Quote:

[b]When I have company over in the winter time, I may be inclined to say something like “take your coat off and stay awhile.” Some not-so-bright visitors may come not donning much more than a light sweater, crossing their arms to stay warm.

Some people seem content to put Jesus on like a coat, as it were, and take Him off when it is convenient. It’s almost as if though they are warmed by the glow of the world, but when they enter a church where the Spirit of Christ is present, the atmosphere of worldliness has faded away. They feel cold, a bit naked and exposed, convicted even, and in order to warm themselves and not appear conspicuous, they put on their Jesus-coat, so they will feel warmed and secure for a little while. Then when they step out into the world, the familiar warm breeze of earthly enjoyment stream in once again, and getting a little hot under the collar, the Jesus-coat comes off.

To put it another way, such a person could be identified as a “fair-weather Christian,” Quite content to move from one atmosphere to the next and merely adjust to the climate rather than stand the heat of a world who would cause undue comfort for the unwillingness to shed their “Jesus-coat.” Christ is, in that sense, an amenity, a convenience to have just in case the situation lends itself to an appearance of religious piety, though internally doubting that there is really any credence to such an archaic, pre-modern institution. For when the atmosphere shifts, there is no need to be bogged down with aspirations and talk of holiness, character, or conformity to the image of Christ. A simple morality and a taste for good enjoyable worldly fun will do just fine. If the heat is turned up a little bit, it’s quite alright, for everyone is wearing little, and they can stand it. Enjoy it, even!

But for the Christian who wears Christ in every climate and season, to step out of the fellowship of believers and into the world, the sun bears down like a scorching flame, and every worldly temptation is like a fiery dart that the Christian learns to despise. The difference between the former to the latter is that the former is content to take off Christ when he is inconvenient, and the latter would rather suffer the heat exhaustion than to shed his Jesus. The periodical fellowship of believers is like a cool breeze and a falling of cold air, to freeze out the germs of worldliness and temptation and soothe the scorching pain of spiritual battle.

May I be the Christian who never takes off Jesus in any condition; to be that Christian that, often without saying a word, uncomfortably makes it obvious that everyone else is naked; that becomes a nuisance by the mere appearance, simply because of an unwillingness to shed my only source of salvation; And may I be a Christian who is willing to speak out in love when in the presence of fair-weather Christians who are more interested in being relevant to their climate rather than conforming to Christ. For this is the miracle, on the outside is this covering of the suffering, crucified, awkwardly out-of-place Jesus, and on the inside is a miraculous transformation, available only to those who refuse to be forced to shed their Jesus.[/b] ~ end quote.

great post you guys. it is so nice to read something like that and remind ourselves that we have chosen to be conformed to the image of His Son. i remember the many years of youth group and playing church so i could take off Christ and play in sin some more. but praise God who found me when i didn't look for Him and continually convicted me until i surrendered all to Him. now i can't bear the thought of being without Jesus. may we be like the words of the old song that says "Take the world, but give me Jesus"