Can I add to the list?
Re: the unsaved
1. Many of the "unsaved" have read the Bible. Many atheists will quote it, sometimes better than you. Many nonChristians were former Christians.
This video is Pastor listens to people who say they don't believe in God. What's different. She listens. She empathizes. Dhe doesn't get defenses when the atheist sas that when he looks at org religion, he sees division, or he sees people hiding behind the bible, whereas, he as an atheist can't, and so, has to answer for the way he treats others. Above all, thiugh, you can feel the love from this pastor. And look at the people talking to her. The were nervous, but now are engaged in a conversation, are listened to, are allowed to speak and voice their stand. She isn't judging them, threatening them with hell, acting self-righteous. That was the way of the Pharisees. She isn't quoting nor misquoting Scripture. Her objective is not to be right, to impose her will that they come to God, but to listen to their stories, and love them as herself.
2. Nobody like arrogance. I cringe every time some Christian says, "Well, if they don't want hear the messages, I'll just shake the dust off my feet, and be on my way. You had your chance!" Flips hair and storms off. Jesus didn'r tell us to shake the dust off your sandals to be haughty. It was more like saying, "Hey, if they don't want to listen, shake it off, let it go. Let the HS work."
Rarely, very, very rarely have I ever seen a Christian be very unsuccessful talking to others about the Gospel, then take it to God in prayer, and have the HS reveal if there is anything you are doing that pushes people away.
3. The "unsaved" don't sit around all day trying to think up evil to do every day. Most have very ordinary lives. Some atheists I have met are very kind. Others volunteer at food shelves or other places. In the same vein, just because you are a vocal Christian doesn't mean you are good. If you are a terrible person, you can find a religion that will excuse your behavior.
4. Most people know who Jesus is. Asking "Do you know Jesus?" is like asking if someone knows Allah, Zeus, ir Buddha.
5. The "unsaved" know what love is. Christians are to be known by their love. We aren't. Most people, when you say Christian, think of conservatives who claim the Earth is 6000 years old and deny science, are forgiven, but then turn around and harshly condemn others, believe their interpretation of the Bible is the only interpretation, their stance on issues is actually God's stance, and because they won't listen to anyone but God, they won't listen to the unsaved, and yet, demand to be listened to.
Most people understand what love is. Saved or unsaved, we have parents, friends, spouses. Most of us experience love, and Christ said Christians will be known for it.
But here are some things Christians don't know about themselves:
1. Rather than pray to God and ask if the person isn't known for their love because of their own thoughts, words and deeds, they blame the other. " People just don't know ir's love. It's tough love, like disciplining your child out of love." So, Jesus, at the last supper, said, "by this, all men will know you are my disciples, by the love you show one another - but they won't recognize it as love, so.:.never mind." Makes no sense. And what is this tough love? Name calling - Jesus called people vipers, dogs, and swine, so call a gay person a f*g, and be like Jesus. And you doing it with love, because you are trying yo discourage the person from homosexuality. You yell at people like they are about to go to hell. Grab a loud speaker, and say, "I'm here to talk to all you fornicators. I'm here to talk to all you drunkerds. I'm here to talk to all you hoooooomooooosexshals. . Repent from yer wicked way-sah. Or you burn in the lake of fire!!!"
This is easy. Want to know tough love is? Turning the other cheek rather than getting even. Offering more than is asked, and asking nothing in return. Not judging another person, and humbljng yourseld before another, admitting to yourself that even as a Christian, you sin from time to time. It's tough to forgive someone who doesn't deserve it, and show mercy. It's tough to empathize with another.
2. I recently heard a conservative on a podcast, saying one should not trust in their own reasoning, not listen to their heart because out is deceitful, and not trust their feelings. He only trusted in the Bible.
We may be arguing semantics, but "ny heart" is the HS within me. It's an inner compass. When I get into a fight and say something in anger, it's the gentle voice that says,"That was really mean spirited. You shouldn't have said that.
My feelings will make me feel remorse and guilt as I argue and try and justify my misconduct, even though deep down, I know I was wrong. I can use critical thinking, and understand that while slavery was in the Bible, ir's not loving one's neighbor. What was done to enslaved Africans, being not only enslaved and over worked, but whipoed, sexually abused, etc, was morally wrong, despite people using the bible to support it.
It does a huge disservice to tell people not to trust their gut, use their mind, or their inner guidanve, the law written on our hearts. The HS speaks with me when I pray, because I allow time of silence to listen. He responds usually as a thought, but can take any form, come out of the mouth of anyone.
This can't happen if we put God in the pages of a Bible and restrict him. If we honor the Bible, we will acknowkedge that it wasn't written in English, and if we don't take into account Who was speaking is speaking, to whom, why and the culture if the time. Most people don't. Then you can have an idea contrary to Scripture, and support it. Even Satan can quote Scripture.
I suppose I think of the Word of God as Jesus, as John begins his book, not Scripture that was written by men, translated by men, pre-printing press, was copied by hand, books added, books taken out, voted on, was all done perfectly, because are not perfect. What is perfect is the message that transcends the texts, that of love. As 1 Corinthians emphasizes, we can have the faith to move mountains, speak in tongues and perform miracles, but without love, we are of no use to Gid, and are nothing. Basically, we have missed the point of the Gospel if we don't understand that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.
3. Please think before speaking. I remember a woman, in trying to expkain why glbtq members could not teach, hold office, etc, by saying, "Would you want a member who is an active murderer to hold an office?" Uh, a serial killer? I don't want a serial killer anywhere on the streets. However, I don't see the parallel between one person taking away the life of another, and two people of the same sex having a relationship. A better comparison is: does your church ask heterosexual singles id they are sexually active, ie active fornicators. I doubt it, but at least there is a better comparison
5. Lastly, please reread about the Pharisees, and pray for guidance. Christ chastized those within the Temple - he called out Simon to judge himself as showing less love than the woman he judged who washed Jesus' feet witg her tears. He tells of an arrogant Pharisee who boasts before God, condemnjng the tax collector, who has humbled himself before God, and only the tax collector is honored. He tells them that they strain a gnat and swallow a camel, hung up on the pettiest of laws while ignoring love, mercy and justice. They used the law to burden others while excusing themselves.
This is how we are known. We acknowledge we are forgiven out of mercy, and rhen condemn others, judge others superficially. We refer to the unsaved as the world, call them evil, thinking ourselves good, often superior because we have chosen to follow Christ. The Pharisees refused to even acknowledge the sinners. I have been told by a number of people misusing Romans 1 that gay people are reprobate, and God has given up. They can't be saved. Some argue that one can't be actively in a gay relationship and have salvation, claiming it is a sin. If that is true, then Christ's sacrifice was for nothing, because all of us still sin. Sure, we may not try, but we sin daily. So, thst makes us actjve sinners, and therefore, none of is saved.
Jesus was very angry with these religious leaders who were guiding the people away from God. They liked the status. They liked being at the table in places of honor. They were revered as holy men, and Christ told them they were dead inside.
This is how those outside the church see us. And it would benefit us all to go to God in prayer and see if we are in error. Are we demonstrating the love of Jesus, or the harshness of the Pharisees? Are we humbling ourselves before nonbelievers, ackniwledging that we all deserve death, or do we think we somehow earned our way into heaven? Do we demand other people "earn" their wau in by not sinning, if we sin ourselves? Do you speak of the New Covenant in Christ, or impose Old Testament Law on others, but not ourselves? Do we seek God on a matters in prayer, and listen, or claim to seek God in the Bible where we must make our own conclusions, thus relying on our own ego? Are we out on the street talking to atheists and listening, and building bridges, or do we take everything personally, get defensive, and deep down, love to be proven right to feed out ego?
I'm very long winded, but i believe yhe body of Christ currently has a 2x4 in their eye, focused on the speck of dust in their neighbor's eye. Your neighbor isn't repulsed because they are afraid of the truth. Because of the 2x4, not only can we not see well, but we could easily poke out someone's eye.
Food for thought
