The Christian Hobbyist

Recently while strolling down an old town street in East Texas I came across a general store with loads of nostalgic merchandise; some for display only - other's for retail sales. It was a hobby shop of sorts (some items displayed for onlookers delight and not for sale). As I perused the owners' collections I wondered how today's Western Christian might be like the hobbyist; someone who approaches Christianity as though it were a hobby. They participate in Christian activities simply because they have some curiosity about it or at some level they have an interest in it. And so they tinker in it; engage with it because it provides something of interest or scratches some itch they may have. Generally, the hobbyist is not in it for financial reward. Hobbies are engaged in because they are interesting or provide some joy to him so engaged, whatever the thing is.


I wonder that many who fill church pews, calling themselves "Christian" are similar in their approach to Christianity. They may be Christian hobbyists. I suspect they treat it more as a hobby than as their chief employment from which their greatest reward may come. I ask, "how important are your deepest convictions; what are your core values?" Here is what some tell me. "I need a job that pays well enough that I can meet my financial obligations and goals." "I need a spouse that tracks with me in living harmoniously with nearly identical values, willing to make adjustments in the course of life in order to maintain our marriage, raise our children and reach our planned destinations." And similar things as these. These are important to be sure and need a fair amount of capital investment (financial, emotional, psychological, etc. - no doubt). But the test comes when the troubles arrive and they always arrive.


What I am thinking about is how we respond to the troubles when they come in light of our professed confessions concerning our core values as Christians. Do our responses flow from what we say we believe or are they more like a "knee-jerk" response (I confess that for most of my life mine have been more like "knee-jerk" responses)?


Recently, a young Christian man approached me concerning some wrong done to him by another person. As he explained his grievance it was clear that this action done to him was ethically wrong; even personally egregious. His passion ran deep concerning his wounds. I asked him "do you want to avenge yourself against this attack?" His response was "absolutely!" He believed he had every right to defend is character and had prepared his defense and attack strategy. I assured him that the thing done was a wrong against him (as explained to me) and he certainly had a reasonable complaint and every right to pursue rectification. But then I turned the tables a bit.


I read to him Rom 12:9 were Paul taught "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good." which he proclaimed acceptance of for he certainly abhorred the evil done to him. I then read to him a little further in v. 12 Paul admonishing Christians to be "rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer..." Here he became a little more reflective (perhaps wondering about rejoicing, persevering and prayerful devotion). In v. 14 I read we are to "...bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." Now he was wondering if he shouldn't abandon his plan altogether! Still reading further he heard me recite vv. 16-18 "Do not be wise in your own estimation. [17] Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. [18] If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." By this time he was convinced the wrong being perpetrated was in his desire to "strike back" more than the wrong done against him (conviction?). But is this the best approach; is this the biblical approach?


As we engaged in reflection and thought through the issue from the biblical perspective here is what he arrived at. He was indeed wronged; his character had been attacked and a solution or resolution would be necessary but he could choose if, when and whether the struggle was worth the engagement. Also he began to think about how, as a professing believer, he ought to approach the problem. He believed he might be acting out of something other than love in pursuit of his own solution (revenge). He then decided to make confrontation in order to correct the wrong done but with the full knowledge that the offender might not reciprocate or that the problem might not become resolved (Luke 6:29 and the turning of the other cheek). He was examining his heart's motive against what he thinks is principally taught in the Bible - a good thing. I don't need to give his conclusions at this time for that is not my point and by now you may be wondering what on earth is my point?


If we confront our problems, troubles, anxieties, stresses in any other way, than what we as Christians say we believe concerning our heritage in Jesus Christ (considering his person, purposes and words) we may be, at the least, disingenuous. When troubles come (remember what Jesus taught about troubles? See John 16:33 cf. Matt. 6:34) they serve as testing for our benefit (Rom 8:32) so that we might be "conformed to the image of His Son..." It is our minds that need to be changed so that our actions will really follow what we say we believe (Rom. 12:2). If we behave as we always did in our natural self, i.e. "I am getting even..." then we ought to sense red flags of warning going up.


If we are truly investing in Christianity it cannot be as a hobby for the hobbyist seeks to keep as his own what he hoards. The Christian Hobbyist is self-centered, self-deluded and selfish in attempting to hoard something he cannot keep that will never return the profit he seeks. True believers have given the bank away by putting all their investment for this life and the life to come into one man, the Lord Jesus Christ. All our eggs are in His basket. The Christian hobbyist still holds his investment in his own interests and not for the interests of others, except that they might observe him and gloat that he has hoarded things to his exclusive benefit.


My young friend decided to examine his motives for revenge against the teaching of the Bible so that he might grow in his understanding of the person and nature of Jesus Christ and be able to take a better course of action. Not one for revenge but one for resolution in which his choices where congruent with the Bible's notion of living at peace with all men, so far as it depends upon him. He will make his argument with his opponent but not for the sake of revenge; rather for the sake of peace and the glory of God. He is reforming his thinking by seeing his trials as means of God to change the natural sinful nature in him to conformity to the ways of God. He is investing his personal capital into his struggles seeking eternal returns to his benefit and to the benefit of others.