for eternity. I believe that the rewards there will be so significant compared to any earthly reward I have received. But obsessed with eternity? Excited like a giddy bride? I can’t say that I have been.

More to come on this. I am excited to see how The Lord is moving in my heart and opening my eyes to see things that have been previously dark to me!