Sitting on the sidelines

[Guest walter_parr]

Why are so many professing "Christians" not in the game. Why are they sitting on the sidelines and in the bleachers watching others play the game.

Many don't even come into the stadium, they prefer to sit in their comfort chair at home and watch it on tv listening to other no players "comment" on how it's going.

James 2:14 Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?

2:17 Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

2:19 Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them?

2:20 Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?

Don't they realize that it isn't a game? Don't they realize that it's real and it's war with heaven or hell for all eternity in the balance?

How can they sit inactively by while others are out there getting beaten, bruised and bloodied for the Gospel. Then they play monday morning quarterback criticizing the mistakes made and missed plays, while not even willing to help dress the wounds of the injured.

Brothers and sisters it's time to get in our Christian uniforms of Christ's light, put on God's armor, arm ourselves with the sword of the spirit, and get into the battle.

We need to start denying our selves, pick up our cross daily, and follow after Jesus

Not only this but we must start encouraging and expecting others to get off their lazy, complacent, selfish buts and die to self.

Brothers and sisters, time is short and getting shorter every day. I exhort you to put aside your fleshy deeds, get in the word deeper and deeper, and start letting Christ live through you. Really really live through you in a radical life (yours) and lives (others) changing way.

WE MUST START BEING ABOUT THE FATHERS BUSINESS

WE MUST START REALIZING AND HELPING OTHER REALIZE THAT IT'S TIME TO PUT DOWN OUR TOYS AND PICK UP GOD'S TOLLS

[nebula]

Hey, Walter!

Welcome to the Board!

That's a great pep-talk sermon there. But I wonder what is on your heart with "playing the game" and "picking up God's tools" (I assume you meant 'tools' and not 'tolls' ). What do you see Christians not doing that they should be doing?

I'm not trying to be confrontational; just wanting clarification.

Thanks!

[Guest walter_parr]

To add some specific details:

Why is giving within the Church so low?

Why is it so hard for missionaries to find support (both financial and spiritual)?

Why is it so hard for Churches to find Sunday school teachers and nursery workers?

Why do largre Churches have such small attenance during weekday Bible studies and why is it so hard to find people to run them?

Why are Christian homeless shelters so short on staff, volunteers, and money?

Why are truck stop chapels unable to get enough volunteers and funding?

All this happens while many "Christian" families are living in big elaborate houses, with each child having their own computer, stereo and tv. Driving multiple high $ cars and suvs. Wearing nice expensive clothes. While other Christian families in their own towns and cities are struggling to feed and cloth their children because of illness or a parent losing a job.

Is this how Jesus wanted us to act as His body?

Jesus never turned His back on us, (infact one of the last things He did was wash his disciples feet) how can we turn our back on our brothers and sisters, the lost, and God Himself?

[nebula]

Ah! Now we are talking!

So, what can we do?

I mean, to get the Church body moving in such a way?

[seekandyouwillfind]

Great topic...walter....

I would have to say that im sick of hearing Christians "talk" about what they want to do for God !!

DO IT Start SOMETHING

i agree with everything you said Walter.....God help us to get involved!!!

James 2:14 Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?

2:17 Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

2:19 Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them?

[Fewarechosen7F]

To add some specific details:

Why is giving within the Church so low?

Why is it so hard for missionaries to find support (both financial and spiritual)?

Why is it so hard for Churches to find Sunday school teachers and nursery workers?

Why do largre Churches have such small attenance during weekday Bible studies and why is it so hard to find people to run them?

Why are Christian homeless shelters so short on staff, volunteers, and money?

Why are truck stop chapels unable to get enough volunteers and funding?

All this happens while many "Christian" families are living in big elaborate houses, with each child having their own computer, stereo and tv. Driving multiple high $ cars and suvs. Wearing nice expensive clothes. While other Christian families in their own towns and cities are struggling to feed and cloth their children because of illness or a parent losing a job.

Is this how Jesus wanted us to act as His body?

Jesus never turned His back on us, (infact one of the last things He did was wash his disciples feet) how can we turn our back on our brothers and sisters, the lost, and God Himself?

It is also time that we all become honest with ourselves. Look back on this list and you will discover that the list does not describe the Church of Yeshua, but the LACK OF ONE.

[Fewarechosen7F]

Don't they realize that it isn't a game? Don't they realize that it's real and it's war with heaven or hell for all eternity in the balance?

We need to be very observant in all these things.

Do the Christian people who come to post on Christian message boards realize that it is not a game? Or do they respond to trolls many times as devils casting out devils?

How can they sit inactively by while others are out there getting beaten, bruised and bloodied for the Gospel. Then they play monday morning quarterback criticizing the mistakes made and missed plays, while not even willing to help dress the wounds of the injured.

Can we expect anything more from them that sit on the sidelines, when they see us verbally wounding the injured, whose spiritual wounds we refuse to dress, even after we make the injuries ourselves? Can we really blame them for not wanting to get involved in the EXTERNAL battle that we have not yet won INTERNALLY?

That

[RGR]

Or do they respond to trolls many times as devils casting out devils?

So, Fewarechosen, are you admitting to being a troll and accusing of acting as devils since we don't accept your new age ideas? Did you take a page out of the "Voice of God" book and figure out we're all cardboard characters "playing" town?

[Guest shadow2b]

-Sooooooo,anyone EVER consider that there are shut-ins-dis-abled-oldE-infirmed those that just are NOT

-physically able to attend a church-meeting place or find a meeting place that teaches the TRUTH of GOD'S

-WORD???how bout these boards as being the ONLY place"they"get christian fellowship--teaching-doctrine-

- help of ALL kinds from the people on these boards & NO where else???hmmmmm?????ever consider these

-boards are in actuality a "MINISTRY" in itself????hmmmmm??-DON'T BE SO QUICK TO"JUDGE" when YOU

-DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS--INFORMATION--It could lead to SEVERE consequencesmah dog spot

[Snowdoove]

Many churches don't even take care of the widows or the children. They have no one to make hospital visits or visits to the prisons.

Another words some churchs of today can't do what YHVH instructed them to do within their own flocks.

Stepping out of the building and making an effort to be heard by their state or federal government, is out of the question.

They are too comfortable and don't want to make waves.

Snowdoove