"God's Frozen People"

This past winter the northern part of our country experienced some of the coldest and treacherous weather on record. People were stranded in vast frozen wastelands that were created virtually overnight due to snow and ice. Cattle, normally able to withstand the cold, were threatened and many have lost possessions and even their lives to these storms. As I read the reports, it reminded me of something I once read, that draws a parallel to spiritual matters.

It was during the run for the second term for president for George W. Bush, running against John Kerry, when I read an article in a popular news magazine that detailed the spiritual history of President Bush. While I do not remember much about the article, there was a candid admission on his part that caught my attention and that I empathized with in a number of ways. Referring to the religious conviction of his youth and the place where he worshipped, he stated that he dwelt among “God’s frozen people.”

Realizing we are not talking about literally frozen people, we, however, also realize that people, Christians, can be frozen in a number of ways.

First, Christian may be frozen in the sense that they simply do not perceive any obligation on their part to be a part of the Lord’s work. Oh! They may come to worship, but they will not be involved in the mission of making disciples, encouraging their brethren and other edifying activities (Mt. 28:18-20; Heb. 10:24-25).

Second, a Christian may be frozen in the sense that he is unwilling to entertain thoughts that are beyond his ingrained traditions. The issue is not whether one is right or wrong, but a willingness to listen, having readiness of mind to consider all who come with respect and honor. Do we see others as valuable? The Pharisees were guilty of this as they heard the message of Christ, but never would entertain what it was that he said.

Third, we may be frozen in that we never seek spiritual growth. Peter, Paul, James and just about every other New Testament writer tells us we are obligated to grow in our knowledge, understanding, love, patience, kindness, temperance and other aspects of the Christian life.

One of the greatest religious problems of our age, just like most ages, is a lack of willingness to push past simple faith that can stagnate and become mundane, to a deeper relationship with Christ, God and other Christians. It should be unsettling to us to find that most of the churches talked about in the Bible now have no place in this world. Where is that Ephesian church that left its first love? Where are the churches at Smyrna, Philadelphia and Corinth? Where will the church we are a part of be 100 years from now? What can we do today to help assure the future of God's people in our part of the world? We can stop the freezing, break free from the icy bonds and awake to all things spiritual. We can put off the rigid legal mindset and truly seek Christian liberty, liberating creative expression of praise to God. If we leave no room for the next generation to make the gospel person or allow them the ability to express their spirituality in a way that is not only scriptural, but personally relevant then we will become frozen and useless in the master's hand.

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