- Jun 28, 2009
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I just want to say this is not targeted at anyone in specific, more of everyone in a whole. I don't intend to attack anyone, I am simply addressing what I believe to be a major problem in today's Churches. Thanks.
I have noticed in my days upon this earth, that Christianity has a certain scent to it, a scent not so pleasant to many people. I guess you could say that this is kind of the stereotype that it has been labeled with due to incidents that have gotten the attention of the media and such over the long years of it's existence. Now personally, I'm detested by what I have seen and heard that supports this outlook on our faith, and it deeply saddens me that these things have attracted the attention of the media and in turn many people everywhere. Things like anti-homosexuality marches and certain hate crimes and issues that have arisen in the past taint us with this unappealing odor. I can understand why one might have a rally to help people deal with their homosexuality in a supportive Christian manner, you know if they wish to live a life where they don't partake in things to feed their sexual urges and such, but having a march protesting against gay people's existence, or their behavior is a little ludicrous. I'd like to take the philosophy my dad has, and I want to try and stop hating in the name of God. To stop ignorance in the Church.
People witness these things, particularly the unsaved or people who are struggling and are turned off by what they see. Because of this they develop a negative outlook on our religion. As our teachings go, at least if you believe in the bible's message, many things that are taught and said are not stressed enough. Yes we preach on the importance of being saved, on the importance of Jesus' sacrifice, but how often are we taught what it means to be a Christian, on how we are supposed to live and discipline ourselves. In my personal opinion the fact that you can be forgiven and go to heaven is known by most people. However, do you not think it is important to teach that you are making a commitment God to follow His guidance and discipline yourself in life to lessen your sin? I for one think that this is as, if not more, important as the information that you can be saved and go to heaven. I'm not sure if you are familiar with this term, but the word is carnal, and it is not a good thing. Being a carnal Christian basically means you have Him on your lips, but not in your heart. You go to church, you say your saved but then you go out the next day and live it up like you did before you were saved. To me what it means to be a Christian, is much more than just being saved. Indeed you are saved when you pray for forgiveness from God and accept Jesus, but only if you do so sincerely. Sincerity is key. That alone, though, just makes you a a saved person, you've made your commitment to God the moment you say those words sincerely. But being a Christian is much more than just being saved. Being a Christian is being someone who is saved and makes and honest effort to follow the doctrine and philosophy that God and Jesus teach in the bible. If you actually look at the bible, the message repeats itself over and over again from Genesis to Revelation.
These lessons are key to being a Christian. The ten commandments importance did not go away with Jesus' death on the cross. No He Himself even says it is harder to go to Heaven than just being saved. Think about proverbs. How important do you think proverbs is? To me, I'd say it is one of the most important books in the bible if you want to live as God tells us to. All those lessons, Judge not lest ye be judged yourself, love one another as you love yourself, etc. Those are in proverbs. Those are like a guideline on how to live and discipline yourself. Another big thing that bothers me is the lack of understanding about what we are as Christians. We are not just saved, not just followers of God's teachings, no we are to live a close to God as we can. To be as much like Him as possible. WWJD? The significance behind this question is remarkable. One could argue that one is only human and can't be expected to be perfect, and I'm not saying you are wrong in saying that. BUT, as Christians we should ask ourselves this question every time we are tempted to sin or do wrong. Our goal as Christians is not just to go to heaven, but to better ourselves, to become more like God and to sin as least we can. To live like Him, we must do as He teaches. I ask you this, how is God? Does He hate? No. Does He sin? No. Is He unjust? No. What is God to you? As God is explained in the bible, He is a perfect, sinless, just, righteous, ever-loving being. He is all-powerful father, creator and master. He doesn't get angry, He is NEVER wrong and He is above ALL things and EVERY one. He alone is deserving of Glory, He alone is righteous.
Think about this, what is stressed and asked every time you got to church on Sunday? Are you saved? Will you come accept Him now? Now, I'm not stupid, I know salvation is important but I've seen this time and time again, people go to become saved who some to church and they make this commitment to God, not knowing what it means. I'm all for salvation. I WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAVED. It makes me cry about how many are lost sometimes. But ask yourselves this. What does a carnal Christian bring to my church? Head count? O BOY! Nothing. What does a saved person who doesn't make an attempt at learning bring to my church? Hmmm... that's right nothing. In fact it takes away. We are told not make our brothers fall, not to be a stumbling block. If one saw one of these types of people at a church, for example a child, or a lost person. They would most likely assume that said person is a Christian. Now, the ignorance of what it means to be Christian amongst the saved in mind, think about what a lost person knows about what it means to be saved. Okay, that in mind say this observer of our "Christian" sees the person the next evening going into a strip club. What would that say to you? Or to a youth? Personally, these type of people upset me and make me sick at heart. What would this say to someone who is newly saved and trying to learn, but still doesn't know much about it? You can guess right?
Guess what the devil is... a stumbling block!
Now, I have seen this before, but not more than two or three times in a 15 year period. When one goes to be saved, the pastor or deacon or some such person asks said person if they truly know what it means to accept forgiveness, and what it means to be a Christian. They tell them some things that maybe said person didn't know, and then asks said person if they are sure they are ready to be saved, maybe asks them to think it over. To me, this is a wondrous idea.
Several things are important to know when you are a Christian. You need to know what it means to be saved. You need to know who and how God is. You need to follow the teachings.
My point is this, we need to pay more attention to what is taught and who makes up the body of our church. I hope you get what I'm saying.
Now, I'm going to stop now, because I'm thinking to quickly, so I need to let my thoughts settle for a moment.
Let's discuss.
I have noticed in my days upon this earth, that Christianity has a certain scent to it, a scent not so pleasant to many people. I guess you could say that this is kind of the stereotype that it has been labeled with due to incidents that have gotten the attention of the media and such over the long years of it's existence. Now personally, I'm detested by what I have seen and heard that supports this outlook on our faith, and it deeply saddens me that these things have attracted the attention of the media and in turn many people everywhere. Things like anti-homosexuality marches and certain hate crimes and issues that have arisen in the past taint us with this unappealing odor. I can understand why one might have a rally to help people deal with their homosexuality in a supportive Christian manner, you know if they wish to live a life where they don't partake in things to feed their sexual urges and such, but having a march protesting against gay people's existence, or their behavior is a little ludicrous. I'd like to take the philosophy my dad has, and I want to try and stop hating in the name of God. To stop ignorance in the Church.
People witness these things, particularly the unsaved or people who are struggling and are turned off by what they see. Because of this they develop a negative outlook on our religion. As our teachings go, at least if you believe in the bible's message, many things that are taught and said are not stressed enough. Yes we preach on the importance of being saved, on the importance of Jesus' sacrifice, but how often are we taught what it means to be a Christian, on how we are supposed to live and discipline ourselves. In my personal opinion the fact that you can be forgiven and go to heaven is known by most people. However, do you not think it is important to teach that you are making a commitment God to follow His guidance and discipline yourself in life to lessen your sin? I for one think that this is as, if not more, important as the information that you can be saved and go to heaven. I'm not sure if you are familiar with this term, but the word is carnal, and it is not a good thing. Being a carnal Christian basically means you have Him on your lips, but not in your heart. You go to church, you say your saved but then you go out the next day and live it up like you did before you were saved. To me what it means to be a Christian, is much more than just being saved. Indeed you are saved when you pray for forgiveness from God and accept Jesus, but only if you do so sincerely. Sincerity is key. That alone, though, just makes you a a saved person, you've made your commitment to God the moment you say those words sincerely. But being a Christian is much more than just being saved. Being a Christian is being someone who is saved and makes and honest effort to follow the doctrine and philosophy that God and Jesus teach in the bible. If you actually look at the bible, the message repeats itself over and over again from Genesis to Revelation.
These lessons are key to being a Christian. The ten commandments importance did not go away with Jesus' death on the cross. No He Himself even says it is harder to go to Heaven than just being saved. Think about proverbs. How important do you think proverbs is? To me, I'd say it is one of the most important books in the bible if you want to live as God tells us to. All those lessons, Judge not lest ye be judged yourself, love one another as you love yourself, etc. Those are in proverbs. Those are like a guideline on how to live and discipline yourself. Another big thing that bothers me is the lack of understanding about what we are as Christians. We are not just saved, not just followers of God's teachings, no we are to live a close to God as we can. To be as much like Him as possible. WWJD? The significance behind this question is remarkable. One could argue that one is only human and can't be expected to be perfect, and I'm not saying you are wrong in saying that. BUT, as Christians we should ask ourselves this question every time we are tempted to sin or do wrong. Our goal as Christians is not just to go to heaven, but to better ourselves, to become more like God and to sin as least we can. To live like Him, we must do as He teaches. I ask you this, how is God? Does He hate? No. Does He sin? No. Is He unjust? No. What is God to you? As God is explained in the bible, He is a perfect, sinless, just, righteous, ever-loving being. He is all-powerful father, creator and master. He doesn't get angry, He is NEVER wrong and He is above ALL things and EVERY one. He alone is deserving of Glory, He alone is righteous.
Think about this, what is stressed and asked every time you got to church on Sunday? Are you saved? Will you come accept Him now? Now, I'm not stupid, I know salvation is important but I've seen this time and time again, people go to become saved who some to church and they make this commitment to God, not knowing what it means. I'm all for salvation. I WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAVED. It makes me cry about how many are lost sometimes. But ask yourselves this. What does a carnal Christian bring to my church? Head count? O BOY! Nothing. What does a saved person who doesn't make an attempt at learning bring to my church? Hmmm... that's right nothing. In fact it takes away. We are told not make our brothers fall, not to be a stumbling block. If one saw one of these types of people at a church, for example a child, or a lost person. They would most likely assume that said person is a Christian. Now, the ignorance of what it means to be Christian amongst the saved in mind, think about what a lost person knows about what it means to be saved. Okay, that in mind say this observer of our "Christian" sees the person the next evening going into a strip club. What would that say to you? Or to a youth? Personally, these type of people upset me and make me sick at heart. What would this say to someone who is newly saved and trying to learn, but still doesn't know much about it? You can guess right?
Guess what the devil is... a stumbling block!
Now, I have seen this before, but not more than two or three times in a 15 year period. When one goes to be saved, the pastor or deacon or some such person asks said person if they truly know what it means to accept forgiveness, and what it means to be a Christian. They tell them some things that maybe said person didn't know, and then asks said person if they are sure they are ready to be saved, maybe asks them to think it over. To me, this is a wondrous idea.
Several things are important to know when you are a Christian. You need to know what it means to be saved. You need to know who and how God is. You need to follow the teachings.
My point is this, we need to pay more attention to what is taught and who makes up the body of our church. I hope you get what I'm saying.
Now, I'm going to stop now, because I'm thinking to quickly, so I need to let my thoughts settle for a moment.
Let's discuss.