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!

Reading People

Can you read people like a book?

That’s an interesting question. We are a so-called “literate” nation. Statistical reports vary, but a high percentage of Americans can read. Most of us learned in first grade.

But we are also a nation of aliterates--people who can read but, for the most part, are completely uninterested in reading and literature. We choose not to read.

So many love their TVs and movies more than books. A report I once heard said the average person reads one book between their graduation and death.

But back to people. Many folks read people like they read books. They don’t.

In the same way we drive by libraries without stopping to read, we pass people every day and never stop to “read” them. We don’t pay attention to their hopes, dreams or needs. We’re not very interested in them unless they can do something for us.

Well hold it right there for just a minute! Why do other people even matter?

Other people matter because, according to the Bible, they’re part of life’s purpose.
The majority of Americans buy the lie that life is about accumulating things. Our unofficial motto is “Get all you can; can all you get; sit on the lid and poison the rest!” We want it all and we want more than anyone else. Plus we’ll pay almost any price to get it. So we sacrifice our health and even our families to “have it all.” How foolish.

In the process of pursuing our dreams, we run right over other people—and we never find satisfaction in life because we ignore them. They’re just not that important to us.

Jesus taught that people are very valuable to God. He will judge us based on how we help others. Jesus said that God expects more from those who have received much.

Unlike us, Jesus was a good reader of people. The Bible says that he knew men’s hearts.

One day a large crowd was with Jesus. His disciples saw a lot of people but Jesus saw them as “sheep without a shepherd.” He looked beyond the faults and saw their needs. He “read them like a book.” Why? Because he cared about them. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus’ followers realized that he saw people in a different light. They saw people as a bother. Jesus saw in them his purpose for being here on earth!

On the day of Pentecost Jesus’ disciples received the Holy Spirit and finally understood. They saw people like Jesus did. And when you become a Christian through faith in Jesus Christ, you finally begin to realize that life isn’t just about you. We are here to serve others.

The world’s standard, as acted out by millions of people every day, is “Hate one another.” But the Christian standard is “Love one another.” Jesus told his followers, “Do to others what you want them to do to you.” We call that “The Golden Rule.”

Over and over the Bible instructs Christians in their responsibility to others. They are to live in harmony with one another, love one another, accept one another, instruct one another, agree with one another, serve one another in love, be kind to one another, forgive one another, submit to one another, teach one another and encourage one another.

Why do we need the reminder? Because, if we “do what comes naturally,” we only think of ourselves. But, as someone observed, the best way to spell J-O-Y is Jesus, Others and You. Joy comes when we put Jesus first in our lives, then others second and ourselves last.

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