I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.

[Jim B]

Look out there goes your mother in law a holy cow! Oh- please get off the oh- I love you trian and look at what was just said. YOU ARE WORSHIPING A COW! And look how blessed you are it just took a ---- in you living room. Lord he was a blind man with insight in the way's of men. I thank You that you saved him anyway!

Do you love Hindus, enoch? Or do just love to make fun of Hindus? God loves the people of India so much He gave His Son to suffer and die for them . . . so that they might have eternal life; not so that His followers could sit at their comfortable computers and ridicule their blindness or blame them because they walk in darkness.

We have the light, e. We are supposed to share the light, not hide it under a bushel.

Get a heart, man!!

Is it any wonder that the world is not saved?

\o/

 

[Andyman_1970]

Look out there goes your mother in law a holy cow! Oh- please get off the oh- I love you trian and look at what was just said. YOU ARE WORSHIPING A COW! And look how blessed you are it just took a ---- in you living room. Lord he was a blind man with insight in the way's of men. I thank You that you saved him anyway!

Just to clarify, when you are disrespectful to a person created in the image of God (which all humans are) you are ultimately disrespectful to God. Matt. 25:45 "Whatever you have not done for the least of these, you have not done for me."

 

[Mustaphile]

Look out there goes your mother in law a holy cow! Oh- please get off the oh- I love you trian and look at what was just said. YOU ARE WORSHIPING A COW! And look how blessed you are it just took a ---- in you living room. Lord he was a blind man with insight in the way's of men. I thank You that you saved him anyway!

Truely disturbing....

 

[Philip Babineaux]

i wonder if all 455 of your posts are directed and condeming God's people...

God has been challenging to no longer have such a huge gap between the intimacy I have with my Father and the intimacy I have with His people...

Gandhi had more of an impact than almost EVERY Christian I know... and He didn't have Christ... he just lived like him in some aspects... imagine what would happen if a Christian started living like Christ?! haha...

anyway, love you guys... yes... apparently I am on the I love you train... maybe one day that love will be like the Father's...

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Ok, we can admit that Christians should be more Christian.

But let's not stop there. It is very easy for non-christians to see what they want to see. Let us never forget that technically, according to scripture, all non-christians are of the anti-christ spirit, which hates believers, and cannot see the truth:

1Jo 2:21-23
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1Jo 4:2-3
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

I do not expect the anti-christ spirit to cheer us on. I fully expect the anti-christ spirit to search out every possible negative thing with which to accuse us and lead others away from the gospel. Why should we be surprised by this?

 

[enoch son]

Romans 1-22=23 " Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptile God for and image in the form of corruptible man and birds and FOUR-FOOTED ANIMALS and crawling creatures." Next vers, I'm sure you don't want to read.
"Truly distrubing"

 

[kidsminister]

Ok, we can admit that Christians should be more Christian.

But let's not stop there. It is very easy for non-christians to see what they want to see. Let us never forget that technically, according to scripture, all non-christians are of the anti-christ spirit, which hates believers, and cannot see the truth:

1Jo 2:21-23
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1Jo 4:2-3
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

I do not expect the anti-christ spirit to cheer us on. I fully expect the anti-christ spirit to search out every possible negative thing with which to accuse us and lead others away from the gospel. Why should we be surprised by this?

I think that these verses are sometimes used as a cop-out, though. Not saying that you're using them that way, but I have seen way too many Christians act like self-righteous jerks and then when "worldly" people call them on it, say that they are being persecuted for righteousness' sake and that Jesus said the world would hate us for our message.

Yes, persecution abounds. Yes, we are aliens and strangers in this world. But as much as Jesus said the world would hate us, he also said they'd know we are His disciples by our love for each other. He told us to let our light shine that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

If people are going to be offended by us as Christians, let's hope and pray that they are offended by our message and not our lack of character!!!

 

[Svt4Him]

They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love



[size=-1]written by Peter Scholtes[/size]
[size=-1]additional words and music by Carolyn Arends[/size]

[size=-1]This hymn is over 30 years old, but it could have been written this morning. I love what it says: we'll be recognized as Christians -- true disciples of Jesus -- not by our rhetoric or our politics or even the soundness of our theology, but by our love.[/size]

[size=-1]We used the aptly-named "Love Sponge Strings" on this track -- fulfilling my long-time dream of working with a string ensemble. They did not disappoint.[/size]

[size=-1]We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord[/size]
[size=-1]We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord[/size]
[size=-1]And we pray that all unity may one day be restored[/size]
[size=-1]And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love[/size]
[size=-1]They will know we are Christians by our love[/size]

[size=-1]We will work with each other, we will work side by side[/size]
[size=-1]We will work with each other, we will work side by side[/size]
[size=-1]And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride[/size]
[size=-1]And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love[/size]
[size=-1]They will know we are Christians by our love[/size]

[size=-1]By our love, by our love[/size]

[size=-1]And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love[/size]
[size=-1]They will know we are Christians by our love[/size]

[size=-1]We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand[/size]
[size=-1]We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand[/size]
[size=-1]And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land[/size]
[size=-1]And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love[/size]
[size=-1]They will know we are Christians by our love[/size]

[size=-1]By our love, by our love[/size]

[size=-1]And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love[/size]
[size=-1]They will know we are Christians by our love[/size]

[size=-1]Love is patient, love is kind[/size]
[size=-1]Never boasts, not full of pride[/size]
[size=-1]Always hopes, always trusts[/size]
[size=-1]The evidence of Christ in us[/size] [size=-1]This is my commandment that you love one another that your joy may be full[/size]

 

[Trish1947]

I wonder if this is the kind of loving attitude Mr. G met in South Africa?

\o/

If I met Gandhi, I would tell him, lets get down to some serious belief here in a God that cares about these people. I'd feed them, not give them this pie in the sky, I'm here to tell you the truth, eat your cows, for you have a savior.!!! The no bones Gospel.

 

[Jim B]

If I met Gandhi, I would tell him, lets get down to some serious belief here in a God that cares about these people. I'd feed them, not give them this pie in the sky, I'm here to tell you the truth, eat your cows, for you have a savior.!!! The no bones Gospel.

And I am sure you would feel better.

But you’d only alienate him further from Christ. Jesus could have called the woman He met at the Samaritan well a harlot because of the way she lived. But he used tact and gentleness. You might take some lessons from Him.

Paul did ...

"Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ," 2 Cor 10.1

Your approach to evangelism leaves a lot to be desired.

\o/

 

[Trish1947]

Your approach to evangelism leaves a lot to be desired.

Thats was gentle for me.. You should have seen what I was like before I became a Christian. I didn't [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] foot around then, and I dont now. Maybe I'm missing a fruit or something? LOL. Been preaching for 28 years that way. Might say pretty sucessful at it too. But everyone has a different personality. If they dont want to hear the truth, they shouldn't ask me.

 

[Jim B]

Thats was gentle for me.. You should have seen what I was like before I became a Christian. I didn't [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] foot around then, and I dont now. Maybe I'm missing a fruit or something? LOL. Been preaching for 28 years that way. Might say pretty sucessful at it too. But everyone has a different personality. If they dont want to hear the truth, they shouldn't ask me.

Me? I'm a panty waist.

But you are right, we all have to work with the tools God gave us. Just don't forget sinners sin ... that's what they do!! I am not so sure moralizing at them about their sinful acts (their natural behavior) is the most effective way to win their ear. It's their hearts that need changed.

But, hey, that's just my sissyboy approach to soulwinning.

Jim
\o/

 

[PottersClay]

I believe the statement Jim B posted should have provoked some self-searching instead it made some defensive.

I was thinking the same thing. Instead of allowing his statement to probe our heart, and compel us to be more Christlike (or at least cry out to be more Christlike) this thread has demonstrated the very truth it started out with.

I am very sad to also echo the sentiment "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Utterly tragic.

Lord have mercy on us and break our hearts as Your is broken

 

[Trish1947]

Jesus was pretty plain about what he said. He did not [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] foot around when it came to telling us what we are. Sinners, And unless you repent you will perish. Thats pretty straight forward isnt it? Of course he did this in love. I can very easily tell a person like Gandhi in love of coarse thats it's fine to eat his cows, because he has a savior. I'm just not a your o.k. I'm o.k. person I guess. If I do that, then they get the impression from me that they dont have to do anything about their life. Isn't that love?

 

[PottersClay]

The bottom line is this: We are told they (the world) would know we are Christians by our love. That love will be obvious.

Yes, Jesus, in love, said some very hard things, but there was never any question that loved being conveyed.

We justify our attitudes by telling ourselves 'this is the loving thing to say, right?' but the truth is, if it isnt obvious that our attitude is one of love, then there's a very good chance we're not really loving, and we need to ask the Lord to truly show us our hearts.

 

[Trish1947]

The bottom line is this: We are told they (the world) would know we are Christians by our love. That love will be obvious.

Yes, Jesus, in love, said some very hard things, but there was never any question that loved being conveyed.

We justify our attitudes by telling ourselves 'this is the loving thing to say, right?' but the truth is, if it isnt obvious that our attitude is one of love, then there's a very good chance we're not really loving, and we need to ask the Lord to truly show us our hearts.

Well I dont have enough fingers to count the people that have thanked me that I cared that much for them to tell them the truth. So I guess they saw through me, that I loved them.

 

[cherokeehippie]

Have yall noticed that Jesus' harshest comments were mostly directed towards the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious leaders?? Just something to think about!

 

[Mustaphile]

Have yall noticed that Jesus' harshest comments were mostly directed towards the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious leaders?? Just something to think about!

Yes. He really went easy on some, but really gave it to the Pharisees and Sadducees with both barrels. They were the ones being hypocrites, I guess. The ones who knew they were sinners usually were told 'repent', and he sent them on their way.

 

[seebs]

The speaker never met Christ.... so how could he know enough to make such a statement?

The same way the rest of us could; by reading the Bible, and perhaps through personal experience.

From the way he acted, and the way he treated people, I suspect that Gandhi experienced Christ much the way many of us do, but was misled into thinking that this must not be Christ, because of the way Christians acted. One story is that he went to a Christian church, and after the service, right when he was thinking that perhaps these were the people he should be with, he was told that it was neat that he wanted to learn about Jesus, but he should go to a colored peoples' church. His comment was something to the effect of "if I'm going to still have a caste system, I might as well remain a Hindu".

 

[enoch son]

I sit here and think what is wrong with some of you! You are standing up for a man that lead many millions away from the truth of the good news! Because he did not have the spiritual insight to see throught the flesh! And just look at the outcome of his pride! For Shame! "LET GOD BE TRUE AND EVERY MAN A LIAR!" Please come quickly Jesus!