Crowds can be fickle. One day they’re yelling “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13) and later in the week they’re crying, “Crucify him!” (John 19:15)
If they weren’t yelling, they had already abandoned him.
Where are we in the mix? Are we fickle or faithful?
The people around us—and the society around us (“the crowds”)—tend to exert a big influence on how we think and what we do. So it’s important to reflect upon who we are in relation to wider society.
In 1961, 96% of Canadians identified as Christian. But things have changed rather quickly. Being associated with Jesus is no longer the popular thing to do.
According to Barna, 60% of people now think that evangelism is ‘extreme’ religious behaviour. 11% think that reading a Bible silently in public is ‘extreme,’ and 7% even think that going to church is ‘extreme.’ Those are American stats, but since Canada is further along the road of secularization, those numbers would probably be higher here (not lower).
In an article in Maclean’s Magazine, it was revealed that over 30% of Canadians were ‘most uncomfortable’ around evangelical Christians. A similar percentage was uncomfortable around drug addicts and child abusers!
In this climate we need to proactively think about who we are in relation to others. We are to be humble, God-glorifying, others-loving, truth-telling disciples of the risen Jesus… even when that is countercultural.
Are you fickle or faithful as the world turns on Jesus?
Notes:
— PODCAST. Do you want to know how to explain (or defend) your faith with greater confidence and clarity? This podcast is an interview with international speaker, President of Stand to Reason, and author, Greg Koukl about apologetics and defending your faith. Over 300,000 people have bought his book “Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions.” Click here, or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn.
—Click here for a short video about what to expect during Holy Week at Westminster in 2022.
—Sermon. April 3, 2022. “Fickle or faithful.” Click here.
—Notice: The Up Devotional will be going on break after Easter for two weeks, returning on May 2, 2022.
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.
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