The other day my cable television went out. I called and they said it was a “zone problem.” Isn’t a zone problem what happens when a basketball team’s defense fails? I’m just asking.

I didn’t really complain too much over the phone to the customer service agent. It wasn’t her fault. Why take out my frustrations on her? So I didn’t think anymore about it. However, a few days later the cable company sent me a nice card in the mail. On the front of the card were these words: “Sorry for the inconvenience.” On the inside was a code for a free pay-per-view movie. I thought that was a nice gesture.

Everywhere we go these days, people are trying to make our life convenient. Restaurants, malls, even churches–they all seek to make life convenient.

To make like convenient, you have to follow a few tips. For example, don’t make anyone stand out. The general thinking among “convenience gurus” is that people like to blend into the background rather than stand out in the crowd. So, never ever point anyone out! Second, don’t ask anyone to do anything unusual. No filling out forms. No dressing a certain way. And above all else, never ask them to talk in public! Finally, you have to make things easy. Put up directional signs. Provide special parking. Section off private seating. Even take them personally to their destination. It’s all a matter of convenience. Because the “convenience gurus” believe that if you make things convenient for people, they are more likely to commit to you their business, another visit, or whatever it is you seek from them.

Now, I’m not anti-convenience. Let’s get that straight right now. But I am anti-convenient Christianity. What’s missing today is our desire for the Lord to inconvenience us. Where’s the desire for His people to have their souls searched for sin? Where’s our longing for Him to challenge us in our personal life to be more moral–dare I say it–more Christ-like? When do we allow our Heavenly Father to invade our conscience to correct our behavior? What we need today is less convenient Christianity.

For example, when’s the last time a good sermon got under your skin and made you squirm in your seat? That’s inconvenient Christianity! When’s the last time you were convicted to go out of your way to help someone, although you didn’t have the time to do it? That’s inconvenient Christianity.

So the next time the Lord steps on your toes or intrudes on your comfortable routine, don’t expect him to say, “Sorry for the inconvenience.” That inconvenience is the very thing He’ll use to transform your life!