One day Sadhu Sundar Singh, a renowned Indian missionary, was walking through the woods down The Mount Himalaya. Being tired, he sat on the side of a small brook. The water was as clear as one could see even the bottom. Ceasing his thirst,when Sadhu came up from the water,took out a few smooth,pebbles from the bottom of the stream just for a curiosity. While watching those beautiful pebbles inquisitively he noticed- yes, there is moisture on the surface. But if these stones would be broken and checked their inside? No, there would not be even a little of moisture that was found on the surface. The stone had been in the water all the time. Water had been flowing through top, bottom, and sides of them touching all it’s sides for years and years. How ever not even a drop, a bit of it’s humidity had ever come in to the stones.
Later, Quoting this incident, Sadhu Sunder Singh wrote: there is a Christianity that is superficial by nature. A shallow and exterior Christianity,in the spirit, heart of which one can’t see the life of Christ.
Christian life is following that teacher of Nazareth,who called out “follow me” and stepped forward. If the case is so, how can we differentiate between superficial Christianity and deep rooted Christianity? How can we recognize between the original pearl and the duplicate one? When will it be revealed whether the life of Christianity has been absorbed in to the heart? One’s reaction to the ‘basic issues in the practical life’ will illuminate that. His mentality towards wealth, honour, social dignity and money will clarify that. Surprisingly, it seems that all Christians, belonging to different churches or denomination or following distinctive beliefs, are behaving in the ‘unique’ way. Voltaire the French atheist once told ; ‘There are Christians following distinctive beliefs and belonging to different denominations, but when it comes about money they all belong to the same denomination, follow the same belief.” This criticism is pointing to a truth. Our Christianity is superficial if a ‘seal of self denial’ is not marked on our attitude and reaction towards the basic issues, no doubt.
Jesus demanded his followers to have such a ‘cross mark of denial’ on their relationships, belongings and even their own life.(Luke 14:25-35). Jesus put this condition before those who wanted to follow him, after carrying this cross through out his life. “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master” (matt 10:25). All the discipleships below this standard of “carrying the cross” are superficial Christianity.
