Christians fail but Jesus never does
Rod Smith
February 08, 2008
Jesus often gets the blame for the shortcomings of His followers. They give ammunition to those who deride Christianity. However, a few rainy days do not make a summer bad.
The Christian church has people at various levels of Christian growth. Some are mature, well-versed believers. The ones who are labelled hypocrites by the world at large are those who have hardly grown at all. They are much like non-believers in attitude and lifestyle. They are Christians in name only.
This is the group most likely to fall; who lapse into addictions - pornography, even pedophilia in the worst scenario. Often they are the products of a dead "religious system."
They may have "said a prayer" at some time but it has only been said parrot-fashion to "ask Jesus into their heart." They have never fully understood what Jesus did on the cross. They have never understood repentance (probably because it is rarely preached nowadays). In general, their lives do not reflect what a born again person ought to be according to the Bible. Such people show no fruits of the Holy Spirit, eg love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, goodness, patience.
For those fruits to be evident takes time. It also takes effort by each individual who purports to follow Christ. Salvation changes a person´s life, but only if he/she wants that change!
Those wishing to enter into the eternal life that Jesus promises have to look to Him, not at the Christians who don´t measure up to the Bible.
It isn´t what the afraid-to-offend-anyone preacher says that´s important, but what the Bible says. Today´s pussy-footing on church platforms is breeding the people whom the world derides.
The best thing that can happen for Christianity today is a return by ministers to the terminology of the Bible – sin, repentance, holiness, righteousness. Any preacher worth his salt ought to spell out what those terms mean.
That means confronting the audience; challenging them. It means telling everyone that the Bible says all have sinned, and the preacher should not be afraid (while he´s saying that) to eyeball the outwardly-respectable, Italian-suited stranger sitting in the third row.
So he walks out? Let him, he has heard the truth!
Of course, the gospel brings love, joy, peace, heaven to those who commit to Jesus, but the people also need to hear and understand the Bible "negatives" – the wrath of God on Christ-rejecters; the trials, tribulations, persecution that any true believer will face. When was the last time you heard about those at the local church?
Then and only then will people really understand what Christianity is about. "Just say this sinner´s prayer," then parking that person in a church pew won´t do.
The scoffers surely want to see Christians who truly represent Jesus. People who live a daily life full of holiness, righteousness; people obviously led by God´s Holy Spirit.
When Christians like that are in the majority, then non-believers will cease their derision and will turn to Christ.
The Christian church has people at various levels of Christian growth. Some are mature, well-versed believers. The ones who are labelled hypocrites by the world at large are those who have hardly grown at all. They are much like non-believers in attitude and lifestyle. They are Christians in name only.
This is the group most likely to fall; who lapse into addictions - pornography, even pedophilia in the worst scenario. Often they are the products of a dead "religious system."
They may have "said a prayer" at some time but it has only been said parrot-fashion to "ask Jesus into their heart." They have never fully understood what Jesus did on the cross. They have never understood repentance (probably because it is rarely preached nowadays). In general, their lives do not reflect what a born again person ought to be according to the Bible. Such people show no fruits of the Holy Spirit, eg love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, goodness, patience.
For those fruits to be evident takes time. It also takes effort by each individual who purports to follow Christ. Salvation changes a person´s life, but only if he/she wants that change!
Those wishing to enter into the eternal life that Jesus promises have to look to Him, not at the Christians who don´t measure up to the Bible.
It isn´t what the afraid-to-offend-anyone preacher says that´s important, but what the Bible says. Today´s pussy-footing on church platforms is breeding the people whom the world derides.
The best thing that can happen for Christianity today is a return by ministers to the terminology of the Bible – sin, repentance, holiness, righteousness. Any preacher worth his salt ought to spell out what those terms mean.
That means confronting the audience; challenging them. It means telling everyone that the Bible says all have sinned, and the preacher should not be afraid (while he´s saying that) to eyeball the outwardly-respectable, Italian-suited stranger sitting in the third row.
So he walks out? Let him, he has heard the truth!
Of course, the gospel brings love, joy, peace, heaven to those who commit to Jesus, but the people also need to hear and understand the Bible "negatives" – the wrath of God on Christ-rejecters; the trials, tribulations, persecution that any true believer will face. When was the last time you heard about those at the local church?
Then and only then will people really understand what Christianity is about. "Just say this sinner´s prayer," then parking that person in a church pew won´t do.
The scoffers surely want to see Christians who truly represent Jesus. People who live a daily life full of holiness, righteousness; people obviously led by God´s Holy Spirit.
When Christians like that are in the majority, then non-believers will cease their derision and will turn to Christ.
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