What happened to Christianity???

[Grace Girl]

I've got a few things that have been on my mind for a while now. There's just so much I want to say, so please bear with me if I chop and change subjects.

My brother strongly opposes Christianity. He says, I quote:

"Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites who pretend to be better than everyone else. They go to their Church services every Sunday and talk to their 'Christian' friends. They tell them how great God is, then go home, ignoring the fact that they feel absolutely rubbish inside, and avoiding the real issues that really matter. "

The sad thing is, I have to agree with him. What happened to Christianity as it was, in the beginning???

I constantly hear Christians saying, "Christianity is a way of life, not a religion." But then the next time I see them, they're blind drunk, using every foul word under the sun. If they're Christians, and that's their way of life, what does that say about Christ??

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18)

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29)

I'm tired of turning on the tele, listening to TBN or TCT or whatever other "Christian" channel, and listening to the same message.

If you're broke, you're doing something wrong.

Please, someone tell me, where in the Bible does ANYONE preach the prosperity message?? Sure, 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor so that you, through His poverty might become rich." But the Bible also says in Matthew 19:21, "Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell all your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.'" And He continues to say in verse 23, " I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." So, to me, 2 Corinthians says that Christ gave up his riches for us, only for us to give up our riches for others, like in Matthew. (I hope I'm making sense!!)

Jesus also says, "No one can serve to masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 6:24)

I feel that people have turned Christianity into a Religion and are trying to use God to make them rich!! They justify themselves with Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Saying, "I'm seeking God's Kingdom, and He's added wealth and prosperity to my life because of it -- just like He said he would." Ummm... read carefully!! He is saying, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" Then He says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." So which things will be given?? Food and clothes, NOT riches and prosperity!!

And another thing that really gets to me is that some Christians have completely left out persecution!! They think that if something goes wrong, or if they're in financial trouble, it's because they're "not right with God". It doesn't occur to them that they might be just where God wants them, but they're suffering persecution.

The religion of Christianity says that we can do what we like, we're meant to be wealthy, and life will be a bed of roses -- if you're not in God's bad-books.

The Bible says,

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."

(Matthew 5:3-11)

And, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

So I leave this with you:

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

Preach the Word: be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage -- with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

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[Guest Zayit]

Good post GG, I know exactly what you mean, and it is sad, its a whole new thing, nothing like any of the first century believers would even recognize.

[Iryssa]

Dunno if you've heard the DC Talk song "What if I Stumble?" (great song, really relevant to what's on your mind here) There's a quote at the beginning of it that says "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today, is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and then walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. "

It's very true...many who say they are Christians are not really Christians...Maybe they say they are Christians to keep their parents happy, or maybe they actually think they are, but have no real understanding about what being a Christian really means (I remember being among the latter). Real Christians stumble, too...anyway, non-Christians see every mistake we make. Why? Because we believe that our God is perfect and that He hates sin, and because they want a reason NOT to believe.

I believe that there are, and always have been, "Cultural Christians" (as I've heard them called) who only talk the talk, as well as Born-Again Christians, who really strive to be "little-Christs" (the origin of the term "Christian"). Problem is, the world doesn't see the difference.

If you want to win your brother over, always show him that you're not just into Cultural Christianity, but you're actually into Christ.

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

It is sad but dont let one bad apple spoil the whole barrel.We are not perfect but we are to keep striving to be CHRIST-like.I mess up alot and I do need JESUS to forgive me daily.From time to time we will slip and get our testamony blemished but this shows us the grace of GOD because HE is there to help us regain it back.Please dont judge us all by what a few brothers and sisters have done.Just remember we all make mistakes

[Levi501]

Until one understands and regognizes his sins one can not repent of them.

Christianity, just like Judaism has to come to terms with the falsehood woven into the Truth that makes them both "religion" before they both can be the true light God is forming them to be. One in Messiah.

In my experience it's not the 'bad apples' that have made the barrel bad. It's the barrel itself that has made the wine unholy. Someone is trying to put the wine that is supposed to flow throughout the world freely from peoples hearts into a container, and saying it's 'ordained' by God. Thus leavening the whole bunch.

Christianty was never supposed to be a religion like Judaism. "IMHO" It was supposed to be an act of God to draw his children home. But through the years man has made it into what our forefathers did. A religion devoid of the Spirit in which it professes.

Edited June 24, 2005 by Levi501

[Leonard]

Good! Those people who run around sinning a lot, NEED CHURCH! They're not there because they feel like they're better than everybody else; they're there because THEY REALIZE WHAT DREADFUL SINNERS THEY ARE!

"Hypocrits" my eye! They're doing the smartest thing folks can do!!!

The Church is a hospital for the sick, not a museum of the perfected.

[Grace Girl]

Good!  Those people who run around sinning a lot, NEED CHURCH!  They're not there because they feel like they're better than everybody else; they're there because THEY REALIZE WHAT DREADFUL SINNERS THEY ARE! 

"Hypocrits" my eye!  They're doing the smartest thing folks can do!!!

The Church is a hospital for the sick, not a museum of the perfected.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not talking about people who realize that they are sinners and go to Church because they know they need help. I'm talking about the people who "have a form of godliness but deny it's power" (2 Timothy 3:5). Let me give you an example. There is a youth that meets up every Friday. But they don't meet up at a church... they're meeting up at different night clubs. They're talking to people about Christ and His love for them. But the thing is, they're doing it blind drunk!! So we have a bunch of 13 - 20 year-olds going into night clubs, getting drunk (remember that most of them are under age, so they're breaking the law anyway) talking about how Christ died for their Sin... something just doesn't work!! These are they hypocrites I'm talking about. Still think it's the best thing that they can do??

Just one more question: What/Where is the Church??

The church is a hospital for the sick, but the church is not a building. Us Christians are the church, and where we are, so the Church, and Christ will be also. (For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them. {Matthew 18:20}) So why do we have to go to a church to be healed? Why not just go to a fellow Chirstian and ask them to pray with you? Afterall, it is written: "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:14)

[Leonard]

You're telling us nightclubs are serving thirteen year olds? That's a little hard to imagine. Also if you are extremely opposed to liquor (as some Christians are) your words 'blind drunk' could really mean the guy had a sip of wine with dinner.

What you are saying is most unfortunate if true, but it just sounds too bizarre for me to wrap my mind around right now. Are you quite sure of your facts? I mean that's some pretty wild-sounding claims to me. (Maybe I lead a sheltered life!)

Still, on the basis of a few, your brother is ready to throw the whole thing out? Sounds to me like he's just 'excuse making' and not being intellectually honest with himself or with you......

[jc49]

Dear GraceGirl,

please don't get depressed...don't get discouraged...

we are living in the end times...

I am sure you know :

1st Tim:

Chapter 4

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

11 These things command and teach.

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

13

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

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I read that you are 16..so get encouraged in the Word....and PRAY sister ,PRAY

God bless you

[nebula]

You're telling us nightclubs are serving thirteen year olds?

Well, she lives in Zimbabwe - if that makes a difference.