Are you In or are you Out?

Recently I read about a family that had two cats that were basically indoor cats.  One summer they both went outside and were not seen for weeks.  Eventually one got tired of being outside and came back in.  The other came back to the house but would not come inside.  She would sit at the door, beg for food, and loved to be petted.  She would come in briefly, but wanted to go back outside.  When winter came she came back to being an inside cat.

    As I read that story I couldn’t help but think about Christians who can’t make up their mind if they want to be in the church or in the world.  They like the idea of being in the church for all the things the church can do for them and their families.  The church will host wedding and baby showers, provide a place for weddings and funerals, offer support and comfort in times of sickness and death.  Children are often entertained and recognized for their accomplishments and the elderly get nods of appreciation at times.  And of course the church offers a place to worship, study the Bible and share in fellowship.

    When it comes to faithful attendance to Bible study and
worship many are like the cat who wanted to come back for food and a little petting, but soon go back into the world.  In the book of Galatians, Paul addressed this kind of religion.  One that claims Christ as Lord and Savior, but has one foot deeply rooted in the world.  Are you so foolish?  Having
begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?  Galatians 3:3

    Many have become caught up in the worldly attractions and the false religious beliefs that teach you can’t fall away from Christ no matter how you live.  You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law;  you have fallen from grace.  Galatians 5:4

-from the desk of Jim Davis