Are you a Christian suffering from BTDT Syndrome?

Having been a Christian for over four decades, I sometimes find myself struggling with what I call BTDT syndrome — “Been There, Done That” syndrome. If left unchecked, that sense of familiarity can quietly breed complacency, dulling our spiritual fervour, our passion for God and the things of God.

Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” In the same way we go for our regular medical check-ups for our bodies, we also need spiritual health check-ups and alignments for our souls, because even a one-degree drift today can send us miles off course tomorrow.

There was a season in my life when my personal daily devotion with God became inconsistent. I knew it, yet did little about it, except to complain to my wife. Though our family continued our daily devotions, I could sense that even that routine was losing its purpose and direction. It is true: we cannot give what we do not have.

The danger is that the moment we lose our zeal, we begin to lose our way. And the problem with us men is when we lose our direction, we rarely ask for help. So, how do we keep our zeal for God burning?

Keep the fire burning

In Leviticus 6:8-13, God told Moses to command Aaron and his sons three times to keep the fire on the altar burning, “it must not go out”. This tells me that we cannot do it alone. Just like removing a single glowing coal from the fire, even the brightest coal loses its flame when it stands alone. Once separated, it soon fades, cools and turns dark. We need one another to keep the flame alive.

For me, I found help and support from fellow brothers in Christ in a small group when I opened up about my struggles. They didn’t judge me, instead encouraged me to study God’s Word again. It was humbling, especially since most of them are younger believers.

But thank God, soon after, I began setting aside time again in the morning to read, study and reflect on His Word more deeply. The joy and wonder of discovering God’s truth in His Word were reignited in me. This experience then made me reflect on what it means to be a ‘man of God’:

1. A man of God grows up in spirit, yet never outgrows faith. He is mature enough to lead, yet childlike enough to believe.
2. The world expects a man to prove his strength by fighting to the death, but a man of God shows true strength by surrendering his will and dying to self.

“Lord, I’m doing all I can…”

There is a song called Better Man by the English singer Robbie Williams, where the chorus ends with, “Lord, I’m doing all I can, to be a better man.” That is often how we men instinctively approach life – using our strength to do all we can to achieve our dreams and goals. But I’ve learned that being a man of God is not about striving – it’s about surrendering. So, for a biblical ‘Better Man’, we should pray, “Lord, I’m giving all I am, to be a better man.”

In other words, a man of God is one who matures without losing wonder and surrenders without losing strength. And now, God has transformed my BTDT syndrome into His BTDT commission: Building True Disciples Together. This new year, may we continue to walk with God fervently and journey with others faithfully.

About the Author

Rudeen Chua makes a living practising law but makes a life with Grace and their 3 wonderful daughters. He is passionate about discipling men and also serves as premarital counselling (PMC) counsellors with his wife. He has a soft spot for underdogs, which explains his love for movies like Cool Runnings, Real Steel and A Few Good Men.

To read other Spotlight Malaysia articles, click below.