Distracted Christians

SUNSTONE · #1 14th January 2011, 05:26 PM

I saw a commercial that is the perfect example of the American Christian.

It starts off showing a bunch of violence on the streets,fires, rioting, etc.
And then it cuts to a nice place, the phone is flashing/ringing, and a super hero is sitting on the couch flipping through the TV stations looking for something to watch.
It's an ad for a cable company or something like that, it said (with whatever it has to offer) that you will be very busy.

As Christians we have the power to change this world for the better, to make a difference in peoples lives.
But we are distracted with things the flesh wants to do.

There has never been a time like this, we have more food, more entertainment than ever before.
American Christians spend huge amounts of time with meaningless distractions, and so very little time living like Jesus.

Many Christians want to believe that God controls everything, and that whatever happens it is the will of God.
Well..........what if you're wrong?
What....if....you're....wrong?

Strong in Him · #2 14th January 2011, 07:05 PM

In a sense, it is the will of God.

God gave us free will; we chose to sin. He has chosen to let us continue to have free will - not to make us all puppets. Sin has consequences - even if someone truly repents, there will still be consequences. For example, someone has 3 or 4 drinks, gets behind the wheel of a car and kills a child. They may repent and become Christians; they may serve their time in jail and, on release, set up a charity in the child's name/work with young offenders, or whatever. The consequences are that the child is still dead and the family heartbroken.
God has chosen to allow evil to remain in the world until the Lord Jesus returns.

And what's the alternative, anyway?
That it isn't God's will but he is powerless to stop Satan?
That it isn't his will but he was otherwise occupied, didn';t know what was going on, and the devil got one past him?
Both of those things suggest that the devil has control over God, or at least more knowledge than God does. No chance.

Child of JC · #3 15th January 2011, 09:07 AM

2Ch 7:14

(GW) However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country.

(KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

(MSG) and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I'll be there ready for you: I'll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health.

(NIrV) But they make themselves low in my sight. They pray and look to me. And they turn from their evil ways. Then I will listen to them from heaven. I will forgive their sin. And I will heal their land. After all, they are my people.

(NIV) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

(TNIV) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

SUNSTONE · #4 15th January 2011, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by Strong in Him

In a sense, it is the will of God.

God gave us free will; we chose to sin. He has chosen to let us continue to have free will - not to make us all puppets. Sin has consequences - even if someone truly repents, there will still be consequences. For example, someone has 3 or 4 drinks, gets behind the wheel of a car and kills a child. They may repent and become Christians; they may serve their time in jail and, on release, set up a charity in the child's name/work with young offenders, or whatever. The consequences are that the child is still dead and the family heartbroken.
God has chosen to allow evil to remain in the world until the Lord Jesus returns.

And what's the alternative, anyway?
That it isn't God's will but he is powerless to stop Satan?
That it isn't his will but he was otherwise occupied, didn';t know what was going on, and the devil got one past him?
Both of those things suggest that the devil has control over God, or at least more knowledge than God does. No chance.

Satan isn't driving drunk, humans are.

The alternative is to do what God said to do, which is live like Jesus and make a positive difference in this world.

When Christians don't live like Jesus, assuming that God is in control and that whatever happens is the will of God......people suffer and die.

SUNSTONE · #5 15th January 2011, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Child of JC

2Ch 7:14

(GW) However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country.

(KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

(MSG) and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I'll be there ready for you: I'll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health.

(NIrV) But they make themselves low in my sight. They pray and look to me. And they turn from their evil ways. Then I will listen to them from heaven. I will forgive their sin. And I will heal their land. After all, they are my people.

(NIV) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

(TNIV) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

What is the point of this post?

When someone asks for your help, you give them that scripture?
Is this scripture your basis for not living like Jesus?

Child of JC · #6 15th January 2011, 12:38 PM

It's the starting point for all those who desire to see change. We need to recognize that we have no power to do anything without Him (humble ourselves), and turn to Him (seek His Face). He'll let us know what to do, and through us, He will heal our land.

SUNSTONE · #7 15th January 2011, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by Child of JC

It's the starting point for all those who desire to see change. We need to recognize that we have no power to do anything without Him (humble ourselves), and turn to Him (seek His Face). He'll let us know what to do, and through us, He will heal our land.

Well we hope that people do this, but that has nothing to do with what we are called to do, and that is to live just like Jesus and the disciples, who gave up a selfish life to live a selfless life.

Strong in Him · #8 15th January 2011, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by SUNSTONE

Satan isn't driving drunk, humans are.

Obviously.
But it is humans who sin; who have the attitude, "I can do what I like/live outside the law/it won't happen to me because I'm in control."

So sometimes people get into cars, drive in an unfit state and kill someone - and God allows that to happen. If we insist on sinning and disobeying his laws, then sometimes he sits back and lets us. It doesn't mean that he wants that, but he knows it's happening and allows it to.

Originally Posted by SUNSTONE

The alternative is to do what God said to do, which is live like Jesus and make a positive difference in this world.

But that wasn't what I asked.

You said that some people believe that God is in control of everything. I read that as you don't believe that he is, and that's what I was questionning. If we don't believe that God is in charge and has knowledge of, and control over, everything that goes on, what is the alternative? That God falls asleep sometimes and lets Satan take over?

Originally Posted by SUNSTONE

When Christians don't live like Jesus, assuming that God is in control and that whatever happens is the will of God......people suffer and die.

God is in control and has authority over all things, but that's not an excuse for sitting back, doing nothing and being lazy and apathetic.

But then, some things ARE the will of God, however it may look to us.

Strong in Him · #9 15th January 2011, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by SUNSTONE

Is this scripture your basis for not living like Jesus?

Is playing poker for a living, yours?

SUNSTONE · #10 15th January 2011, 01:40 PM

The point of this thread to get people to understand that living like Jesus is what we are called to do.

Do I live like Jesus? No, not at all.
Why? Because I can't do it by myself, even with God helping me out. Jesus showed us the example of the team, which is Him and the disciples.
Without the strength of the team, I am like Aaron who couldn't hold up the staff above his head but needed to have the help from other believers.