Convenience is convenient. No matter who you are, you enjoy the convenience of everyday life, whether it’s having a toilet that flushes or a car that drives you down the highway. It’s easy to forget all the things we once didn’t have when we are so well acquainted with them. This weekend, when I went to church, there was a line of 200-250 people waiting to get into the building. WOW! I know I should have turned back and gone home. We often feel like turning back after such minor inconveniences.
In A.D. 64, Saint Peter was martyred upside down on a cross. He didn’t feel worthy enough to die the same way Christ did, so he chose to be crucified upside down. While that may not sound extreme, let’s put it into perspective: if you hang upside down for 20 minutes, you will begin to feel excruciating pain as blood rushes to your head and starts to pool behind your eyes. If you have a weak heart, it will most definitely give out, and you may experience shock as you hang there, ultimately losing consciousness and being deprived of oxygen. There is no convenience in being upside down compared to being right side up. Yet, after Saint Peter served the Lord and helped develop the church, he still felt unworthy. He died for his faith, upside down.
However, most of us don’t want to get out of bed to go to church, stand in a line, or sit next to others—let alone die for our faith. A paralyzed man was lowered into the church from the roof, yet some of us struggle to even drive to church. How is it that we have developed such an attitude of convenience that we no longer fight for our faith but rather stream it? Life is uncomfortable. Sitting next to someone who is sweaty after worship is inconvenient, but hell is hot.
We should be very grateful that most of us have the ability to go to church by simply getting dressed, hopping in a vehicle, or using any form of transportation to head to a building with air conditioning and a community eager to go out and be disciples. We should not take for granted our ability to gather in worship when millions have suffered and died for their faith.
Love your perspective on this! We do live in a world full of overwhelming convenience and so often forget what a privilege it is to have options that not everyone has access to. Keep it coming!
Wow!! This is good and so very true. We are conditioned for convenience as soon as something goes wrong we throw in the towel.
Great entry!