A viral video called The Shallow Small Group totally made my day.

Totally.

It takes a jab at small church groups - often dubbed cells - that exist, somewhat subconsciously, for recreation and leisure rather than biblical learning, edifying fellowship and impact. Heavy concepts, I know, but the video light-heartedly tackles the lifestyle of "doing the church thing" rather than living for Christ.

Pastor Saad of the Evangelical Rock Eternal Church in Beirut, Lebanon visited my church this past Sunday. He spoke of how believers in the Middle East face unimaginable persecution. Brothers and sisters are beaten, spat on by relatives. Their families encounter ridicule and intimidation; their children face kidnapping. Lebanese Christians know not to travel to certain parts of Beirut or worship beyond home congregations.

Pastor Saad's testimony of God's work throughout the Middle East was juxtaposed with a rather meager 10 a.m. service attendance. You see, last Sunday was a rainy morning in Miami. Church attendance takes a dip when it rains.

The Shallow Small Group drives home the point that the American thread of Christianity is one of phlegmatic faith. Young adults are at the center of this debate. Some argue that when young adults aren't leaving the body of Christ in mass exodus, they make their church lives the backbone of their social lives. In other words, we're too entertained...too superficial...too pampered in our commitments to Christ. Sacrifice and outreach come second to programs and amusement.

I've heard a younger sister in Christ admit that when she misses church she feels as though she misses out on--not a good Word or spiritual nourishment--but the latest fun happenings. Don't misunderstand me; it's not that we are called to live, as writer Don Miller put it, like Navy SEALS for Jesus. God wants us to have freedom and laughter in Christ. Yet, instead of being sold out, many have sold out...to pleasure.

Perhaps, Mark Steele who penned hits like Half-Life/Dying Already, Flashbang: How I got over myself as well as a personal favorite Christianish: what if we're not following Jesus at all put it best when he said, "Somewhere between cold faith and hot pursuit lies lukewarm spirituality...I became a half-breed...I allowed Jesus to seep into my church world--but not my relational world, my romance world, my business world, my creative world, my habits, my mouth...Not truly Christian but rather, merely Christianish..." (2009)

I would encourage you to watch the video "The Shallow Small Group." Rate yourself: Were you convicted after watching it? Are you a part of a shallow small group? Are your motives shallow? Could you use less recreation, more Christ?

Ana Guthrie is a super cool chick with a heart for God and love for youth culture. She doubles as a not-so-naughty librarian and instructor at Florida Memorial University in Miami, Florida.