Christianity is Not A Hobby

        Several years ago I had a magazine salesman call me. He wanted to sell me a magazine subscription but I had no interest in any magazine. In the process of our conversation he asked what my hobbies were. I had none. He asked what I did for a living. I answered that I was a minister. His response, "Oh Christianity. That is a hobby." Needless to say, we had a completely different view of Christianity.

         In fairness to the salesman, many Christians treat their faith as a hobby. It is something they do (when they choose too). When they are bored, they may read the Bible. When it is convenient, they pray. When there is nothing else to do on Sunday, they might go to church. In other words, their faith is on their time when they want to do it. They can put Christianity on like a coat and take it off like a coat. Years after my conversation with this nameless salesman, I truly understand why he thought Christianity was a hobby.

         Those who treat Christianity as a hobby have failed to understand the Christian faith. Christianity is far from a hobby.

1. It is a change of life. 1 Corinthians 6:⁹ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. The Corinthian church was located in one of the most immoral cities in Rome at that time. Apparently, these Corinthian Christians had a sinful past. The list above is a list of activities that are clearly forbidden in the Bible. However, Paul tells them that is what they were, which implies that a change has occurred. The Bible tells us that in order to be a Christian we have to repent. This word means that we acknowledge that we have done wrong, that we are sorry for our mistake, and that we will change. Christianity means that we quit doing evil and start doing good.

2. It is a lifestyle. Christianity is not something you do on Sunday. Instead it is something that is continuous. An example is prayer. We are told never to quit praying. Ephesians 6:¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. The point of this passage is that we do not just pray one day a week but every day. We do not just praise God on Sunday but every day. We do not help people on one day a week but every day. A hypocrite is a person who pretends to be one thing but is actually someone totally different. When an individual is a Christian around the church on Sunday but acts like a heathen 6 days a week, he or she is a hypocrite. And a hypocrite does not fool God.

3. Christianity is my hope. Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hope is not something unsure, such as I hope that it rains or I hope we make to work on time. The author of this passage uses hope as a confident assurance. We know that there is a God. We know that there is a heaven. We know that we have been forgiven. Since we know these things, we live with a confidence that we have a better future in our eternal life. Life is hard and difficult. We face many challenges. The reason I can move forward in life during these tragedies with hope is because of my faith.

4. Christianity is my commitment. Revelation 2: ¹⁰ Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. There are two vows of faithfulness until death that I have taken in my life. One was my marriage to my wife. I promised that I would not forsake her or betray her until death do us part. The other was my first vow, my commitment to God. When I was baptized I made a vow that I would follow Christ the rest of my life. A hobby can be laid down at any time; a vow is to always be kept sacred.

5. Christianity is my worldview. Romans 12:² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. How do I view the world? What determines my morality and ethics? What guides me in the decisions that I make? What influences me on what to spend my time, money, and energy on? How do I vote? My faith answers these questions and more. Our parents, teachers, entertainment, and friends influence us. They can shape our worldview. However, when we  become a Christian our greatest influence must be the Bible. We are claiming to be disciples of Jesus Christ but the only way to do that is to allow Christ to influence every aspect of our lives. This includes your marriage, parenting, work, and entertainment.

         We must never get to a place in our lives where our faith becomes a hobby. For if our faith becomes a hobby then we have lost our faith.