If you are the type of Christian who is devoted to your daily Quiet Time, and you attend your small group regularly and look for every opportunity to share the Gospel with your classmates or officemates, then you are NOT a highly ineffective Christian. But that does not mean you won’t enjoy reading this clever little book! Perhaps, out of curiosity you decide to read it, and find yourself snickering about the spiritual shortcomings of other Christians. Then you read a bit more, can’t put the book down anymore and, all at once, you realize that you’re actually laughing at yourself!
That’s because, there’s a thing or two about us in this book by writer and broadcaster Chris Fabry. Here’s a sampling of the 77 habits that will surely snuff the light out of any on-fire Christian. Here, too, are some excerpts to give you a taste of the author’s good wit and keen insight:
Habit #7: Make Prayer Occasional
“…you should pray only about the large decisions in life, like who to marry, what college to attend and whether to get tinted glass in your minivan. But true mediocrity demands even less. What you must actually do is make up your mind about the decision that faces you, and then subtly conform the will of the Almighty to your own. This not only justifies whatever choice you make but also makes you feel spiritual since you can rightly say, ‘I prayed about it.’”
Does this example ring a bell? How about this one:
Habit #16: Avoid Close Relationships
“Those who would be lukewarm in their faith must keep others at a distance. Do not confess your sin to another person. Never divulge your deepest thoughts and longings. Do not open up or let yourself be the recipient of such talk. Never be there for another person, for you may be strangely drawn to the growth it produces…”
Now here’s one of my favorites. And I’ve got this suspicion that it has somehow become a habit of not-a-few Christians, especially those in the metropolis.
Habit # 73: Approach Church like a Consumer
“You must approach church like a consumer. Hop from one congregration to the next, keeping a careful list of positives and negatives such as: Church A’s pastor preaches only fifteen minutes, but the refreshments at Church B are always fresher. Church C has a splendid sound system that never squeals, while Church D has a paved parking lot.”
Well, if you don’t feel a pinch from behind yet, consider these other habits:
Treat God like a pal (Habit #17). Be thankless! (Habit #13) Dichotomize your life (Habit #1). Christianity is a religion, not a relationship (Habit # 33). Be negative (Habit # 19). Provoke your children to wrath (Habit #12). Seek the quick, self-help solution (Habit # 20). Money isn’t any of God’s business (Habit # 27 ).
So, if you need to discover what it takes to move to greater levels of ineffectiveness, the 77 habits discussed in this book will show you how.
BUT – “If you desire to be more effective in your spiritual life, if you yearn for a deeper walk with the God who made you, if you wish to live in a Christ-like way with your family, friends and those around you, if you seriously desire discipleship, I suppose you could modify these habits and simply do the opposite of the advice listed here. Whatever you desire – an average, normal, mediocre Christian life or a serious, self-denying, cross-bearing adventure – may this volume teach and spur you to the desired end,”(from the Author’s Preface).
Your book reviewer, Yna Reyes admits she is guilty of at least 7 of the 77 habits of highly ineffective Christians. But by God’s grace, inspite of her fumbles and foibles, she still contributes to the spreading of God’s work through bookmaking at OMF Literature Inc. For your comments and suggestions, email ynareyes@omflit.com
Note: This article was originally written for the the May-July 2007 edition of the KBCF Scroll, KBCF’s official newsletter.
