I just thought I'd bring up something I've been dealing with for the past several months.
I work with a man who is one of the smartest individuals I know.
I guess you would categorize him as seeker.
He is very interested in Christianity, but he is reluctant to give his life to Christ.
He and I have had several lengthy discussions about a multitude of questions and/or problems he's had.
I believe I have satisfactorily answered many of his questions, and have even been able to get him to read the Bible for himself to "check my answers."
I've noticed that during many of our discussions he would refer to many of the "Christians" he knows that don't live a Christian lifestyle.
He doesn't use blanket statements as a cop out.
He has several examples.
Here are a few:
A Methodist preacher (friend of his) asked him to go with him to a wedding in which he was performing so that he could be the preacher's designated driver for the after party.
The preacher told him he planned to get plastered.
He took an online NT survey class at a local junior college where the professor (a pastor working on his doctorate) would not respond to questions, or moderate the discussion boards.
The pastor told them that he was too busy working on his doctorate and taking care of his to church to conduct class.
So, my coworker was left frustrated.
He was called a Satan worshiper for questioning the qualifications of a miracle.
The local church he attended while growing up "preached to the choir" and never stepped outside of the church building to evangelize or help people withing the community.
He's asked many of his "Christian" friends questions about what the Bible says about certain things, and/or why they believe what they do, and nearly all can not give an answer.
The list goes on and on.
I say all that to say this... I've come to realize that his problem isn't with God, or Jesus, or any Biblical doctrine.
His problem is with Christians.
He can't understand why they claim to have faith in Christ, but have lifestyles contrary to their claim.
He can't understand how someone could have faith, but not be able to explain why they have faith.
He can't understand why people aren't loving when they are supposed to represent a loving God.
It just makes me wonder how many people are out there who'll never come to Christ because of the actions of "Christians."
A good response to his critical view of the hypocrites in action: Would you rather go to Heaven with the saved hypocrites or go to hell with the ones you keep judging all Christians by?
Besides, salvation and a walk with God doesn't have anything to do with hypocrites or Christians for that matter, it has to do with one's own faith.
Isaiah 4:1¶And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
A "Christian" as your friend described would fit in the catagory with these women here: REBELS!
In any case, he needs to worry about himself and his salvation.
It is like being here at work.... sure, plenty of people slough off, but I am responsible for me myself and I.
Christ Himself is the standard, not other Christians.
When we get to Judgement Day, "well, all those hipocrite christians blah blah blah....." will NOT cut it.
If I refuse to do my job here at work and when the CEO calls me into his office, I cannot plead "well HR and Accounting and Production and Marketing aren't doing THEIR jobs, so I didn't feel like doing my own job."
It is the CEO's job to handle AR and Accounting and Production and Markenting.
Likewise, it is GOD'S job to deal with hipocrites.
Do I suggest you confront your friend?
No.
But food for thought will be this: You are responsible for YOU on judgement day and what YOU did with God's Son.
Ya'll have hit on a topic that I've been very concerned with a lot lately myself.
I've had quite a few discussions with my pastor about it lately.
Easy believism has and continues to kill churches and the image of Christianity today.
The problem is that too many churches don't do anything to contradict this notion and many even help promote "easy believism".
What has happened to discipleship and accountability???
Jesus warns us of this philosophy in his Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 7:13-14 says:
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
And then he clarifies further in verse 16 that "You will know them by their fruits..."
I'm afraid that many churches today are filled with people that will be in hell.
Yet a good many of these people will believe themselves to be "Christians".
:praying: I pray that this philosophy of "easy believism" will not continue.
I think we have to be VERY careful with this statement.
While your statement is true, it doesn't give us the freedom to continue in sin.
Christianity isn't a once in a lifetime "decision".
It's a life change.
And when Christians do sin there is a deep remorse and sorrow for the transgression against our Heavenly Father.
Repentance isn't something you do once and forget it... continual repentance is the fruit of a Christian.
AMEN!!
Preach on brother.
While some "Christians" provide an excuse for others not to become Christians, there is NO excuse not to follow God's commandments for yourself!
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
I understand that, but I wonder if he does.
I have met others who expect a saved person never sins again, that they somehow become perfectly behaving as Christians after accepting Christ in their lives.
Those people have a higher expectation than God. they have placed themselves on the throne of judgement and forget we NEED I John 1:9 as Christians, not as evil doers.
I definitely agree.
I have explained to my coworker that you shouldn't judge Christ by the actions of fallible man, but by Christ Himself.
I do believe that God is working on him.
I see him opening up little by little.
"I know I'm such a bad example
And you know I'm, so full of pride.
But Jesus isn't like that.
No he's perfect all the way.
I guess that's why we need him,
It's why ourselves, there's just no way."
1Sa 16:6
When they arrived, Samuel noticed Eliab and said to himself, "Surely, here before the LORD stands his chosen king!"
1Sa 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
I think that's fair enough. Actually, that's why we are called the sinners. That's why we need to be saved, not by our own but by our Lord Jesus. So don't let the sinners and their behaviour be your stumbling block. God is there independent of how those sinners behave. It's almost stupid to turn away from God just because of the sinners, isn't it?
We can't answer all questions, that's why we need faith to believe in God. If on the other hand, we can answer all sort of questions, we don't need faith any more. For the same reason, we don't need faith to believe in science, as science might (just might) seem to be able to answer questions to your satisfaction that you don't need faith. If Christianity is just like science (actually I find that Christiantity is very much like science), we don't need faith at all. In that case, we can't be saved as it's clearly stated in the convenants that faith is needed for us the sinners to be saved.
On the other hand, almost everything about Chirstianity has its own answer which comes to everyone's satisfaction. Yet, 1) you need to believe with faith first then in the hope that God the Holy Spirit will reveal it to you. 2) even answers by far failed to come to your satisfaction, it only means that it's not the proper time as God sees for those misterious knowledge to be revealed yet. So just keep your faith and hope. That's how faith works and God will decide the best for us.
On the other hand, it's our arrogance to insist on that evidence shall be shown first before we take our leap of faith. As it's stated clearly that we will be saved by faith. That says, God will reveal you everything to your satisfaction such that you can't be saved?????????????? :BangHead: