Spiritually speaking, are you a hillbilly speed bump?

Christians who boldly yet lovingly live out their convictions are becoming fewer and fewer. We’ve morphed into a people who tamp down our conviction into being little more than twinges, leaving a lukewarm Christianity as a result.

You might say many who profess to be Christ followers are instead becoming hillbilly speed bumps, spiritually speaking, of course. That’s an odd term coined by National Geopgraphic, as reported by GreenAnswers.com …

Some 30 to 50 million armadillos live in the US. Any given year, approximately a quarter to a half million will become road kill. The sight of their smashed carcasses is quite commonplace in the American Southwest. Even with all its natural defenses of thick, leathery, armor-like skin, the armadillo consistently learn a little too late that the middle of the road is not the safest place to be. In fact, National Geographic reports that it is the nine-banded armadillo’s “hapless propensity for being run over by cars” that has earned it the nickname “Hillbilly Speed Bump.”

How about you? Have you been duped into thinking that the middle of the road is the safest place to be? Don’t commit, don’t take a stand, and above all don’t take the risk of offending anyone. Isn’t that the message today?

So we camp out somewhere in the middle, only to find out a little too late that we’ve made a “Hillbilly Speed Bump” of ourselves. Jesus describes this condition and position for the professing Christian like this …

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” Revelation 3:15-16.

When we turn our convictions into nothing more than annoying twinges, we live in a way that is distasteful to Jesus, who calls us to repent from our indifference …

“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me — gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference,” Revelation 3:17-19.

Is your life one of actively living out your biblical convictions, or have you become a spiritual hillbilly speed bump?

Scotty