'Proper' christians

[Abiel]

Have you ever faced the situation of not being deemed a proper Christian on account of belonging to a non-sacremental church?

 

[D'Ann]

Have you ever faced the situation of not being deemed a proper Christian on account of belonging to a non-sacremental church?

No... I'm sorry that you have though. Christianity should come from our faith and how we walk within our Christian life in Christ, and the Sacraments are wonderful and the grace received by them are wonderful and yes... I recommend the Sacraments... but the bottom line is that you believe in Jesus as your Lord and you have asked forgiveness and believe...

I don't understand how come people judge in a hurtful way... God be with you.

Debbie

 

[Andy Broadley]

Different field, same farmer

 

[Kizza]

I treat this argument the same way I treat communion. As a salvationist I thank Jesus for every meal, and for every blessing. I treat my life as my sacrament. As Jesus gave up his body, his blood and his life, so will I.

 

[Kizza]

I treat this argument the same way I treat communion. As a salvationist I thank Jesus for every meal, and for every blessing. I treat my life as my sacrament. As Jesus gave up his body, his blood and his life, so will I. The humanisation of that is referred to as a covenant.

 

[Victrixa]

When I was a Salvationist, yes, sometimes I was criticized for belonging to a non-Sacramental church.

Of course, now, the Eucharist is very important for me but in my Salvation Army days, I saw life the same way (I still do!) as Kizza:

As a salvationist I thank Jesus for every meal, and for every blessing. I treat my life as my sacrament. As Jesus gave up his body, his blood and his life, so will I. The humanisation of that is referred to as a covenant.

I still see the meals and the food I take as 'sacramental' - sacred and to be blessed.

I love how Salvationism teaches about living the holy life and all the holiness teachings. Everything is sacred to Salvationists. In many ways, Salvationism is so much like Catholicism....

 

[Abiel]

and yet ( here she comes with a new agenda!)

when I am out selling the War Cry, I am often praised for representing an organisation of 'real' christians. The other day, a lady called me 'a christian with a capital 'C'. Sadly the basis of this approval is often something along the lines of 'you don't preach at us, you just help people'. Often I wonder who is preaching- I dont see a whole lot of it going on! But the sad bit is that I receive praise because the gospel is believed not to be top of the agenda.

 

[InTheFlame]

But the sad bit is that I receive praise because the gospel is believed not to be top of the agenda.

Hmmm...

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you preach good sermons?

To quote myself -
'We preach a sermon every day of our lives, with our actions'

I'm not saying that we shouldn't be telling people about Jesus with words... but I think that our actions speak louder than the words can. A life of service to the poor and voiceless points to Jesus too. Once people are faced in the right direction (they have love) then the words make sense. If they're pointed in the wrong direction (they have rules), then the words don't tend to mean anything to them.

Hmmm... did that make sense?

 

[Gkbarnes]

Wasn't it St Francis of Assisi who said "preach the Gospel, and use words were nessesary"

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Yes - my exfiance challenged my desire to go to the salvos as 'they are a church of works - and works don't get you into heaven - they are a false church'...

Yeah... whatever... *insert rolled eyes here*

That's not the only thing that has challenged whether I am a 'proper Christian' in someone else's eyes - and I end up laughing at some of the opinions.

All that matters is MY relationship with God, and MY personal approach to God - NOT what someone else thinks I SHOULD be doing, to be deemed a 'proper Christian'...

I think it's sad that so many people feel the need to force THEIR belief on what a Christian is onto others, and 'write them off' when they don't 'adhere' to those so-called 'rules'...

Sasch

 

[Abiel]

Hmmm...

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you preach good sermons?

To quote myself -
'We preach a sermon every day of our lives, with our actions'

I'm not saying that we shouldn't be telling people about Jesus with words... but I think that our actions speak louder than the words can. A life of service to the poor and voiceless points to Jesus too. Once people are faced in the right direction (they have love) then the words make sense. If they're pointed in the wrong direction (they have rules), then the words don't tend to mean anything to them.

Hmmm... did that make sense?

I get your point, but that is not what happens to me. People dont say 'ooh look at that lovely lady, showing us christ in her actions, i must think about this for myself' (and yes that is just a corny hacked up pastiche!) rather the tone of what they say in 'keep up the good work, we are so glad you dont bother us with religion'

 

[Abiel]

Yes - my exfiance challenged my desire to go to the salvos as 'they are a church of works - and works don't get you into heaven - they are a false church'...

Yeah... whatever... *insert rolled eyes here*

That's not the only thing that has challenged whether I am a 'proper Christian' in someone else's eyes - and I end up laughing at some of the opinions.

All that matters is MY relationship with God, and MY personal approach to God - NOT what someone else thinks I SHOULD be doing, to be deemed a 'proper Christian'...

I think it's sad that so many people feel the need to force THEIR belief on what a Christian is onto others, and 'write them off' when they don't 'adhere' to those so-called 'rules'...

Sasch

we even had a chap who came to our corps, ingratiated himself with the officer, got himself into a leadership position (whilst refusing to be either an adherant or a soldier) and from that position began to try to persuade people that the Arny was a false church, and get some of us to leave.

If I had a pound for every time I had been told my church was false, I would have enough for a great night out!

 

[catlover]

Though, I disagree with the S.A about not having baptism, I believe they are a valid church. The S.A does Christ's work so it simply IS a valid church whether scoffers like it or not.

 

[coalfarm]

Christ fulfilled perfectly all the ceremonial religious laws. This includes the ceremonial washing or baptism of repentance.
Because Christ has fulfilled it, we don't have to do it anymore. We are also free from animal sacrifices because Christ has fulfilled all the ceremonial law, and was the blood atonement for sin. If we have to be baptised to be saved, is that not salvation by works?
Indeed, Jesus himself, after fulfilling John's baptism of repentance said "I will baptise with Holy Spirit and with fire," not water!
Be baptised if that's something God's calling you to do as a prophetic act, by all means. But i, along with Salvationists, am called to abstain from such as a prophetic reminder to the body of Christ that baptism is not necessary to salvation.