Combatting Christian Boredom (#2)

Welcome back to the second part of our series on Christian boredom. This is a phenomenon that nearly every believer will experience at some point, and it can cause a great deal of anxiety if we don’t understand what is going on.

In part one of this series, we dealt with the fear that being bored and not wanting to engage in typical Christian behaviors such as studying the Bible, indicates a lack of true salvation — a very legitimate concern for many who experience this kind of boredom, and if this describes you, I would definitely encourage you to view that study.

Now in this second part, we will look at what causes Christian boredom, and what we can do about it.

Reason Beyond Religion

As humans, we generally do a lot of things on auto-pilot each day; things without conscious thought or a great deal of concentration. The same is also true for Christian and religious behaviors as well. For example, Bible reading, praying, church attendance, tithing, etc.

Much in the same way certain things are done without feelings or a real sense of intent, Christian activities can be the same way. God showed me this an a personal way once, when I was going through a time of great fear. One of the things was greatly afraid of was food, I was literally afraid to eat — fearful that the food I ate would hurt me.

Despite the fear, I would religiously say prayer before every meal, because that’s what I was taught, and I knew that it was expected of me. And one day I heard the voice of God, ask me if I knew why I was praying before every meal, and I didn’t have a clear answer to that question. After wrestling with the question for a while, I finally said that I was praying before every meal to give thanks for the food— which sounded logical enough. But then I heard the voice of God again, say How can you truly be thankful if you believe the food is harmful?

I was going through the motions, doing my religious duty, but there was no true understanding behind it. No reason, beyond religion.

The Value of Jesus

Another big issue is failing to recognize the value of Jesus and what He has accomplished. If the finished work of Christ loses its proverbial flavor, then things can become exceedingly dull and dry. We see an example of this in the scriptures.

During the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, God miraculously fed them with manna from heaven; this was a truly miraculous gift of God’s grace and care for His people.

In Exodus 78:23-25, the scriptures describe the manna is corn of heaven, and the food of angels —  letting us know that the manna that God provided was truly an amazing provision.

Losing Taste for God’s Provision

For the Israelites though, the wonder and amazement of the manna quickly wore off; and we can glean some crucial details from their history. Consider Exodus 16:31:

“And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.”

As I always like to say, there are no insignificant details in the scripture. We can read here that the manna was like coriander seed. Coriander seed is a spice, with aromatic properties and a sweet flavor; it’s not a bland flavor.

Take special notice of the color and the taste described in this verse, because something very intriguing happens as the Israelites begin to despise the provision of God, which we can see in Numbers 11:4-8:

“ ⁴And the mixed multitude that was among them fell lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

⁵We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:

⁶But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

⁷And the manna was as coriander seed, and the color thereof as the color of bdellium.

⁸And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.”

These verses are quite interesting! First we can see that there was a mixed multitude. This is symbolic and represents having mixed theology, mixed beliefs, or mixed thoughts. The book of James also mentions this with the double-minded person.

We also see that they lusted for flesh, and pay attention because this is a spiritual truth that can save us a lot of frustration and anguish. While the ancient Israelites were craving physical meat to eat, the spiritual meaning behind this is huge.

The Israelites weren’t satisfied with the provision of God— they wanted flesh instead. 

Do you see? The same spiritual mindset exists today, not being satisfied with the provision of Jesus Christ, and preferring flesh (self-effort and works) rather than what God freely gives.

In verses five and six, the people begin to actively insult the provision of God by saying that they remembered the fish that they ate in Egypt freely. That is a very interesting thing to say since they were still captives in Egypt!

They then proceed to say that their soul is dried away, and complain that there is nothing but the manna in front of them.

Next, in verses seven and eight, we see a fascinating thing, the appearance and the flavor of the manna changes! Once the people start despising the manna, it loses its look and flavor. It’s is now the color of bdellium, a pale semi-transparent resin, and the taste is now the flavor of fresh oil; the manna went from the sweet flavor, to the bitter taste of fresh oil. The people began to try and change the manna, adding their own efforts to it by baking it, grinding it, and beating it in a mortar— trying to improve what God had given them as a gift. 

As you can see, they become bored with that God had provided — which is why they tried to alter and change what was provided, to make it more exciting. The reason for this boredom was because something has had began to draw them away — the desire for flesh… which carries a double-meaning for us today. Once we begin to trust ourselves, our efforts, our strength, then the provisions of Christ begin to lose their flavor, and excitement. Often because we aren’t even looking at that direction anymore.

I encourage you today to refocus your attention off of yourself, and back onto Jesus Christ and Him alone — and see if the flavor returns.

I look forward to thriving with you again.

Be blessed.