Authentic Christianity - what would it look like?

[Steve Scruggs]

I oftentimes ponder what life would look like if Christians truly loved each other. Looked out for one another. Helped one another. Shouldered the burdens of one another.

They will know you by your love...one for another.

As Christians, we are supposed to be a family. Closer than blood relatives.

Anyone who loves their mother, or their brother more than Me is not worthy of Me.

In the early church - it was communal living. It had to be - many of them had given all they had to the church. They interacted daily in different ways. They had dinner together.

I give you a new commandment - that you love one another.

Jesus loved "the little guy". The cripples. The lepers. The tax collector. All the people that make you disgusted. Those were his favorites. He spoke so much about them...and so lovingly. There are a lot of those types of people nowadays. Jails. Homeless Shelters. Inner cities. AA meetings.

Did you know that he told a story about what His judgment was going to be like for you and me. He said He was going to separate people into 2 groups. Those that showed genuine love and compassion for "the little guy" - and those that didn't. I think we all know what happens to those who didn't...eternal damnation.

He talked about the need for us to ensure we help those that have no food, or anything to drink...or wear...or were in prison. Of course that wasn't an exhaustive list of the types of people we should help - just enough examples to make the point clearly. And He was referring to Christians when he said "My brothers".

What you did for the least of these my brothers - you did for Me.

The best way to measure the spiritual health of a church is to observe how they treat "the least amongst them". What does the life of the people at the bottom of the totem pole at the church look like?

Actually - I was just being polite when I said "a church". What I really meant was...you. How are you doing in this regard? When you stand before Jesus in judgment - which group is He going to tell you to get into?

Seems like an important point...and from what I can gather when I look around the world nowadays...I think the crowd of goats is going to be much bigger than we realize...

There is no greater love than that a man would lay down his life for a friend.

Imagine a body of believers that took those teachings to heart...and applied them. That church would shine brightly.

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

And that, ladies and gentlemen - is what I think authentic Christianity looks like.

Any of you know of a church like that?

 

[Southernscotty]

Welcome Brother Steve. May you be blessed here and make many new friends :]

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

I am one of the least of these....at the back of the line...always the underdog...so there you go. I do not think any visible Church community fully represents authentic Christianity in the way you describe, but carry on we must, and that by the tender mercies and grace of God.

 

[Southernscotty]

I really wish you could visit my church. We have mentally disabled, inmates, prostitutes, drug addicts, Homos, very poor people and all of them are loved to pieces. :]
Everyone voluntarily gives money as they wish. I do not pass an offering plate or get paid. We have a little box on a desk and the money people give out of a cheerful heart goes to buy diapers and food and clothes and medicine and such for needy people. Or we buy inmates and nursing home residents things they need. We never have much, but God always seems to make sure that we have just enough.
The main thing we have to offer is great love. :]

 

[Steve Scruggs]

I would like to visit your church. It sounds like what I am describing.

When can I come? Address? Website?

I really wish you could visit my church. We have mentally disabled, inmates, prostitutes, drug addicts, Homos, very poor people and all of them are loved to pieces. :]
Everyone voluntarily gives money as they wish. I do not pass an offering plate or get paid. We have a little box on a desk and the money people give out of a cheerful heart goes to buy diapers and food and clothes and medicine and such for needy people. Or we buy inmates and nursing home residents things they need. We never have much, but God always seems to make sure that we have just enough.
The main thing we have to offer is great love. :]

 

[Southernscotty]

I would like to visit your church. It sounds like what I am describing.

When can I come? Address? Website?

Any Sunday you wish Brother :] We do not have a Website yet but hope one day the Lord will bless us with one. We are a very small church in Ar. I will PM you.

 

[Steve Scruggs]

I am one of the least of these....at the back of the line...always the underdog...so there you go. I do not think any visible Church community fully represents authentic Christianity in the way you describe, but carry on we must, and that by the tender mercies and grace of God.

Fully represents? Yeah - probably not gonna find that. But I have faith that there are some that try...
None of us are perfect...and we are all gonna miss the mark in various ways (or in all ways even)...but we should at least be able to agree on how its supposed to look like. And encourage each other to strive for those ideals. Those beautiful ideals that represent the pure heart of Christ.

I am looking for one myself - maybe in my travels I can find one for you too...

 

[Halbhh]

I oftentimes ponder what life would look like if Christians truly loved each other. Looked out for one another. Helped one another. Shouldered the burdens of one another.

They will know you by your love...one for another.

As Christians, we are supposed to be a family. Closer than blood relatives.

Anyone who loves their mother, or their brother more than Me is not worthy of Me.

In the early church - it was communal living. It had to be - many of them had given all they had to the church. They interacted daily in different ways. They had dinner together.

I give you a new commandment - that you love one another.

Jesus loved "the little guy". The cripples. The lepers. The tax collector. All the people that make you disgusted. Those were his favorites. He spoke so much about them...and so lovingly. There are a lot of those types of people nowadays. Jails. Homeless Shelters. Inner cities. AA meetings.

Did you know that he told a story about what His judgment was going to be like for you and me. He said He was going to separate people into 2 groups. Those that showed genuine love and compassion for "the little guy" - and those that didn't. I think we all know what happens to those who didn't...eternal damnation.

He talked about the need for us to ensure we help those that have no food, or anything to drink...or wear...or were in prison. Of course that wasn't an exhaustive list of the types of people we should help - just enough examples to make the point clearly. And He was referring to Christians when he said "My brothers".

What you did for the least of these my brothers - you did for Me.

The best way to measure the spiritual health of a church is to observe how they treat "the least amongst them". What does the life of the people at the bottom of the totem pole at the church look like?

Actually - I was just being polite when I said "a church". What I really meant was...you. How are you doing in this regard? When you stand before Jesus in judgment - which group is He going to tell you to get into?

Seems like an important point...and from what I can gather when I look around the world nowadays...I think the crowd of goats is going to be much bigger than we realize...

There is no greater love than that a man would lay down his life for a friend.

Imagine a body of believers that took those teachings to heart...and applied them. That church would shine brightly.

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

And that, ladies and gentlemen - is what I think authentic Christianity looks like.

Any of you know of a church like that?

The first church, in Acts, the believers were all sharing with each other. We can do this inside our own churches with any in need, such as during illness or job loss or other need situations, and are instructed to, and actually it's likely that a fair number of churches are indeed doing so fairly well. I'd guess in any city with many churches there will be such going on.