Astronaut Christians

Are you an Astronaut Christian? I hope not!

Several weeks ago, a pastor friend in Trinidad remarked to our visiting team that many people in church on Sundays are “Astronaut Christians.”

Intrigued by his remark, I asked, “What is an Astronaut Christian?”

“Astronaut Christians just take up space!” he replied with a smile.

Everyone laughed--but I knew he was right! Every church has “Astronaut Christians.”

My friend explained how some people seem to believe that, once they’ve attended church, they’re “covered” for the week. As if church were a good luck charm that lasts seven days.

Astronaut Christians come to sit in the building. To take up space. Once they’ve done that, they think they’re OK for the week—that God can’t complain because they’ve done their duty.

How sad. It’s sad because they miss out on the one thing that’s important to God.

“Well, hold on for just a minute! Shouldn’t God at least be happy they came to church?”

Maybe. But there’s so much more God offers than just an hour a week in church! And if we will listen, Jesus tells us what is important to him. What he really wants from us.

One day Jesus visited in the home of some friends. The Bible says, “A woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.”

So Martha went to Jesus and said, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

It was a reasonable request in light of tradition and duty. And Martha probably expected Jesus to say, “You’re right. Mary, go help your sister.” But he didn’t.

Instead, Jesus’ answer clarifies for us what was most important to him.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

What was important to Jesus? The fact that Mary wanted to be with him. To develop a personal relationship with him. To be his friend. That’s the “one thing” that is better.

To become a friend of God is better than knowing about him, doing things for him or following traditions. God wants a close personal relationship with each of his children.

The Bible says, “To all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Later it adds, “Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The secret of the “one thing” Jesus said is needed is in the two words, “believe in.”

To believe in Jesus is more than just knowing about him. It means to trust and to love him.

When you enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you’ll have the one thing that’s most important. And it includes God’s gift of eternal life and forgiveness for your sin. Wow.

A relationship, a friendship with God is good for so much more than one hour a week! It leads to a life of blessing and a confidence in God that’s unshakeable. And it leads to a life of joyful service that grows out of that relationship with God.

God wants you to be more than an “Astronaut Christian” who takes up space. He wants a personal, one-on-one, heart-to-heart relationship with you. And it starts with trusting in Christ.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!