Am I A Bumper Sticker Christian?

Our American culture is flooded with commercialization of nearly everything.  If a dollar or two can be made, you can expect some enterprising individual out there to fill the gap with a new shiny doodad to sell.

Combine this concept with the fact that we rely on symbols as part of our identity-presentation to the world, and we can understand how the marketing of Christianity got to be such huge business.  Breath mints, t-shirts, phone cases, bedspreads, hair bows, and yes, bumper stickers, are just a few of the examples.

Is there anything wrong with professing our identity as Christians?  Well of course not.

So what’s the problem?

The problem is that we have to be super careful that we are not just bumper sticker Christians.

Meeting God is transformative.  As we come to know Him, and as we obey and trust Him, we find out how deep this Christianity concept is.  A shallow, superficial “faith” is worthless.  Going through the motions alone brings no benefit, and is an insult to the awesome God we serve.

There is nothing wrong with having Christian T-shirts in your closet next to the ones for your favorite basketball team.  We should absolutely share our faith.  We are commanded to shine our light.

But always remember that God sees through to the heart.  And the position He must inhabit in our life is first.  We need to be on the lookout, because it is so easy to get distracted by the outside of things and neglect the things that matter.

We need to ask: Is my heart really His?  Do I just belong to a Christian club, smiling at the right times, showing up on Sundays, punching a spiritual timecard?  Or am I really devoted?

If we are true Christians from the inside out, it will shine through, and no one will need to question if we are borrowing someone else’s car when they look at the sticker on the bumper and compare it to our life.

I Samuel 12:24 – Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.