On the island of Kauai, there seems to be a wild rooster everywhere you look. These undomesticated roosters, referred to as jungle fowl by the Hawaiians, make their home on the island, scrounging up food anywhere and everywhere they can. There are legends as to why chickens run amok all over the island, ranging from stories of Wizard-of-Oz-like scattering of chickens during Hurricane Inike in 1992 to a lack of enough mongoose population to keep them in check. From what I can tell, no clear reason exists for these roosters-gone-wild. No cages for these birds. No chicken coop. Just unadulterated, undomesticated chicken hedonism.
Besides chickens running around everywhere (like chickens with their heads cut off - Ha!), there is a phenomenon called the "feral cat" on the island of Kauai. According to Wikipedia, "A feral cat is a descendant of a domesticated cat that has returned to the wild. It is distinguished from a stray cat, which is a pet cat that has been lost or abandoned, while feral cats are born in the wild. The offspring of a stray cat can be considered feral if born in the wild." On our recent trip to Kauai, it was not uncommon to run across these cats in a variety of settings. Below, you will notice in the midst of the Hawaiian dancers and the tourist at the Fern Grotto, a random cat has planted itself in the walkway. Even as we filed out of the area, this feral cat made no effort to get out of the way!
Besides chickens running around everywhere (like chickens with their heads cut off - Ha!), there is a phenomenon called the "feral cat" on the island of Kauai. According to Wikipedia, "A feral cat is a descendant of a domesticated cat that has returned to the wild. It is distinguished from a stray cat, which is a pet cat that has been lost or abandoned, while feral cats are born in the wild. The offspring of a stray cat can be considered feral if born in the wild." On our recent trip to Kauai, it was not uncommon to run across these cats in a variety of settings. Below, you will notice in the midst of the Hawaiian dancers and the tourist at the Fern Grotto, a random cat has planted itself in the walkway. Even as we filed out of the area, this feral cat made no effort to get out of the way!
Ed Stetzer, researcher and missiologist, recently wrote an article in USA Today regarding the decline of Christianity in the United States. His discussion revolved around the fact that many folks no longer refer to themselves as Christians. He holds that, though the numbers have fallen in regards to those who would claim Christianity, the number of actual Christians has not. Many people who, at one time, would have claimed to be "Christian" because they are not Hindu, Buddhist, or anything else, no longer will claim the moniker of "Christian." In the same regard, many of those who previously considered themselves to be "Christian" because they occasionally attend a church worship service, no longer do so. According to Ed, "Christianity is no longer the first choice of many seeking spiritual meaning, and identifying as Christian is not necessary to be an accepted part of society." Though the number of people who claim Christianity is declining, it seems that actual Christians are alive and well in the U.S. (those whom Ed defines as "conversion Christians," claiming to have had a faith experience in which they were transformed, resulting in a deeply held belief). Vibrant faith in Christ still exists in the states. Though cultural Christianity is dying, true Christianity is not.
In the grind of everyday life, we all come in contact with folks who have, at one time or another, had some type of connection with the church. Through Vacation Bible School as children. Through the church music program on Wednesday night. Through memories of mom and dad or grandma and grandpa taking them to church as a youngster. We ALL connect in some way with these "Feral Christians." You may even be a feral Christian yourself. You very well may be the descendant of a Christian who has returned to the wild, so to speak. Maybe you yourself gave up on your faith because of a tough experience, run-in with an unkind church person, or disagreement with a pastor. You may feel like the church has completely failed you. It very well could have. Churches are filled with imperfect people, feral Christians in their own right. Some churches have gone so astray from the teachings of Jesus that they may even be feral churches. BUT, Christ is not imperfect. He is not feral. He is not astray. He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Son of God. The Lamb of God, who came to take away the sins of the world. Indeed, He can and does domesticate the most feral of individuals.
If you know feral Christians, love and encourage them to return to Christ in faith and repentance. If you are a feral Christian, return to Christ. The Kingdom of God is near. He will remove you from the wild. He will shelter you. He will forgive your sin. He will tame you, for His glory and your good.
In the grind of everyday life, we all come in contact with folks who have, at one time or another, had some type of connection with the church. Through Vacation Bible School as children. Through the church music program on Wednesday night. Through memories of mom and dad or grandma and grandpa taking them to church as a youngster. We ALL connect in some way with these "Feral Christians." You may even be a feral Christian yourself. You very well may be the descendant of a Christian who has returned to the wild, so to speak. Maybe you yourself gave up on your faith because of a tough experience, run-in with an unkind church person, or disagreement with a pastor. You may feel like the church has completely failed you. It very well could have. Churches are filled with imperfect people, feral Christians in their own right. Some churches have gone so astray from the teachings of Jesus that they may even be feral churches. BUT, Christ is not imperfect. He is not feral. He is not astray. He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Son of God. The Lamb of God, who came to take away the sins of the world. Indeed, He can and does domesticate the most feral of individuals.
If you know feral Christians, love and encourage them to return to Christ in faith and repentance. If you are a feral Christian, return to Christ. The Kingdom of God is near. He will remove you from the wild. He will shelter you. He will forgive your sin. He will tame you, for His glory and your good.
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