I don't attend church as much as I should.And,today was the first time in years that I had been inside a Baptist church.It did do me alot of good,and it was probably much needed.I know that it is good for my daughter to see me in church,her going with my mother is not the same.In that regard,I have set a poor example and failed as a parent.That is something I strive to succeed at,not a shortcoming I'll be bragging about.But as we approach Easter,today's sermon did make me ponder what our lives as Christians should be.
I'm a little bit of a history geek(sorry ladies),and have always been facinated by the early church.They met in secret,in dark caves,under threats of death just to commune.To talk to those of a like mind about their beliefs.And,they were enormously happy......HAPPY.
I'm going to bore you with some history...............Christianity took a toehold in the Roman Empire long before Constantine had his vision of the cross.It took place in the the colloseum.After Rome burned and Nero blamed the Christians for it,it became hugely popular to throw them to the lions.Funny thing happened,they smiled and welcomed it.The citizens of Rome wondered,"what does this person know that I don't?How is that condemned man happier than I?".So they asked,and they learned and an outlawed religion became the official religion of the largest empire on earth.
What strikes me today is how many Christians look so unhappy.Talk unhappy.Promise days ahead of more unhappiness.Doesn't God want us to be happy?Wouldn't that be our goal?So I wonder,shouldn't we project happiness.Because if we're not offering anything they don't already have,then what are we really offering?
Just pondering.