What happens if you don't change?

SUNSTONE · Jun 19, 2010

What happens when Christians don't change?
Like, if a Christian watches too much tv, or goes online too much, what happens if they don't change?

What happens when a Christian eats too much food, especially unhealthy food, and they don't take care of themselves with proper diet and excercise, what happens?

What happens when a Christian simply reads the bible, but other than excepting the free gift of salvation, they rarely do what the bible says, what happens?

Shizzle · Jun 19, 2010

the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
God has all of heaven for you. Not when you die, but HERE on EARTH, it is your inheritance NOW.
Would someone really want to give that up?

pdudgeon · Jun 19, 2010

SUNSTONE said:
What happens when Christians don't change?
Like, if a Christian watches too much tv, or goes online too much, what happens if they don't change?

What happens when a Christian eats too much food, especially unhealthy food, and they don't take care of themselves with proper diet and excercise, what happens?

What happens when a Christian simply reads the bible, but other than excepting the free gift of salvation, they rarely do what the bible says, what happens?

the same thing that happened to the 5 foolish bridesmaids. When the Bridegroom came, they had no oil in their lamps with which to greet him. they had to go into town and buy oil. Meanwhile the Bridegroom and the 5 wise bridesmaids went into the house and shut the door on them.

the lesson here is to be ready and waiting, expecting Jesus' return. Keep your lamp filled with oil and lit so that it can shine light. For though He may be delayed, He shall surely come!

DrFrank · Jun 19, 2010

If this is all that you're doing wrong,"watches too much tv, or goes online too much, eats too much food, especially unhealthy food, and they don't take care of themselves with proper diet and exercise" ,I think you're doing really well compared to the menu of serious sins that most Christians chose from on a regular basis.

But this one,"a Christian simply reads the bible, but other than excepting the free gift of salvation, they rarely do what the bible says" ugh,all hell can open up then .

Matthew 24:50-51 (New King James Version)

50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the HYPOCRITES. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

INSIGHT:The only times Jesus ever displayed anger was when He encountered hypocrites. :o

For those are thinking of leaving their church because of a lack of superior Christian behavior,teaching and support;ADVICE:GO NOW! :clap:

SUNSTONE · Jun 19, 2010

These are interesting answers.
But they all have one thing in common, they are selfish answers.

The truth is, if Christians don't change, people will suffer and die before their time.
I'm not talking about Christians that doesn't change(thou they will suffer the same fate), I'm talking about the people they could be helping.

When Christians stop living selfish lives and start living like Jesus, they make a positive difference in the lives around them.
There is no better way to witness to someone, than to help them out and then talk to them about how Jesus helped change their life.
And this will lead to way more people converting, and this will lead to even more people making a positive difference in other people's lives.

It's a chain reaction, and if it's done right by the body of Christ, the results will be even bigger than what Jesus did, and He told us this in His word.

jeolmstead · Jun 20, 2010

Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?

( like eating all the right food, and giving up TV)

And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!

millerrod2 · Jun 20, 2010

The refection of who we are and who we serve on the outside is a reflection of who we are and who we serve on the inside. As who we are and who we serve changes on the inside the reflection of who we are and who we serve changes on the outside as well. If the reflection seen on the outside has not changed the refection on the inside has not changed either. [ heart condition ]
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31008790&l=c0d76a056f&id=1243747257

Tobias · Jun 20, 2010

If we think the World God made is a big mistake, or that Satan is succeeding in all his efforts to thwart the will of God, then I suppose it does make sense that nothing spiritual happens to us or comes about through us simply living our physical lives. Every bit of spiritual virtue comes at a price, through warfare and struggle, and if we don't happen to apply our energies in just the right fashion even then it turns out to all be in vain.

But if we realize that God is indeed powerful, and still in control, then there is no reason to think that lessons God wishes to teach us do not come through our daily existence. If we are intended to come to Him as little children, taking no thought for tomorrow as to what we will eat and drink, then we can trust that He can also teach us what we need to know through our basic obedience to His Word.

God is a Father, who protects us and sends us to the right places to be trained, fed, clothed, and protected. If we expect to be treated as orphans, fighting tooth and nail for every bit of our existence, then we show our lack of faith in His promise.

Strong in Him · Jun 20, 2010

SUNSTONE said:
What happens when Christians don't change?
Like, if a Christian watches too much tv, or goes online too much, what happens if they don't change?

How do you define "too much"?

If the Lord tells me I am watching too much tv, that it is becoming a god/idol and consuming too much of my time, and if I tell him that I am serious about following him but refuse to hear what he is telling me; then, from experience, he will either keep confronting me with the issue til I listen and surrender to his Lordship, or he will find ways of keeping me so busy, happy and fulfilled that I no longer have time to watch it so much, and in time I will realise that I don't miss it and can do without it.

Ditto being online. Though in both cases, I may just need to be more discerning about the types of programmes I watch/sites I log on to.

SUNSTONE said:
What happens when a Christian eats too much food, especially unhealthy food, and they don't take care of themselves with proper diet and excercise, what happens?

Again, define "too much" food. What is more than enough for one person, may be only a small portion for another.

If I regularly take in more calories than I am burning off, I will put on weight. If my diet were to consist of a large amount of junk food, I may become unhealthy/fat/anaemic.
If that were to happen, my dosctor might well tell me that I was heading for trouble. If I refused to listen and developed weight-related health problems, I would suffer and would probably have only myself to blame if I did myself some long term damage.

SUNSTONE said:
What happens when a Christian simply reads the bible, but other than excepting the free gift of salvation, they rarely do what the bible says, what happens?

Well it depends what you mean by "do what the Bible says".

It seems from some of your former posts that you believe that all Christians should live simply/in faith and go to help the poor.
But that's not correct. What the Bible teaches is that God calls all believers to serve and follow him; that he gives us gifts to build upp the church and do the things he has called us to do. Ephesians says that we were created to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph 2:10).
So what we all need to do is discover what gifts we have been given, for what purpose, and who and where we are to serve. Some Christians will have a ministry among the poor, others will have a ministry among the rich or middle class. Some will be called to work among the elderly, children, the mentally ill, others will be called to witness to managers in the city.
The Christian who has lots of money and is called to that group of people, should not feel guilty for not working in third world countries; those called to do the latter, should not be scornful or critical of those called to the former.

If I have been called to serve as a teacher/nurse/pastoral worker/plumber/scientist/librarian or whatever, and I KNOW that I have, but I decide to go off and witness to people in Germany or work among the poor in India - even though these are worhwhile vocations, I am still being disobedient to God.

If we are saved, declare Jesus as Lord but do nothing to show our faith - then others will not be able to see our faith in action, and may well question it.

gratefulgrace · Jun 20, 2010

millerrod2 said:
The refection of who we are and who we serve on the outside is a reflection of who we are and who we serve on the inside. As who we are and who we serve changes on the inside the reflection of who we are and who we serve changes on the outside as well. If the reflection seen on the outside has not changed the refection on the inside has not changed either. [ heart condition ]
Rod Miller's Photos | Facebook

Absolutely.

gratefulgrace · Jun 20, 2010

Tobias said:
If we think the World God made is a big mistake, or that Satan is succeeding in all his efforts to thwart the will of God, then I suppose it does make sense that nothing spiritual happens to us or comes about through us simply living our physical lives. Every bit of spiritual virtue comes at a price, through warfare and struggle, and if we don't happen to apply our energies in just the right fashion even then it turns out to all be in vain.

But if we realize that God is indeed powerful, and still in control, then there is no reason to think that lessons God wishes to teach us do not come through our daily existence. If we are intended to come to Him as little children, taking no thought for tomorrow as to what we will eat and drink, then we can trust that He can also teach us what we need to know through our basic obedience to His Word.

God is a Father, who protects us and sends us to the right places to be trained, fed, clothed, and protected. If we expect to be treated as orphans, fighting tooth and nail for every bit of our existence, then we show our lack of faith in His promise.[/quote]

AMEN

Alpine · Jun 20, 2010

God loves you. Even if you watch tv or eat a twinkie for breakfast.

probinson · Jun 20, 2010

Alpine said:
God loves you. Even if you watch tv or eat a twinkie for breakfast.

Put that on a bumper sticker, and you'll be set for life!

Strong in Him · Jun 21, 2010

Alpine said:
God loves you. Even if you watch tv or eat a twinkie for breakfast.

(What's a twinkie?)

FoundInGrace · Jun 21, 2010

I think if you truely have been called by Christ you wont be able to not change or not try to.. you'll get so uncomfortable you will have to do something at some point.

God loves us as we are yes absolutely but God also loves us too much to leave us as we are, and as His children we will always hopefully have a part of us that does want to change if that pleases Him because of everything He has done for us.

The Bible says it is God who works in us to will and to act

We can ask God to change us to want to change and start there

Alpine · Jun 21, 2010

Strong in Him said:
(What's a twinkie?)

ydouxist · Jun 21, 2010

SUNSTONE said:
These are interesting answers.
But they all have one thing in common, they are selfish answers.

The truth is, if Christians don't change, people will suffer and die before their time.
I'm not talking about Christians that doesn't change(thou they will suffer the same fate), I'm talking about the people they could be helping.

When Christians stop living selfish lives and start living like Jesus, they make a positive difference in the lives around them.
There is no better way to witness to someone, than to help them out and then talk to them about how Jesus helped change their life.
And this will lead to way more people converting, and this will lead to even more people making a positive difference in other people's lives.

It's a chain reaction, and if it's done right by the body of Christ, the results will be even bigger than what Jesus did, and He told us this in His word.

We WILL ALL fall short of our potential in Christ. Guilt, Shame, and Condemnation are powerful weapons the enemy uses against believers.
If you blow an opportunity God gives you, ask Him for another one.
The salvation of the world doesn't depend on my being available for God to get the job done. In Revelation 14 an angel proclaims "The Eternal Gospel" to EVERY tribe, nation, and tongue.

It will be preached regardless. Christ died for the lost. I didn't. He just included me in his plan to get it done.

Strong in Him · Jun 21, 2010

Alpine said:

Ok, thanks. But I think I'll stick with Cornflakes.

Was that marshmallow in the middle?

he4rty · Jun 21, 2010

I think if we have encoutered God, change is imminent, But here I feel is the problem.

God will change you from the inside, even if no physical evidence is showing that you are being changed, eventually it will show through.

Whereas the church sometimes only seems interested in changing what is on the outside, they want you to conform to how they believe a christian should act and behave but fail to change the inside.

I'm sure as Christians as well, we a guilty of trying to change our outward appearence to conform with how we see others in our circle act and behave.

But if only the outside has been changed then all our old problems and worries will soon reamerge and we will soon fail, possibly we will go running to look for the next Idea of what to change, new hair.

so although no physical evidence is possibly showing, all should change, but we should allow God to change us from within. As fellow brothers and sisters in Christ then we need to be tolerant and compassionate to these things and not try to force a make over on someone who is not ready for it and could possibly lead them to fall.

Just my thoughts.

Presbyterian Continuist · Jun 22, 2010

If a person is truly converted to Christ, the person will start on a journey of progressive sanctification where they will gradually grow in grace and the knowledge of God. They will become more and more Christlike as they go on in their Christian lives.

If a person does not show the fruit of that progressive sanctification, there can be doubts whether that person is truly converted in the first place. A truly converted person will go on for God; the Holy Spirit will make sure of that.

The ones that say "Lord, Lord" and not do what the Lord says are not Christian believers. They may say they are "christian" but no truly born again believer will be cast away from the presence of God. Jesus said that whoever comes to Him He will in no wise cast out (John 6:37). This is solid proof that true born again believers will persevere to the end and obtain their salvation.

We have such easy believerism in the church that anyone can say they are Christian and appear very convincing. Man looks on the outward appearance But God see their hearts (1 Samuel 16:7), and they will not fool Him.

To imply that born again Christians can be lost, is to say that God cannot fulfill His promises. He said that none shall pluck them out of his hand (John 10:28). This means that the Holy Spirit will keep them in the faith and will not let them go.

Some have criticised Calvinists as believing that once a person is saved they can do what they like and still get to heaven. Nothing is further from the truth. John Calvin taught that sanctification is essential to a person being finally saved. He taught that Justification by faith and progressive sanctification are the hall marks of true believers. He maintained that if people called themselves Christian and do not show evidence of progressive sanctification, they were not Christian at all, but unregenerate sinners posing as Christians.

So, a gradual change toward being more Christlike each day is evidence that a person is truly converted to Christ. No evidence of change is an indication that the person is still unconverted and needs to come to Christ.

What happens if you don't change?

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