So, you ever wonder just what the purpose is for your life or the life of the Christian church? You put your left foot in, you put your left foot out, you do the Hokey Pokey and shake it all around. That's what it's all about! There you have it! That's what the Christian church has become for the most part. It's also true for most Christians. We play with the Christian life. There is a line drawn by man that says you don't step over this line or that line. It's called the Hokey Pokey Christian Theological Stance (I just made that up!). HPCTS for short. Anyway, what it amounts to are insincere Christians and insincere Christian church with insincere motives. Why is that? Sure there are some serious Christians and their churches. There are even some who have a serious part of their life and the life of the church. Where are the ones who are sold out in their faith? Who among us has arrived at that place where all they see and all they do is Jesus? In Revelation the letter to one of the churches says "because you are lukewarm I will spit you out of my mouth." Jesus said, if you haven't done unto the least of these as you are to do, you haven't done it unto me (my paraphrase). IF you and I have to put forth conscious effort to be like Jesus then we are working at being a Christian. Works don't save you.
The Hokey Pokey is a fun game and young and old alike enjoy being part of fun activities. There are few in the church that bend the knee and head and actually sit quietly and wait upon the Lord to speak. If they did we would see a radically different church. Fewer yet are those who act upon what God wants them and needs them to do. If they did we would see a radically different church. The difference between the Hokey Pokey Christian and the servant of the Lord is vastly different. The former is popular and the latter is not. The former is entertaining and the latter is not. The former is safe and the latter is not. The former requires no work and the latter is all work. Don't get me wrong, there is a time for laughter and a time for fun. Just how we surrender and what we surrender defines which group we belong to. I'm not calling people to be like me, a fallen sinner saved by grace who falls short. I'm not telling people that they have to be the next Billy Graham. Nor am I suggesting we all become monks and seal ourselves away to meditate and make good beer. What I am suggesting is that we understand that our lives are either being lived for Jesus or they are not.
If we practice anything long enough that activity become first nature instead of second nature. We have a lot of first nature activities as Christians but even more second nature. Should you find yourself in the dilemma of deciding whether to do what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do or to not do what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do, you are living a second nature Christian life. Paul encourages us to be "instant in season and not". This means living in the moment with Christ at the helm of our lives. Paul was a first nature kind of guy because he surrendered to Christ and no longer lived. He said, "it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me." His every moment was directed by the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ. He surrendered his second nature and we see and read how his life was changed and he lived out his life serving Jesus and not man. Breaking habits is difficult. Why is that? Mostly because we try to break those habits on our own with our own power. Epic fail! When we go about breaking habits we try to alter our second nature rather than assuming the first nature stance. What would happen if when we took a breath we breathed in Jesus and the exhaled the love of God? If we were to make that our first nature would we change? Yes. Would others change? Yes. Would the enemy attack us more? Yes.
Choosing to not do the Hokey Pokey Christian Theological Stance is a serious call to living your life for Jesus. It's up to you though. It's always your choice.
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