IS CONVENIENCE KILLING THE CHRISTIAN FAIth?

The Paradox of the

Abundant Age:

The Comfort Trap

Picture a Christian in a closed country who risks everything for a single, worn page of Scripture. They treasure it, study it in secret, and know its words by heart. Now, picture the modern Christian who has ten digital versions of the Bible, access to 50,000 sermons, and a sophisticated AI tool to summarize theology—and yet feels spiritually shallow.

Consumer Christianity

The very tools designed to help us grow—the convenience of the Bible App, the constant stream of teaching, and the rise of AI—are quietly eroding the spiritual discipline required for deep, resilient faith. We are facing a famine of effort in an age of abundant resources.

Why It’s Time to Ditch the Spiritual Shortcut

If the path to heaven is a narrow gate, why are we trying to pave it into a six-lane highway of convenience?

Imagine trying to build muscle without resistance. It is a physical impossibility. Now, look at your spiritual life. If every "inconvenience" of faith—committing to a body of believers, the sacrifice of serving the needy, or the labor of deep prayer—is being replaced by a more convenient, fast-acting digital alternative, are we actually growing? In an age of on-demand everything, it is dangerously easy to become a spiritual couch potato.

To be clear, digital tools are not the enemy!

There is immense beauty in the fact that we can listen to a life-changing sermon while driving to work or dive into a theology podcast while doing the dishes. These are fantastic supplements to our faith. However, a supplement is not a substitute.

A podcast can inform your mind, but it cannot hold your hand in a hospital room. A digital devotional can give you a "verse of the day," but it cannot replace the grit and glory of a life lived in the physical presence of God and His people. It’s okay to use the digital shortcut—as long as it isn't the only path you know how to walk.

The Science of Slow: Why Your Brain Needs Resistance not convenience

In his book, Unintentional, Doug Smith explains that we are being formed by the pace of our culture whether we like it or not. When we choose the "convenience" of a 30-second digital devotional over the slow, focused resistance of a physical book, our brains actually lose the capacity for deep reflection. You can check out this book at Amazon with the link below.

https://a.co/d/4KcKCST

We see the remedy for this in the movie War Room. The power of Miss Clara’s faith wasn’t found in a shortcut—it was found in the intentional, physical labor of prayer. She didn’t just pray when it was convenient; she fought for her family in a closet. To grow, we must move beyond the digital alternative and step back into physical practices that require our time, space, and full attention.

Is your prayer life a microwave or a war room? Convenience prizes speed and ease. Faith prizes endurance and intimacy. One seeks to change our circumstances with the least effort possible; the other seeks to change us through the discipline of seeking God’s face. When we prioritize convenience, we sacrifice the very "secret place" where the real power of the Christian life is found.

Learn more about our exciting out-of-the-box ministry here

The Erosion of Effort and Reverence and the explosion of comfort and convenience.

1. The Dilution of the Sacred Text

When the Bible is instantly accessible and searchable on one screen, we often reduce it from a sacred covenant to a quick reference book.

• Loss of Reverence: It is no longer a labor to find a verse; it is an instant search. We lose the reverence that comes from scarcity.

  
  

• The "Hack" Mentality: Convenience culture thrives on "hacks." This leads to a shallow faith where believers prefer 1-minute devotionals over the slow, difficult work of meditation.

  
  

• The Fragility of Ease: When we believe life should be easy, we lack a theological framework for pain. Faith collapses the moment tragedy strikes because we feel "cheated" by a God who was supposed to keep things convenient.

  
  

2. The Outsourcing of Wisdom

Technology now gives us instant, synthesized answers to complex theological questions.

• The Algorithm Threat: When we ask AI to summarize doctrine, we bypass the personal work of the Holy Spirit.

  
  

• Bypassing the Struggle: Faith requires friction. Outsourcing our search to an algorithm means we lose the spiritual workout of doubt and personal study. We become consumers of answers, not seekers of truth.

  
  

• Master vs. Servant: Technology is a "solid instrument but a terrible master." It should be a tool for God’s glory, not a replacement for a wholehearted, devoted love of God.

  
  

3. The Substitution of Consumption for Discipleship

The sheer abundance of Christian media often substitutes for actual discipleship—the hard, messy work of life change.

• Impatience with God: Because we are used to one-day shipping, we become frustrated when God does not answer on our timeline. We lose the "muscle" of perseverance.

  
  

• Spectators, Not Participants: We mistake listening (passive consumption) for obedience (active discipline). We have unlimited access to teaching, but lack the work required to integrate it.

Reclaiming the Hard Work of Faith: 4 Solutions

1. Embrace the Power of Scarcity

• Action: Read a physical Bible for one month without the aid of a phone.

  
  

• Goal: Force yourself to slow down. This friction forces focus and reverence.

  
  

2. Prioritize Wrestling Over Instant Answers

• Action: When a difficult doubt arises, do not Google it or ask AI for 24 hours.

  
  

• Goal: Spend that time in prayer and traditional study. Reclaim the discipline of personal searching.

  
  

3. Shift from Access to Application

• Action: For every podcast or sermon you consume, identify one tangible next step for obedience

  
  

• Goal: Stop allowing knowledge to substitute for action.

  
  

4. The Technology Fast

• Action: Replace morning scrolling with 15 minutes of Scripture and 5 minutes of "unhurried" prayer.

  
  

• Goal: Move from reactive living to proactive devotion.

A Call to Action: Reclaiming Intentionality

What is one area of your faith life where convenience has replaced discipline? For the next seven days, choose one "inconvenient" spiritual discipline—waking up 30 minutes earlier to pray, memorizing a full chapter, or serving in a difficult ministry—and commit to it.

Read a real book. Work on "untraining" your brain to only be satisfied with digital entertainment. The goal of discipleship is not convenience; it is transformation.

We have to face the truth: a life of total convenience eventually leads to a faith that is totally accidental. If we don’t push back against the "easy button" culture, we will drift into a version of Christianity that looks nothing like the Cross. Are you ready to reclaim a life of God-honoring intentionality? Don’t let your faith happen by accident—start living with purpose today.

Let’s talk in the comments: What is one "digital shortcut" you’re willing to trade for a more intentional, physical practice this week? Whether it's a physical Bible or a dedicated "War Room" space, I’d love to hear your plan. It's time to start a fresh year!

Meet the Author & Her Partner in Faith

Tammy Fager: Giver of Thanks & Seeker of Simple Blessings ✍️

As the author of this blog, Tammy has a grateful heart for the simple blessings God provides every day, especially the daily bread we pause to bless. After retiring from a busy career, she now focuses on sharing her passion for a genuine, relational Christian faith and acknowledging that the Lord God is the source of all things. Along with her husband, Bruce, she believes in practicing an attitude of gratitude that transforms the daily routine into a joyful expression of trust in our Heavenly Father. Tammy and Bruce have been married for 38 years, raising two wonderful children, and their foundation remains centered on the love of Christ and the good practice of giving glory to God in every season.

Bruce Fager: An Artist Acknowledging God's Provision 🎨

Bruce, Tammy's husband and lifelong best friend, has a deep understanding of God's provision as both a retired law enforcement officer and a visionary artist behind God's Country Art. His work in carving beautiful pieces from wood is a tangible reflection of the beauty found in God's good gifts and the good land He provides. Bruce is committed to a simple, faith-filled life, focused on following the example of the Lord Jesus by being a devoted husband and father. He and Tammy continue their adventure together, constantly reminded that their work, their love, and their family are all a perfect gift from the Hand of God.

They invite you to see the artistic blessings they are sharing at GodsCountryArt.com