A football fan who watches games on television is often called an armchair quarterback. From the comfort of his favorite chair, this individual regularly criticizes players for not giving enough effort and second guesses coaches for calling the wrong plays. Similarly, we can become armchair Christians.
Armchair Christians don’t want to get involved. They tell themselves that their lives are too cluttered to add another meeting or activity at church. They feel that someone else will make the necessary contributions of money and time to keep the church operating. They don’t want to risk knowing other members because they have enough problems of their own.
How often do we find it easier to observe than to participate? We become content to attend church on Sunday morning, worshipping for an hour in a beautiful building filled with people we really don’t know. After the service we walk quickly out the front door felling good that we have done our Christian duty for another week.
How often do we find it easier to criticize than to work for change? We might notice many things that don’t exactly meet our approval. The choir sings a bit off key, the air conditioning isn’t blowing enough cool air, the parking lot has too many unrepaired potholes, our fellow worshippers don’t seem very friendly toward us. But we do nothing to make things better.
God tells us in Hebrews 12:1 to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” He doesn’t ask us to watch the race…He wants us to participate. God has blessed us all with certain gifts in the form of time, talents, and finances. We need to use those gifts as active members or our church in order to serve Him and proclaim His love to those who do not yet know Him.