The slippery slope of Christianity with Lessons from Mountain Climbing

Many Christians fall away. Others fail to remain consistently faithful. Yet, others simply go through the motions and fail to grow.

The Christian walk is not without its challenges. Today, we discuss: “The slippery slope of Christianity with Lessons from Mountain Climbing”

While we recognize the challenges that Christians face in their walk and even liken it to navigating a slippery slope we want to take the opportunity to draw 3 lessons from Mountain Climbing that will help us on our journey.

The first lesson that we can draw from mountain climbers is that they recognize the dangers and challenges. They fully understand that one mistake could cost them their lives as well as the lives of their colleagues. Consequently, mountain climbers set about their task with seriousness and respect. This is not an idle walk in the park. This needs focused attention and a deep-seated understanding of the implications of each step.

It is this reverence for the craft that keeps successful mountaineers alive. They come to the process without misconceptions. They know that this is serious business. They know that self-discipline and the discipline of their colleagues is essential for their survival. The consequences of error are dire.

As Christians when we make our trek through life we also need to stop and reflect on the implications of our walk. We need to identify and respect the dangers. We ought to come to grips with the fact that danger lurks at every step. We also need to be fully conscious that falling is a real and present threat. We should also be mindful of the fact that falling could be fatal to our souls – eternally.

Unfortunately, many Christians come into the fold unaware of the challenges that the walk presents. They set off unprepared and ill-equipped. All too often they slither down the slippery slope and are lost.

Many of us can recite names of those who were a part of the brotherhood and have fallen away. They failed to navigate one or the other of the many pitfalls that are on the slope that we must climb as we make our Christian walk. Brethren, we need to open our eyes and ears to the dangers that face us as Christians. We cannot be naïve and careless.

As Philippians 2:12 reminds us:
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.


2Tim 3:10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Brethren, let us not approach our salvation sloppily. Let us understand that we are up against principalities. We run the risk of losing our salvation if we are not careful. We need to be continually on full alert. Things that appear safe on the surface might have many dangers underneath. In plain terms, WATCH YOUR STEP!

The second lesson from Mountain Climbing is the trouble they go to learn how to set about mountain climbing. People do not just go climbing mountains without in-depth preparation. Not if they hope to survive. Successful climbers devote themselves to studying their craft. They seek every opportunity to learn more about what works and what does not. They know that their very life depends on their knowledge and experience.

As Christians, we need to adopt a similar approach. We need to be hungry for knowledge about how to attain our salvation and how to protect the salvation of others. We need to crave more information about what actions lead to salvation and what can lead us away from God.

I am struck by the case of Nadab and Abihu.
Exodus 24: 1And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
2And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him. 3And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
Leviticus 10
1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Consider Brethren the fact that Nadab and Abihu grew up in house of the Aaron the High Priest. In today’s language: Dem born and grow inna di Church (They were born in the church and grew up in the church.)

They would have seen many many sacrifices being performed by Aaron. The information would surely be available to them as to how to perform a sacrifice that was pleasing to God. Yet for some reason they opted to use a strange fire.

The error cost them their lives. Remember, these young men were part of the select group that was invited to go with Moses to worship the Lord from afar. They would have been consistently in the assembly. They were in the lineage of the Levitical priesthood. Yet, God killed them because of their failure to do things the proper way. Their ignorance or carelessness cost them their lives.

We need to understand that length of service or frequency of attendance or family connections are not enough to guarantee our salvation. We need to learn what it is the God wants us to do and how He wants us to do it. We must then be disciplined to do it just as He commands.

I need to point out also that Nadab & Abihu were not killed in a brothel or in a drunken stupor in a bar. They were killed while they were offering what they considered to be their service to God. On the surface their intention appears to have been good.

What is God thinking today about your efforts to serve Him?
Is your service going up as a sweet savour? Are you running the same risk as Nadab by offering wishy washy, 3rd grade service?
Are you giving your best to the Lord or just left-overs?
Knowing what pleases God and what displeases Him is critical if we are to successfully climb the slippery slopes of Christianity.

The 3rd and final lesson that we draw from mountain climbing is the fact that climbers go to great lengths to put in place measures to keep them from falling to their death.

Climbers today have access to a range of sophisticated devices that help to keep them safe. They take care to seek these out and to put them to use in their climbs. Some of these need practice before they can be used effectively and climbers spend time getting comfortable with the protective devices.

Climbers also see the value of teamwork in their climbs and descents. In many instances, their lives are in the hands of one or more of their colleagues. There are also situations in which one man’s fall can bring down the entire group.

What about us as Christians? How diligent are we in seeking out things that can keep us from falling? What safety devices do you have in place today?

Climbers put on their boots something called a crampon to give them better traction in the ice and snow. I suggest that our walk will be steadied if we are consistently in fellowship with the brethren. If you come to worship and fellowship with your heart in it, you might slip but your fall will be stopped and you will be brought back on your feet.

I am sure you can cite examples from your own life or the life of others where unsteadiness or even a fall was corrected by the love and caring of one or more members of the brotherhood.

People feed off your faithfulness and dedication and so when it is your turn to be in need of support they are only too willing to reach out to you.

Get yourself engrained among your brothers and sisters. That is one of the most powerful safety devices for the Christian. No one will want to see you fall. Remember, one person’s fall can bring down others.

Climbers use an Ice Axe to secure them as they strive for higher ground. For the Christian, I suggest that dedicated Bible Study and attendance at Bible Study sessions is our equivalent of the Ice Axe. The way to reach for higher ground spiritually is through Bible Study.

Devote yourself to the study of God’s word and you will achieve spiritual growth while lowering the risk of falling.

Climbing groups now rely heavily on a principle called belaying. Belaying is the technique of controlling the rope so that a falling climber does not fall very far. Someone plays the role of the belayer. He feeds and pulls in the rope for each climber as needed. He is in turn anchored to a belay…. i.e. some secure place.

There are tons of rules and practices that must be observed precisely for the safety of all parties. The belayer has to be on high alert and responsive to impending falls. Delaying in belaying is a no-no. It can cost lives or serious injury.

Today, I make the appeal for belayers to step forward in this congregation. It is not feasible for the evangelist to be alert to every potential fall and to be sufficiently responsive to arrest the fall.

We need belayers. We need sisters and brothers who will be constantly on the alert for potential danger and to step in to avert it.

We need to become more familiar with the rules of Christian belaying.
How to spot impending danger
How to move to avert that danger.
What do we say or do not say

In climbing, climbers have an equal role to that of the belayer in making belaying work.
We need to be more willing to signal that we are having challenges.
We need to communicate that we may be about to lose our footing to a belayer that we are comfortable with.
We need to realize that when we act alone we risk not only our souls but the souls of others.

If you are here this morning and you have never made a conscious decision to change the way you live in respect of obeying God’s will for your life;
If you have never confessed publicly that Jesus is Lord of your life;
If you have never been baptized for the remission of your sins;
then you are climbing the slippery slopes of life without any support or protection. You can correct that right now but responding to the invitation as we sing in a moment.

If you are a member of the household of God – young or old, new Christian or stalwart, I implore you to take these 3 lessons from mountain climbing:
1. Respect the fact that the Christian walk is dangerous. Be alert and careful.
2. Go to great lengths to learn as much as you can about what works well and what does not work. Find out more about what God would have you do and how you ought to do it through dedicated Bible study.
3. Seek out devices and ways that can keep you safe. Let us set up belaying systems in our congregation to arrest the fall of those who might slip.

Eph 6: 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;