No More 'Kinda Sorta'

          If you’ve ever seen the movie To Save a Life, you may recognize this question that the main character, Jake Taylor, asks when he’s at church:

            “What’s the point of all of this if you’re not going to let this change you?”

Ever since watching that movie, the question kind of haunts me. Especially since I’ve been going to church and a Christian school my entire life. And even now while I’m at a Christian university. But what really is the point if I don’t let it change me?

            Maybe some people are forced to go to church or a Christian school, but most people make that choice. Yes, people are flawed in nature and make mistakes. But does that really give us an excuse to not have a change of heart? Honestly, what’s the point of claiming to be a Christian but not making choices every Friday night that don’t match up? What’s the point of going to church on Sunday but leaving the building unchanged? What’s the point of going to chapel, Bible studies, or Bible classes without it having any effect on your relationship with God?
In Revelation 3, Christ warns the church about being lukewarm in our pursuit of him.

“So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” –Revelation 3:16

            When we are prospering and have so many opportunities to pursue and follow Christ, we tend to slow down and walk instead of run. We tend to cool down and instead of being on fire for Christ, we’re somewhere in the middle. In relationships, do you want someone to just “kinda sorta” love you? When you go to see a doctor for a medical issue, do you want the doctor to just “kinda sorta” know what they’re doing? When you’re playing a team sport, do you want your teammates to just “kinda sorta” try? When you’re working on a group project, do you want the rest of the group to just “kinda sorta” pull their weight? Who would say yes to any of these questions?

            God makes it clear that He doesn’t want our “kinda sorta.” If that’s all you’re giving him, then you are completely missing the point. God wants all of you, or He wants nothing. Honestly pursuing him is a “go big or go home” type of thing. I’ll be the first to say that it’s not easy, especially when there are tons of other commitments that I’ve already made. But my commitment to pursuing God wholeheartedly should be my priority. A kinda sorta commitment to God isn’t going to change you. It isn’t enough to just have found God, it’s the pursuit that makes the difference.  

“To have found God and still pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.” –A.W. Tozer

            When I pursue my relationship with God and pursue godly things above all else, then everything else will fall into place wherever God intends for it to be. With my first year of college coming to an end in a few weeks, if anything, that is the most important thing I have learned… That nothing else will fulfill me more than a growing faith in who God is. Good grades won’t make me happy, a good game on the volleyball court won’t make me happy, a fun Friday night out won’t make me happy, not even just going to chapel a couple times a week will truly make me happy. It’s my effort, it’s my desire, it’s my fire, and the pursuit of God that fulfills me.

            So no more lukewarm “kinda sortas.” Stop walking and jogging towards the finish line. Start sprinting in the race to Christ and you’ll be amazed to find God waiting at the next checkpoint with open arms and a glass of ice cold water to fill you up over and over again until you finally finish the race.