How to Be a Casual Christian

From a message by Pastor Randy Thornton

Do you want to be a casual, chilling, complacent Christian?

“Casual” means “showing little interest or concern; nonchalant: lenient and permissive.”

“Chilling” is a slang word meaning “calm, relaxed, idle and easy going.” Young people often describe relaxing as “chilling out.”

“Complacent” means “self-satisfied and unconcerned.”

In a recent sermon, Pastor Randy Thornton of Grace Church in Southern Pines, N.C., used comedian Jeff Foxworthy’s format of “You might be a redneck, if…” and changed that phrase to
“You might be a casual Christian, if….” Here are some of Thornton’s thought-provokers:

You might be a casual Christian, if you value comfort and personal pleasure over the pursuit of the Kingdom of God.

“The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22 NIV).

You might be a casual Christian, if your desire for independence is more important than God’s will.

“A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD” (Proverbs 19:3).

You might be a casual Christian, if your friends have more influence on you than God does.

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

You might be a casual Christian, if your eyes are dry and you have no passion for the lost.

“Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).

“God has called us to be fishers of souls, not keepers of the aquarium,” Thornton said.

Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last…” (John 15:16).

Paul said, “Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).

You might be a casual Christian, if you listen to the Gospel without being moved to respond, again.

You might be a casual Christian, if your plans for your future end in retirement and stop short of “well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

You might be a casual Christian, if you have no pleasure in giving to God and hold your tithe for yourself.

“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers…” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

You might be a casual Christian, if…

…your care for what other people think deters you from obedience to the Lord.

…your passion for Jesus was hotter when you were first saved than it is now.

...having fun is more important than serving God.

…what you have and the pursuit of having it is more important than the pursuit of God.

…you avoid the uncomfortable and opt instead to live inside the sacred comfort of your routine.

…you avoid burdens instead of seeking them and carrying them.

…broken relationship stop you from forgiving others.

…if worship is elevated based on the quality of the music rather than on a personal connection with the presence of God.

And you might be a casual Christian, if serving God is regarded as work for those whose rank is a lower on the totem pole than yours, or you say that such work is not your “gifting.”

To find motivation to “totally commit to God,” we should compare the costs of serving God to the benefits; then we should trust God to help us keep our commitments, Thornton said.

“…I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).