Are You *Really* Christians?

[Gregory Thompson]

Agreed! And this goes far above monetary offerings. How many of us can say we truly live both parts of the pure and undefiled religion James speaks of?

Oh you mean the part where he says if you're made poor, this is considered a promotion?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? (James 2:5)

 

[Ben Leevey]

Oh you mean the part where he says if you're made poor, this is considered a promotion?

No.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27

 

[Gregory Thompson]

No.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27

To keep oneself unstained from the world, what do you gather this means?

 

[Ben Leevey]

To keep oneself unstained from the world, what do you gather this means?

This message expresses some of it:

Are You *Really* Christians?

In light of this video, how would you answer the question in the title of this post?

www.christianforums.com

 

[Ben Leevey]

To keep oneself unstained from the world, what do you gather this means?

Oops, wrong one: Are You *Really* Christians?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Oops, wrong one: Are You *Really* Christians?

Thank you, this answers my question.

In context of the letter of James, keeping oneself unstained from the world first involves not showing favoritism.

Second, it involves applying what God taught you, most specific to the context: Helping those in need.

Third, it involves having a living faith, that continues from day to day. One does not simply "faith" one day, and receive a hall pass for the pearly gates. The righteous live by faith and that faith helps others.

 

[ozso]

It depends whether it's true or not. And I don't think I've used the word dishonest.

Saying "I haven't seen many honest questions" is calling someone dishonest.

 

[ozso]

I'm going to make a bit of a statement. If anyone has honest concerns, I will gladly speak with them! But a lot of this has been going on:

"We compromise and shuffle and make excuses... we pare down truth, or palliate error, or extenuate sin"

I'm not going to answer the sarcasm and needling anymore:

"Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself." Proverbs 26:4

Now you're calling others in this thread fools.

 

[ozso]

Yes! You should research it. It's not unusual.

You mean like:

Why were houses so big in the 1800s?

Houses in the 1800s were often large because of the social norms of the time, where large homes signified wealth and status, combined with the practical need for ample space to accommodate large families, live-in servants, and the lack of readily available outside services like restaurants or hospitals, meaning homes needed to function as multi-purpose spaces for work, entertainment, and living all within one building; this was especially true for the upper class who could afford to build large homes.

Do you really think the butcher, baker and candlestick maker lived in such homes?

 

[Paul4JC]

The Jews, Pharisees, and Sadducees thought they were "Christians" too.

 

[Jeff Carr]

Keep the Faith Ben! Don't be put off by distractors.

 

[Ben Leevey]

The Jews, Pharisees, and Sadducees thought they were "Christians" too.

Yes. They thought they where fine.

 

[Ben Leevey]

Keep the Faith Ben! Don't be put off by distractors.

Thank you friend.

 

[Jeff Carr]

Ben , what you are saying rings true here in Australia. I am reminded of a saying by Vance Havner, 'the average Christian is such that you have to backslide to have fellowship with him'.
Most of the churches are liberal here and any evangelical ones have given themselves over to entertainment rather than worship. Where once we had Bibles and hymn books to worship, now we have flashing lights and smoke machines!
As for Gospel preaching, it is all cheap grace and easy believeism. No preaching on repentance or holiness.
It is hard not to believe we are in the Last Days.
Peace
Jeffrey

 

[Joseph G]

To keep oneself unstained from the world, what do you gather this means?

Toss the TV, ungodly music, video games, trashy novels, ect into the dumpster. Read the Bible and pray every day, church and fellowship with Spirit-filled fellow Ambassadors, listen to Christian worship music, ect - and exit out into the world praying for the Spirit to send you to the next person He leads you to bless - planting seeds, leading to Christ, feeding, clothing, visiting, or just being kind in order to establish trust - however the Spirit uniquely leads one for each situation.

Or whatever mission work one is called to do and with however much time one has to devote to it.

One will find they have a busy enough life filled only with the influence of the Holy Spirit - and true joy from obedience to observing Christ's two greatest commandments as their chief aim for each day.

That is how to live a life unstained from the world. Too radical? Well it sure worked for Christians for 2000 years before the inventions came along with which the world could entertain itself to death with. And Christians to compromise with to the point of utter unfruitfulness for the sake of growing the Kingdom of God.

Just my two cents from a Christian who frittered away decades in compromise with the world. Don't reach my age bearing such regrets brothers and sisters!

God bless!

 

[Ben Leevey]

Ben , what you are saying rings true here in Australia. I am reminded of a saying by Vance Havner, 'the average Christian is such that you have to backslide to have fellowship with him'.
Most of the churches are liberal here and any evangelical ones have given themselves over to entertainment rather than worship. Where once we had Bibles and hymn books to worship, now we have flashing lights and smoke machines!
As for Gospel preaching, it is all cheap grace and easy believeism. No preaching on repentance or holiness.
It is hard not to believe we are in the Last Days.
Peace
Jeffrey

Amen brother! Thank you for your speech! Praise the LORD that there is a brother who takes these things seriously. Christians are a lot sparser than one would think.

 

[Ben Leevey]

Toss the TV, ungodly music, video games, trashy novels, ect into the dumpster. Read the Bible and pray every day, church and fellowship with Spirit-filled fellow Ambassadors, listen to Christian worship music, ect - and exit out into the world praying for the Spirit to send you to the next person He leads you to bless - planting seeds, leading to Christ, feeding, clothing, visiting, or just being kind in order to establish trust - however the Spirit uniquely leads one for each situation.

Or whatever mission work one is called to do and with however much time one has to devote to it.

One will find they have a busy enough life filled only with the influence of the Holy Spirit - and true joy from obedience to observing Christ's two greatest commandments as their chief aim for each day.

That is how to live a life unstained from the world. Too radical? Well it sure worked for Christians for 2000 years before the inventions came along with which the world could entertain itself to death with. And Christians to compromise with to the point of utter unfruitfulness for the sake of growing the Kingdom of God.

Just my two cents from a Christian who frittered away decades in compromise with the world. Don't reach my age bearing such regrets brothers and sisters!

God bless!

Wow brother! Praise the LORD for His work!

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Toss the TV, ungodly music, video games, trashy novels, ect into the dumpster. Read the Bible and pray every day, church and fellowship with Spirit-filled fellow Ambassadors, listen to Christian worship music, ect - and exit out into the world praying for the Spirit to send you to the next person He leads you to bless - planting seeds, leading to Christ, feeding, clothing, visiting, or just being kind in order to establish trust - however the Spirit uniquely leads one for each situation.

Or whatever mission work one is called to do and with however much time one has to devote to it.

One will find they have a busy enough life filled only with the influence of the Holy Spirit - and true joy from obedience to observing Christ's two greatest commandments as their chief aim for each day.

That is how to live a life unstained from the world. Too radical? Well it sure worked for Christians for 2000 years before the inventions came along with which the world could entertain itself to death with. And Christians to compromise with to the point of utter unfruitfulness for the sake of growing the Kingdom of God.

Just my two cents from a Christian who frittered away decades in compromise with the world. Don't reach my age bearing such regrets brothers and sisters!

God bless!

Yeah, after the core personality is replaced, there's more to do.

 

[Ben Leevey]

Yeah, after the core personality is replaced, there's more to do.

Don't quite follow...

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Don't quite follow...

Most people don't ...