State of the Church: The Celtic Revival (24)
Oh, what fuel for hell-fire is everywhere made ready from these unhappy buildings, on the burning of which that sparkling word of the Lord, describing the vastness of that ever-living fire, fell with saying, Take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be hardened in wine-bibbing and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you unawares; for as a snare shall it come on all who dwell over the face of the entire earth.
– Columbanus, Letter to Pope Boniface
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
– 2 Corinthians 13.5
Houses on fire
The “buildings” Columbanus referred to here were those priests and believers who were more interested in worldly indulgences “and the cares of this life” than in knowing, loving, and serving the Lord Jesus Christ. He feared that they were walking into a “snare” from which they would not escape the judgment of the Lord.
Here we get a glimpse of the view of Christianity that Columbanus and his monks preached at the two monasteries they had established in Gaul. This was not some form of “easy-believism”, not an invitation to “receive” Jesus and then be assured of going to heaven when they died. God calls those who believe to repent of their sins, leave their old life behind, take up the new life of loving God and neighbors and all the disciplines of prayer, study, and daily work that requires.
The young people of Gaul were seeking a faith to die for, and Columbanus and his troop offered it to them. They flocked to the monasteries of the Irish missionaries, and many of them became missionaries themselves, taking the Gospel of the Kingdom all over Europe.
The shepherds of the Catholic churches in Gaul were endangering themselves and the people they served by their unserious approach to following Jesus. Houses were on fire and were heading for worse. The priests and bishops made no discipleship demands on the people because they made none on themselves. Columbanus hoped that a letter to their Church leader in Rome might bring about some change. He would write to three different popes to intervene, but we have no record any of them did.
Houses afire
How much better to be houses afire for Jesus, burning off all dross of sin, flaming with love for Him, red-hot in heart and ready to be shaped into His image, eager to share the Good News of Christ and His Kingdom with all comers. God wants us to be on fire for Him, and He will meet us in our burning desire to serve Him, like He met Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the midst of the fire, to purify, strengthen, and empower us to be like houses afire for His Kingdom and glory.
But this is not an easy path. We need to increase in sanctification, become good listeners, look for ways to show the love of Jesus to our neighbors and co-workers, and keep pressing on toward being more like Jesus each day. This means serious time devoted to prayer and the Word of God, praying with other believers, committing your day and all your work to the Lord for His glory, and then going in faith and the power of God’s Spirit to bring revival, renewal, and awakening to your world.
It’s easy to “be a Christian” on your own terms. But those who take up that way of being a Christian need to examine themselves. Do they truly long for Jesus more than the world? Hate sin in all its forms? Hunger for more of God’s Word and truth? Love God and their neighbors according to the Law of God? If we can’t answer these questions positively and with evidence, we may be fooling ourselves about faith in Jesus.
Paul knew himself and his own commitment to Jesus. The Corinthians—like the priests in Gaul and their followers—might indeed be “disqualified” from the faith. But he was not (2 Cor. 13.6), and his love and work for Jesus kept increasing to the day of his death.So also with Columbanus. He longed for people truly to know and love the Lord, and he would not merely sit by while false shepherds led trusting people into the flames of hell. He was on fire for Jesus, and he would urge us to choose that course of faith as well.
For Reflection
1. What would someone look like who was “on fire” for Jesus?
2. What can you do to stoke more of that fire in your own life?
Psalm 39.1-4
Woodworth: Just As I Am
I said, “My ways, now let me guard, that I may not sin against You, LORD.
When wicked men surround me hard, then guard my mouth, I pray, O LORD!”
No word I spoke, and sorrow grew; with burning soul I turned to You:
“LORD, make me know what I must do to live this fleeting life for You.”
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
For a good complementary study to this, check out Pray for Your Church. It’s free in The Ailbe Bookstore. And download our ReThinking Church Appraisal Tool by clicking here. And to refresh and deepen your time in God’s Word, order a copy of The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart while you’re there.
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision series on “The Church” we consider the question of how to “church”. Our Read Moore podcast is working through our book, The Kingdom Turn. The focus of our Scriptorium daily study is on “Matthew: The Coming of the Kingdom.” Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
