From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures. They have the power to give you wisdom so that you can be saved through faith in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God’s approval. They equip God’s servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things. [2 Timothy 3:15-17 (GW)]

As I walked through my favorite bird sanctuary there was a cacophony of sound. Birds were warbling and cooing, hooting and chirping. That same holiday weekend, thousands of people were a few hours north at Disney World sitting in comfortable theater seats to watch and hear artificial birds and flowers sing. They were missing the real thing: the butterflies and birds, the lizards and alligators, the scarlet hibiscus and swamp lilies. Of course, they also didn’t hear the piercing shriek of the hawk, the guttural croak of the pig frog, or see the gator put an end to the anhinga. Nor did they have to contend with cobwebs, pesky flies, even peskier mosquitos or humidity and heat. They were in comfort, enjoying air conditioning, soft seats and perfectly orchestrated songs, seeing and hearing precisely what they wanted to see and hear.

I wonder if, like choosing Disney’s tiki birds over a walk in a real bird sanctuary, some of us choose our churches for the comfort instead of the truth. If the only messages given are the ones we want to hear, if the only messages we receive make us feel good about ourselves, we might be in the wrong place. Christianity isn’t about complacency and feeling righteous. It’s about change and change isn’t always pleasant. Sometimes we need to hear things that challenge us, that make us question who we are, and how we spend our time and money. Along with hopeful messages about love and forgiveness, we need messages that open our eyes to hidden sins. Yes, He brought us good news and “tidings of comfort and joy;” but he also told us the road would not be easy. His purpose is not to entertain us; His purpose is to save us!

 If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. [St. Augustine]