Here's how "Christians" are hypocrites!

[drjean]

I have been vocal/ posted/ etc.
The posts/ threads get deleted on forums. Sometimes I get banned.
In churches sometimes I get kicked out.
Most truth seekers get banned and kicked out, btw. The truth is not welcome anywhere practically. Even worse, where people hoped to find the truth, or a safe-haven, a safe place, they are hurt worse.

I think the line comes in as "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH" for most of those pretenders?

I LOVE the idea of asking them to share Christ (to prove they are a Christian)... but most real believers have never put together their salvation experience into "words" if you know what I mean. That's what EE (Evangelism Explosion) and other witnessing programs help with--the HOW TO of sharing your own conversion experiences.

So we are back to the Evangelical hypocrite aspect of this list? HOW can you call yourself an evangelical if you don't even share your own salvation experience? Okay, let's say a person is a real believer but doesn't share. Take 10 minutes and write out your experience. As time goes on you will refine it and make it really good...but just what was the situation when you met Jesus?

This isn't my whole testimony as I wrote for EE but here are My own basics : I had grown up in a Christian family (dysfunctional though and we went to church every Sunday until I was 10. I learned countless Bible verses and became a member of that church...but something was missing. As a young child I felt this hole in my heart and I was looking for God to fill it! I wanted to find God! Even after the family quit that church, I begged mom to take me to a new church a few blocks away. We went a few times but I didn't find God there.

Then, as a teenager. I had someone yelling at me on the phone. A Christian teenager was condemning me, telling me I wasn't a Christian and I knew nothing about God, and who did I think I was and that I was going to hell!

I hung up the phone and ran to my room, fell upon my knees and sobbing and asking forgiveness, I met Jesus! God had found ME! Such peace came over me, I fell into bed and slept. The next morning, I sensed that hole in my heart was filled! I've had that peace that passes all understanding ever since. Would you like to know that peace too?

 

[faroukfarouk]

@Hearingheart You know I can't say how strongly I do agree with you about the pitfalls of 'altar calls', which IMHO have done a lot of damage. In fact, if I knew there was going to be a BG Evangelistic Assoc.-style 'altar all' at a meeting, I would really hesitate to take a young person there.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

QUOTE="drjean, post: 72419377, member: 296474"]That IS what this thread is!
I didn't begin with a list in the OP but there IS a list we are going through!
IMO you cannot be a Christian if you are a hypocrite. I say this semantically because IF you ARE a true Christian that means you ARE like Jesus, not perfect but following Him to your best. If you are truly doing this, then your words and actions match. A hypocrite's words and actions don't match.[/QUOTE
YES ! Thanks be to YHVH HALLELUYAH !
Abide IN JESUS. STAY IN JESUS !

 

[drjean]

Have you all ever heard the phrase, "You might be the only Bible someone reads"?

OH such good comments, thank you for this. SO many threads on this, a Christian site, even in the "Christians only" section become really, um, may I used the term "snarky" (even though the acronym began snobbishly, it suits the attitude)?

We---everyone---have plenty of naysayers and people who do nothing but put others down or find anything they can to disagree... we need to come together, evaluate ourselves, each other in fellowship and become the best true Christians we can be! Jesus is returning SO very SOON ... can we each win just even one more person to Christ before He does???

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

was used as a mouthpiece to many.

Yes, a mouthpiece.
Someone would have to internet search to find out a mouthpiece for who, (and why).
What is usually thought by men is totaly wrong and contrary to God's Word.
In line is God's Word: whatever men exalt highly, God puts down as worthless.

 

[drjean]

Ok so back to the second issue. Faux evangelical Christians. Now that term "evangelical" has changed over the years from when I was in Bible College (ooooo 1972.....) but while it's more of a movement or maybe even it's own denomination now, basically this is what I think it is ( share if you have a different definition):


5 Beliefs That Set Evangelicals Apart From Other Christians


By Traci Schumacher |


1. They point to a specific, personal conversion experience in which they are "born again" or "saved." According to PrayerFoundation.com, "individuals (above an age of accountability) must personally trust in Jesus Christ for salvation."

2. Evangelical Christians believe in the Bible as God's inspired Word to humankind, perfect in truth in the original text. It is the "final authority in all matters of doctrine and faith — above all human authority," according to EvangelicalBeliefs.com.

3. Evangelicals believe the work of Jesus on the cross, through his death and resurrection, is the only source of salvation and forgiveness of sins. PrayerFoundation.com makes it clear that salvation is through faith alone. People can do nothing to earn their way to heaven. Instead, as EvangelicalBeliefs.com points out, believers do "good works in grateful response to our pardon, not to cause it."

4. Evangelical Christians are strongly motivated to share the gospel either one-on-one or through organized missions. Emphasis is placed on the Great Commission's call to share with the world the Christian message of salvation through Christ, and to "be publicly baptized as a confession of faith," according to PrayerFoundation.com.

5. Most, though not all, evangelicals believe there will be a rapture in the end times where the church will be "caught up with Christ before the Great Tribulation, leaving nonbelievers behind to suffer on Earth," states the Pew Research Center. This idea has gained attention through the "Left Behind" book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, and the related movies.
5 Beliefs That Set Evangelicals Apart From Other Christians

 

[faroukfarouk]

Another thought.....someone who gives the appearance of being a hypocrite may just be fearful of not fitting in to a local body of believers and trying to mimic without having a foundation. There's a lot of fear in many churches.

Even young believers can often see through superficiality in other, more longstanding professing Christians.; this is why a wholesome environment of Acts 2.42 activities among motivated, humble fellow-believers is so important.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

can we each win just even one more person to Christ before He does???

As noted several times in this and other threads, yes, but not usually on a forum. (too many mixed motives, voices, errors and hypoctrites on forums at all levels).

 

[Jamminontha1]

I read a book called "Comfortable Christianity", which takes on a different twist as it examines the hypocrisy within the church and of those who DO read the Bible. Reading the word and following the word are two totally different concepts.

There's a difference between judging a brother or sister in Christ and lovingly correcting them. We still fail God. There's no such thing as a perfect Christian. If there was, we wouldn't need grace and mercy.

 

[Hearingheart]

@Hearingheart You know I can't say how strongly I do agree with you about the pitfalls of 'altar calls', which IMHO have done a lot of damage. In fact, if I knew there was going to be a BG Evangelistic Assoc.-style 'altar all' at a meeting, I would really hesitate to take a young person there.

That's how I accepted Jesus and I did it because of emotion and wanting to fit in but I didn't understand what I was doing. It wasn't until a couple of year later that I was given correct instruction about what it meant to be a Christian. I thank God for the leadership I was placed under, the mentoring and discipleship that was needed in order for me to see life through a different lense.

It's better to turn people away to think about the gravity of taking the Lord's name instead of being frivolous and taking His name in vain.

(Sigh) but it's easier and less messy to do a quicky alter call than to actually be involved and labor over a soul.

Thank you for your encouragement, Farouk.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

We still fail God. There's no such thing as a perfect Christian.

Read what Jesus says. He doesn't say this ^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[faroukfarouk]

That's how I accepted Jesus and I did it because of emotion and wanting to fit in but I didn't understand what I was doing. It wasn't until a couple of year later that I was given correct instruction about what it meant to be a Christian. I thank God for the leadership I was placed under, the mentoring and discipleship that was needed in order for me to see life through a different lense.

It's better to turn people away to think about the gravity of taking the Lord's name instead of being frivolous and taking His name in vain.

(Sigh) but it's easier and less messy to do a quicky alter call than to actually be involved and labor over a soul.

Thank you for your encouragement, Farouk.

On this issue, you and I are probably seasoned fellow travellers who have likely shared similar frustrations and heartaches observing decades of inadequate and damaging "evangelical" campaign methods. May the Lord strengthen His pilgrim people to find wise ways to handle the Word among those who are new to Christian things.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I read a book called "Comfortable Christianity", which takes on a different twist as it examines the hypocrisy within the church and of those who DO read the Bible. Reading the word and following the word are two totally different concepts.

There's a difference between judging a brother or sister in Christ and lovingly correcting them. We still fail God. There's no such thing as a perfect Christian. If there was, we wouldn't need grace and mercy.

Absolutely; reading and following the Word is a lifelong thing, by God's grace, and inconsistent Christian living does no credit.

 

[drjean]

I believe God's Word teaches us to GO OUT AND WIN THEM and THEN bring them into the fellowship of believers, right?

When did "Christians" stop winning others to Christ and leave it to the preacher only?

 

[faroukfarouk]

I believe God's Word teaches us to GO OUT AND WIN THEM and THEN bring them into the fellowship of believers, right?

When did "Christians" stop winning others to Christ and leave it to the preacher only?

In Acts 2.41-42 it's all about 'continuing steadfastly' together, prayerfully.

 

[Hearingheart]

I believe God's Word teaches us to GO OUT AND WIN THEM and THEN bring them into the fellowship of believers, right?

When did "Christians" stop winning others to Christ and leave it to the preacher only?

What exactly do you mean by "go out and win them"?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I believe God's Word teaches us to GO OUT AND WIN THEM and THEN bring them into the fellowship of believers, right?

When did "Christians" stop winning others to Christ and leave it to the preacher only?

True Christians never stopped testifying of JESUS and reconciling others to YHVH by the GOSPEL of JESUS, by their testimony AND the BLOOD OF THE LAMB, as YHVH says in His Word.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

What exactly do you mean by "go out and win them"?

When someone goes to the laundromat, or grocery store,
they either lead people who are destined for eternal life closer toward Jesus,
or away from Him. (those who are destined (by their own heart /choice) for eternal judgment always are opposed to Jesus) ....

There is no in-between.

 

[Hearingheart]

When someone goes to the laundromat, or grocery store,
they either lead people who are destined for eternal life closer toward Jesus,
or away from Him. (those who are destined (by their own heart /choice) for eternal judgment always are opposed to Jesus) ....

There is no in-between.

I wasn't asking you....the OP used the phrase, my question was directed to her. Thanks, anyway.

 

[drjean]

I believe that all Christians are to talk to others about Jesus! The gospel IS the issue!
Here's more of the study:

Evangelicals by belief are more diverse than self-identified evangelicals. Fifty-eight percent are white, 23 percent are African-American and 14 percent are Hispanic. Five percent claim another ethnicity.

By contrast, 70 percent of self-identified evangelicals are white. Fourteen percent are African-Americans. Twelve percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent claim another ethnicity.

AND here's the view on Jewish:

That 2013 study found that about 1.6 million Americans who have a Jewish parent or were raised Jewish say they are Christians. The recent Lifeway Research study suggests that a sizable number of this group have evangelical beliefs.

I wonder if there is a glitch in any survey... such as Catholics choosing to call themselves that rather than "Christian" if given the opportunity of choosing "other". Also, in this element, perhaps blacks and hispanics consider the term "evangelical" to be a "white" term or that the don't identify (in general now) with in that group yet might be Baptist who are evangelistic minded, for example?