Shouldn't people who are "saved" at least act like it?

[ozmum]

Good post that started this thread.
Christians were so named because they talked about Jesus and lived by what He said.Today 'Christian ' hardly distinguishes anything except that might not be Buddhist.
Great article that goes well with this subject is I'm Not Perfect downloadable at www.homechurchresources.com
go to newsletters .It is the cover article in the November issue

 

[Athene]

To me christianity is a journey, you start at day one as a person who still acts unsaved but who has made the decision to follow Christ, over the course of months and sometimes years the message gradually sinks in that it takes more effort then showing up at church on a sunday, that being a christian is a constant thing, it took me a good long while for this message to get through and it only happened I think because God sent me a mentor to guide me.

So perhaps what we should be doing instead of posting in threads like this is to go to our brothers and sisters who are struggling, not to give them a list of all the things they are doing wrong and to tell them what a horrible example of christianity they are, but to instead get a relationship going and try and motivate them to fully give over all aspects of their lives to God.

The non-christian world watches and yes it sees christians who act no differently to anyone else, but they also see their 'more mature' christian brothers and sisters standing around pointing fingers and not doing a thing to help . . .

 

[djconklin]

Shouldn't people who are "saved" at least act like it?

I ran into Bible critics who said that. I told themn that if they thought it was so easy then why don't they quit doing their bad habits. Then they'd find out how difficult it is to behave even adccording to common sense! Look at all the info we have about smoking and yet people still do it!

Seems many people on these boards can't tell right from wrong anymore and don't care to be corrected by scripture. Rather listen to ministers of misinformation who lead you not to Heaven, but to hell. You know them by their actions.

You gave the very reason why people don't know right from wrong anymore and won't listen when you show them from Scripture: they get it from their pastors and ministers who sell them books about the Book. These guys (and gals!) aren't interested in the eternal safety of their congregants. They just want more books and tapes to be sold so they can make more money and have more power.

None are without sin, but if you are so corrupted by the world that you don't recognize sin any longer and refuse to be corrected by scripture, how is it you can continue to be "saved". According to Jesus you can't. You'll burn with the rest of those who prefer to follow the crowd rather than conform themselves to the teachings of Jesus. ... Birds of a feather flock together. Which flock are you flying in?

Right on! I agree with fifi.

 

[Nadiine]

Sorry, but this is just a pointless question imo - of COURSE Christians should act Godly.

Now, you can start defining what SIN IS... becuz many of our liberal friends would deny what ungodly even means. & that's a whole other thread.

 

[djconklin]

Now, you can start defining what SIN IS... becuz many of our liberal friends would deny what ungodly even means. & that's a whole other thread.

Yep, it always helps to get down to the basics. If you don't agree on what those are then all "conversation" is like 2 ships passing in the night.

 

[PeppermintTea]

Deleted

 

[PeppermintTea]

People can act like Christians all they want to. Believe me, that is what they are good at. Being and acting are two different things. I rather be a Christian than to fit into worldy "perceptions" of how Christian should "act." No matter what I do, someone is always going to try find something that makes me look like a bad Christian. They even did it to Christ.

Great point!!

 

[ForumGuy]

Actually yeah, could some post a concrete defination of "ungodly"? And sin to, preferbly one that could be understood by non Christians.
And I guess it helps to remeber that this life is but a journey

 

[marke]

All I have to say is amen to that we as the body have shun Good and loved evil and why is that because we want to be part of the world but in 2 cor ch 6 it tell us to be set apart but in stead we look and act and talk just like the world and Gos is not pleased. very good post.

Thank you for your scripture quote. We are not to be the same and I appreciate you pointing that out.

God bless.

 

[marke]

I agree with you. I think most of the people on this board are trying, maybe sometimes unsuccessfully. I know I am. I learn more every day. I pray for guidance and truth and I ask God to show me and lead me. I question if I am doing the right thing, if I am ever turning away from God, but when I feel that way, I turn to God.

That's what we need to do.

Instead of trying to figure things out for ourselves, we need to go to Him with open hearts and ask for the truth. If we ask for His help, we'll never go wrong. Of course we'll still sin and slip up, but we'll be with Him, not in any worldly confusion.

I am so in agreement.

You can't go wrong with Jesus, but you can following wrong teaching.

Sounds like you know where to go for guidance. Good for you!

God Bless.

God bless.

 

[marke]

ME to their has to be a difference we can not say we are hloy and then act like the devil all day long because we are not helping to build the kigdom of God at all. and also we have to keep in mind that we have to be an example of the light every single day.

YES! YOU'VE GOT IT!

God Bless

 

[marke]

People who are 'saved' should act like they are saved. Of course they should. One of the biggest 'turn offs' for people who visit church are the people supposedly saved, who walk like peacocks.

Religeon never saved anyone. Many go to church for a religeous 'fix' It is Jesus who makes the difference. Any person meeting Jesus will be different.

"If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creation, old things are passed away all things are become new"

WELL SAID!

We are told that good and bitter water don't come out of the same fountain.

Once you come to Christ you are a different person. You see things in a different way. You act in a different way. Will you fall down every so often, yes, but you will know right from wrong and stand with the forces of right instead of the forces of wrong. That's how you know a follower of Jesus.

Thank you for your comments.

God Bless.

 

[marke]

Yes I like this post as well. And in ALL facets of life, I try to practice what I preach. One thing that is major is that God is showing me more and more, is that I actually do have to sacrifice my life, and worldly things, where actually the world, media and all this "entertainment" which usually just wastes the Christians precious time on earth, needs to go. Time to focus on Jesus and see some souls saved, instead of knowing why Britney Spears shaved her head. WHO CARES.

It's SO NICE to see I am not alone.

Thank you Jesus.

And thank you too.

God Bless

 

[marke]

There are certain ways that we should not act. Anything contrary to the way Christ acted is unchristian. I know many "Christians" who just don't seem like they even care how Jesus acted. What the previous poster was saying is, "How does it improve the world that I know why Britney Spears shaved her head?" Reading news tabloids doesn't seem to match up to reading the Bible.

JoeV -- Great answer.

The New Testament tells us how a Christian should act and how a non-Christian or even a deceiver will act. What do they focus on? This is the clue to whom they serve.

If someone doesn't know where to find the scripture to learn which would be actions you could expect from one following the teachings opposed to one without Christ in them, hopefully someone with a Bible close at hand will provide the scripture to help those reading this thread. (hint hint)

JoeV, I really wish I was as far along at 16 as you are.

Thank you for your insight and wisdom beyond your age. Keep studying your New Testament. I think you are going to help a lot of people find Jesus during your life.

God Bless.

 

[marke]

Totally agree with the OP.

The advantage we have as true believers is that the power of God lives in us... and works both, with our wills (so that we WANT to do the right thing) and gives us the power to DO what He wills.

That is the most exciting thing to me!

YOU are exciting to me! I'm not alone. More and more are coming to the light. I'm so glad I made this post.

What great insight!

This is exactly what Jesus tells us. The Kingdom of Heaven is within. It's not something that is coming, it's here for those who want to enter. I'm so glad you chose to enter. It really is exciting having Jesus inside isn't it. Truely, Jesus is the Prince of Peace within us.

God bless.

PS Love your butterfly

 

[marke]

According to Scriptures you will know who is and who is not, by their deeds.

Mt:7:16: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mt:7:20: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Mt:7:17: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mt:7:18: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Lk:6:43: For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Know this also, all these who are mentioned below, will not inherit the Kingdom of God, no matter what they claim with their mouths ( Im Saved ) or ( I'm a Christian ) or ( I'm under Grace ) or ( I'm no longer under the law ), If they are any of these, they will not enter into the Kingdom of God. Let Scriptures stand True and human thinking and human belief be lies.

1Cor:6:9: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10: Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

These will not enter into the Kingdom of God, as it is written so shall it be done.

In His Holy and Precious Name, Jesus Christ
DiscipleDave
^i^

Well said Dave.

Thank you for quoting the scripture so we can all profit and be assured this is as it is written and not just your opinion.

This is the hard part for me as I pushed Paul out of the way to be chief among sinners. This is where I throw myself upon the mercy of Jesus and ask forgiveness for my trespasses. I believe Jesus will have mercy on my soul because I recognize the sin and do ask for forgiveness. Those who are "saved by their faith" and don't bother asking for forgiveness or don't even consider things Jesus calls a sin as a sin, may not be so lucky.

The once saved always saved argument goes against scripture and many are being led astray. Your quoted scripture shows that to be true.

Please pray for me that I find my way through the narrow gate.

God bless. It's nice to know there are others out there who seek to follow the truth. I'm so glad I made this post.

God bless.

 

[marke]

Good book on this topic and reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Scandal-Evang...7358459?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173632876&sr=8-2

I was hoping you would show up on this thread seekthetruth909. I always appreciate your excellent posts.

Someone asked what a Christian should act like. I don't have those passages at my fingertips. I know you are very good with your scripture. Could you please post the passages which tell what the fruits of the spirit are and what the fruits are of those lost in the world to help with this girls question. We all would appreciate your help.

Thanks so much. I'll look forward to following your link.

God bless.

 

[marke]

I agree. To the tee with what you said.
My heart hurts on a daily basis at the sin in this world. Its everywhere and sometimes it seems as if there is no safe place to turn anymore. Even churches are unsafe for wounded hearts.

I know that first hand.

Im not sure I understand the Katrina statement.

Are you referring to people not ministering to Katrina people?

I have very little compassion for Katrina people. But not in a bad way. I guess Im just not called to minister to them. As it was going on I prayed and I even volunteered to help but was turned away. But its just not my thing.

So I guess what im trying to say is dont be hard on people who may not agree with views on ministering to them. Everyone is different and God has different things for all of us. In fact.... its when we get in that mode of "I have to help everyone" thats we begin to dig our grave slowly. Know your gifts.

I once heard.. Those whom unlock your compassion are those to whom you are called.

My ministry is teenagers. Ive been used and abuse beyond what any normal person would stand by them. They have stolen from me, abused my house, and other things we wont even mention... but they still unlock my compassion. Especially the ones who havent been taught, who have been left to public schools and not brought up right.

so yeah... dont be too hard on people who dont care much about the Katrina people. I dont. It doesnt make us bad, it makes us different.

Thank you so much for your post.

Yes, we are all called to different needs. Thank you so much for helping the kids. That's not my calling. I feed and heal people.

The Katrina thing has to do with how many books could be purchased by a single hour ($20,000) of flying time of those preachers who put themselves before the needs of others. It's wrong and I have a problem with that.

A local church is putting on a play while people are sleeping in caves they have dug out of the snow and the local soup kitchen is only open two days a week to serve the needy. This bothers me. The example of the Christ is there for all to see and yet is ignored.

This needs to change.

Thank you for your comments and your work with the youth. God is watching and pleased at your work.

God Bless.

 

[marke]

To me christianity is a journey, you start at day one as a person who still acts unsaved but who has made the decision to follow Christ, over the course of months and sometimes years the message gradually sinks in that it takes more effort then showing up at church on a sunday, that being a christian is a constant thing, it took me a good long while for this message to get through and it only happened I think because God sent me a mentor to guide me.

So perhaps what we should be doing instead of posting in threads like this is to go to our brothers and sisters who are struggling, not to give them a list of all the things they are doing wrong and to tell them what a horrible example of christianity they are, but to instead get a relationship going and try and motivate them to fully give over all aspects of their lives to God.

The non-christian world watches and yes it sees christians who act no differently to anyone else, but they also see their 'more mature' christian brothers and sisters standing around pointing fingers and not doing a thing to help . . .

HA!

I really enjoyed your post and your suggestion to help each other is excellent.

The best part were the last lines. "but they also see their 'more mature' christian brothers and sisters standing around pointing fingers and not doing a thing to help . . ."

Herein lies the problem. Lack of leadership. You are quite correct, but first we have to get all of us on the same page. When one "Christian" makes excuses for torture and another says how does that work with "do on to others as you would like to have done to you" where do we go from here if the advocate for torture can't see torture doesn't fit in with the teachings of the Christ? Heck, call it Popular Modern Christianity.

It has the shape and form of Christianity, but just because it looks and acts like a duck, doesn't mean it is a duck.

We have to come back to the New Testament where Christianity is defined and all conform ourselves to this mind set, not our own or the church we happen to go to.

Yes, our walk is a growth process, but those whom the Holy Spirit enters into and guides start to show the fruits of the spirit from that moment on. They don't have two faces. They are real. You can feel it. You know it. You can see it in the things they do and the things they support. "We're all on different levels" is just an excuse for wrong behavior preachers use to keep people coming to their church. Fact of the matter is, decent people are decent people and bad people are bad people. This is how Jesus tells us to discern whom is whom. Yes, we all grow, but once we surrender and let go and let God, Christians won't be doing and supporting a lot of things most agree are un-Christian actions. Kindness begets kindness. Evil begets evil. It's the side you feed that grows.

Thank you for your comments.

God bless.

 

[marke]

Sorry, but this is just a pointless question imo - of COURSE Christians should act Godly.

Now, you can start defining what SIN IS... becuz many of our liberal friends would deny what ungodly even means. & that's a whole other thread.

Like the Bush Administration, right?

If you will not Hear the truth No one can tell you.

Kind of creepy. Isn't it.