The following entry was written by a young 3ABN employee. Ben Lingle is a talented member of our 3ABN production team, heading up our audio engineering. Describing himself as a “photographer by choice, and musician by chance,” he has chosen to use his talents for the Lord, and we’re so happy to have him in our 3ABN family.
As a musician, it’s common to practice a lot before an upcoming performance. In many cases, when a musician is performing, we all listen in wonder at their musicality and marvel at their great technique. However, not all performances are real. In fact, some are just a show. In reality, some performances are just a singer lip-syncing or a musician playing to a soundtrack. Whatever the case, in our modern world it’s easy to look like something, without it being true—and that’s performance.
As Christians, we sometimes feel pressured to perform. We think, If I don’t act this way or say something that way, people will think I’m not a Christian. However, our goal shouldn’t be to perform so we look like Christians, but to look like Christian because we’ve been changed by the saving power of Christ. Sometimes we accidentally get into a performance mindset without even realizing it, but if we’re sincerely seeking Christ, things will change in our lives.
Performance can be going to church because we don’t want to look bad in the eyes of our fellow followers of Christ, while relationship is going to church because we are seeking the presence of God and want to be united with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Performance can be praying with someone but not truly caring about their circumstances, while relationship is praying with someone because of their circumstances and leading them to Christ, who can carry their burdens.
Let’s pray diligently to not get caught up in performance–centered Christianity. Rather, let’s constantly and sincerely seek God and His righteousness, and be changed by His power and glory. When we are changed by His power, those who see us will know we have a relationship with Christ because of our “love for one another” (John 13:35).
