Today as I went around my normal everyday stuff I met a young woman from Russia who was visiting friends in Gillingham. Why on earth would you come from Russia to Gillingham!!?

Anyway … we got talking and in typical British style I got onto weather as I attempted to show some intelligence by guessing that in Russia the temperature would be around -20C. Apparently I was spot on but the girl then aid something that surprised me. Although she has only been here a few weeks she said that when she left the house she still felt very cold which I found quite bizarre! She is used to -20 at this time of the year and she is feeling the cold in 10 degrees! Could it be that her local context tells her she should be cold as its winter and so she is cold!

Isn’t it amazing how quickly the human body acclimatises, or adapts, to the surroundings it finds itself in? It seems to like to find, and rest in, an equilibrium.I wonder if this is one of the issues with church today – we are no more than a bunch people who have adapted into the sort of church we are told to be by our local context – the church should stay out of politics, the church should not make unnecessary demands, the church should not rock the boat. A good steady equilibrium is good for us all!

Have we acclimatised?
Have I acclimatised?
Is this such a bad thing?

I think maybe it is. I think maybe we have succumbed to trendiness and a longing to be accepted. I think maybe this longing has resulted in a watered down slightly corny faith. I think maybe this has resulted in cheap gimmicks to make Jesus acceptable.

I’ve remembered Jesus was unacceptable 2000 years ago to the majority mindset.
Should it be any different now?

I want to live out an authentic faith with others, not an acclimatised one that people don’t notice or see no need for.