Why

[Guest LCPGUY]

I am truly amazed at life in general. I am more amazed at how so-called Christians live their lives.

They talk the talk, but where' the walk?

I know several Catholics and Mormons. They are fine people and live and treat others with love. They love God, as best they understand Him that is. I can go into more detail.

Neither me, nor any of my clients has ever been cheated by a Mormon. But boy have they been ripped-off and embezzled by self-proclaimed Christians. That's a FACT!!!

Yet we, so-called non-denominational, Baptist, Lutheran or whatever, sure talk the talk, but where's the walk. We pray in tongues. We espouse Jesus. We preach repentance and baptism. We warn about hell. We point out everyone's faults. And then we LIE, CHEAT AND STEAL. And after that we shoot each other.

We seem to say all the right things. But where's the LOVE? Where's the WALK? Why do we not LIVE our convictions?

Oh sure, we're all willing to pray for someone. That's true. But if the dude(ette) needs $5... well now, thats a different story. We're willing to help in all sorts of ways - but just don't come close to my MONEY!!!

As Chuck Missler once said: "Christians love to form a circular firing squad." They love to shoot each other. Get it???

I think it was Billy Sunday that asked Ghandi why Christianity hadn't caught on in India. Ghandi simply replied: "Because of Christians".

Sad!

Says spades doesn't it?

Where are we? Why don't we walk the walk? Is it because the TALK is so cheap?

WHERE'S THE INTEGRITY? WHERE'S THE THE LOVE? WHERE'S THE HONESTY? WHERE'S THE COMPASSION? WHERE'S THE PATIENCE?

I get sick of words and words alone. I get sick of doctrine. I get sick of Catholic bashing. I get sick of Jew bashing! Where's the LOVE? Where's the heartache for someone else who is suffering? Where's the LOVE for someone else who may not know the TRUTH?

Are we just conveying the LIVING WORD by our words? Why don't more of us do it via ACTION?

Is Christianity just a religion of what's convenient, or is it a belief AND following of Christ's commands? Living it DAILY? Read John 14 and 15 and 16 and 17.

Just a question. PLEASE ADVISE.

Love yuh all!!!

John

[Willow]

You know, I have often wondered this about myself. I wonder, have I let Jesus really and truly reform me and change me enough to love what I believe for me to live what I believe?

I wonder if it is the difference of being in the presence of Jesus as the disciples were....I mean how much were their lives changed?? They witnessed the ministry, life, death and resurrection of Jesus - I think I would be changed! So I guess the questions we need to ask ourselves is 'what is it going to take to live out what I believe?'.....

Christianity is living out the commands and becoming a disciple of Christ. It is about relationship with Jesus. We ought to do and be as he was, to take up our cross and carry it.....to show the world by our love for one another that we have Christ in us.

We should have less of the Pharisee spirit in us and do our best to believe in the life changing power of Christ. We should avoid being the doubting Thomas's in our faith, and we should steer clear of our Judas nature to betray God's gift and hand over our reputations as believer's in Jesus over to those who are looking for anything to crucify us with. We need to live out our faith. I am challenged as of late to really do that. Jesus lived as if nothing else mattered - why shouldn't I?

I have no excuses for not doing my best. I am not without blame. Question is, what will I do now that I know better?

Thanks John for the question! I hope you and everyone else get some inspiration to walk and live a life more worthy of the name Christian! I know I have...

Much Affection,

Willow

[Guest yod]

very good question....

[nebula]

This is why the message of the cross is so important!

[irishcowboy]

the reason used most for people not going to church, is that they say the church is full of .....

HYPOCRITS.....

There is alot to be said about Hypocrits, about walking the walk, vice talking the talk.....

a man once said ( not quoted, but paraphrases )he wittnesses to every one he comes in contact with, and if it is needed he will then speak....

we may be the only Bible that some people will ever read.

it is time we walk the walk, each and every one of us need to remain blameless...

BLAMELESS, not just inocent, but free from even the impression of doing wrong.

I must ask myself, What am i wittnessing??? what is my walk like??? where am I heading going this direction??? what are others seeing in me??? who are people mistaking me for??? am I doing Gods work or am I doing my work saying its Gods work???

when we are to be persecuted, is it because of a sin we have committed??? and it is giving the Christians a bad name??? or is it because we are actually staying blameless and being persecuted for being a Christian????

who will you wittness to today??? what wil they be like?? where will your mission field be today???

an elderly man was laying on the sidewalk, half in and half out of the street, people passing by for quite some time, no one lending a hand to help this man up all the time this man was reaching out for someone to help..... finally, a man did stop to help him up, he lifted him, the elderly man had tears running down his face, the passerby then steadied him and made sure the elderly man was ok, and once he was assured the man was ok, he started down the street, but he wanted to say something, so he turned and the elderly man was gone.... where did he go? no one can say, for there was no where he could have gone in such a short time, just a couple steps..... this is a true story....

what is your wittness????

with in the past couple weeks, a bunch of young people found out that a man needed some help, so they set out to see what they could do....

upon entering into his house, that the man was the only residence for several years ( since his wifes passing ) the boys found that the man was unable to care for himself, and had slipped thru the fingers of society.... the house was a total mess, stench filled the air as soon as the door was opened, inside they found trash, rotten food, human and animal waste. the refriderater had quit working, and the meals on wheels trays piled up... the house is totally undiscribible....

these boys started cleaning, and cleaning, they spent hours and hours cleaning.... in the middle of this they even found a petrafied cat.... they had all the windows open, the doors open and fans going to try and keep the air as fresh as they could, wearing masks, long sleeves hats, goggles, and gloves, they continued the task until they were done.....

when they completed their task they talked with the man for a while, and also made arrangements that there would be permanent care for this man....

what is their wittness??? where is their mission field????

what is you wittness??? where is your mission field???

mine??? in my own back yard.... in my own life... in my own work the Lord has set before me.... in my every day life.....

mike

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings lcpguy,

I am truly amazed at life in general. I am more amazed at how so-called Christians live their lives.

They talk the talk, but where' the walk?

I know several Catholics and Mormons. They are fine people and live and treat others with love. They love God, as best they understand Him that is. I can go into more detail.

Neither me, nor any of my clients has ever been cheated by a Mormon. But boy have they been ripped-off and embezzled by self-proclaimed Christians. That's a FACT!!!

My experience at least with the Mormons, is the same as yours. I am reminded of thes verses:

Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus is explaining that He wanted His disciples to go and "make disciples". All too frequently people are led to the knowledge of Christ, but are never "followed up" and shown just what it means to "be a Christian". Then down the line, they can say sure, I am a Christian, but because they have not been watered and raised up from babyhood to adulthood, they have no "works" as well.

The Mormons require a dedicated (2 years?) of service, so they have the opportunity to get plenty of exercise in the development of their religion. Islamics are even more dedicated, so are many other religions.

It took Jesus 30 years before He started His ministry. The Apostles sit at the feet of Jesus for 3 1/2 years and was given lots of practical experience by Jesus plus His own example to them. Paul spent many years in the desert learning at the feet of Jesus.

Also what too often happens, is that a young person in Christ, because of their zeal, is often USED by the church to do things, even to teach, when they should be given a very long training period first.

The pastors, elders are responsible for caring for the "souls" of those under them, yet, most often this is not the case.

I do not lay ALL the blame at their feet, but the day will come when much of their "works" is going to be "burnt up", because they departed from the truth.

So don't lay ALL the blame on quasi-Christians. It may be YOURS or MY job to take them under our wing and make true disciples of them.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Guest Mudfly]

Like Dad-Ernie stated,

I also think there has been a whole lot of converting and saving going on (which is awesome!).....but very little discipling to follow up.

There is no doubt about it, God is bringing revival....are churches ready and equipped to 'handle' that revival.

Mudlfy,

"Biblical knowledge and information is not the goal.....but rather application and transformation."

[Andrew007]

Icpguy - AMEN! So many of us Christians are just casual Christians. We are part of the crowd of Christians. When its cool me a a Christian - Church, Youth Conventions, Small Groups - and when its sometimes not cool to be a Christian - Work, School, when with a group of nonbelievers - the way we live our lives completely changes - for some. The same thing happened to Christ. When he first rode into town the crowd shouted HOSANNA! HOSANNA!! The very next day, the same crowd was shouting CRUCIFY HIM!! There was the crowd that loved to listen to Jesus tell the parables - and then there was another group - his disciples. His disciples didn't leavre with the crowd. Once the crowd was gone, they were the ones who were still yearning to learn more! They asked him what about this and what about that - they were so hungry for more!! We sholud be like the disciples every single day. Get your face in the word of God. Honger for the word like the disciples long for Jesus' messages!

Today - and everyday - you have the choice. You can be part of the crowd, and go through the motions, or you can be a disciple for Christ. Which door will you walk through? Will you walk through the door that leads to the casual Christian life, or will you choose the door that will lead to the best experience of your life?

I know what door I walk through everyday.

[Guest LCPGUY]

I appreciate the replies from you all, but...

my question is still not answered. Mike's explanation of hypocrites was good. But I still ask, why are there so many hypocrites in the Christian church? Why are not more of us living the life of Christ? Love God with all your heart and mind and love you neighbor as yourself. Why has that gone out the window?

Again, why do we preach the Word to others, speak in tongues and then we go out and embezzle, steal, bear false witness against our brothers and sisters for self gain? For promotion? For stature? For power? Self! Self! Self!

Could it be that those that walk like this really aren't Christians? They just claim to be? If so, then I think there's far fewer of the genuine article around than we'd like to believe.

Let us pray for one-another. Let us visit the prisoners. Let us clothe the naked. Let us feed the hungry. Let us comfort the hurting. I know that many of us do these things. But why not more of us?

How many will Christ say this to: Depart from Me, I never knew you! Scary thought isn't it?

You know - it's all about LOVE. That's the bottom line.

Just my thoughts and ramblings.

John

[nebula]

I have only 4 thoughts:

1) It is possible that sin has to be drawn out to be dealt with. What I mean is that for gold to be refined, the dross has to be surfaced. Only then can it be removed.

2) Not enough pastors teachers and preachers are focusing on this aspect. There's lots of talk about salvation and studying Scripture and all this stuff, but so few that I have heard actually focus on "Here is how you do the Gospel!"

How many churches sponsor "doing" activities and missions and such?

3) Put points one and two together. Stuff gets surfaced, but the people aren't taught to recognize and deal with their "stuff" - we don't like being confronted with our sin even still - which is a lot of why God has to keep breaking us and keep breaking us and keep breaking us. . . .

4) Other religions believe works get them into Heaven, so they have a selfish incentive to be "good" people. Too many of us are content with going to Heaven - but we forget the verses about the rewards for the overcomers.

My thoughts.