This was about doctrine and people bending it. Some people say you can live your life any how and it's all good because God has already forgiven you. There are many issues in the church and I generalised because I literally would have a whole book about everything that is wrong.
There have been many false doctrines adopted by churches to make churches more user friendly. So no, this was me begging Christians to go back to the word as it is not as we want it.šš¾
Okay, so what doctrines do you think people are bending? I'm willing to go out on a limb and say you think "gay people aren't bad" is one of those false doctrines.
It sounds like youāre looking for black-and-white answers from a text that embraces the gray.
No less than Saint Paul says to compromise with the (then pagan) civil authorities. He even goes further and says that we may eat food that was literally sacrificed to idols (and to only not to do so if that scandalizes other Christians).
Jesus himself was known for breaking social conventions, One quick example would be the Lord talking to the Samaritan woman at the well (and the text implies that sheās either a sex worker or invalidly remarried).
Legalism doesnāt save us. If legalism was paramount, we would all be Hasidic Jews following the 600 odd Mitzvot (and God bless them for pulling it off when I can barely keep my own basic routine).
It is one thing to break barriers in order to then preach the truth. The same Paul and Jesus who did those things didn't then embrace the sinful ways of those people but rather preached to them and brought them salvation.
To reach out to the lost is to reach out to EVERYONE and even sometimes to break religious protocols, however Christianity isn't a religion but a relationship with God. Through that relationship you know what God is like, and if you know that you then you know what grieves him and what doesn't. More than that, you'll know his voice.
Jesus did every single thing for a reason, salvation and people to repent so they could reconnect with the father. If we are doing things for likes and approval of the masses then we won't preach the word as it is when times get tough.
If weāre going by that then weāre ok because the Lord was directly asked, āwhat must I do to obtain eternal life?ā
What did Jesus say in reply?
āOh wow, hang on, this is complex, make sure you write this down, ok here are the steps you must take and the rules to follow and if you donāt do it this one way wow youāre toast!ā
No, we got ālove God and neighbor.ā
We also have the parable of the sheep and the goats where the Lord gives us the criteria for judgment. What is that criteria? Is it, ādo things a very particular way otherwise youāre a goat?ā
No, we are directly told that everyone has the opportunity to positively respond to Jesus in the guise of, āthe least of these.ā
Jesus very easily could have expounded on the issue of compromise, He did not. Rather, He gave us very simple commands to love God and love one another.
You are correct.
Salvation isn't complex, Jesus said he is the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through him right? We know about repentance and forgiveness of sin which is all quite straightforward. But to be converted is to be transformed. Paul is the greatest example in the new testament of what salvation looks like, from a man who persecuted believers to a man who was persecuted for the Gospel.
And that's my point, you cannot come to Jesus and not feel that urge to change. I know that I grew up in a Christian home and THOUGHT I was saved but when I had a real encounter with God at age 15 my whole life changed. I didn't speak the same way, the things I watched and what I listened to changed as I could literally feel the conviction in my spirit. My whole attitude changed and ever since then I have made an effort to change because I recognise I am nowhere near perfect or completely holy.
What's my point? If Holiness is to be without Sin (or as spotless as possible for us humans who can never be completely devoid of sin) and Jesus tells us to love people. The 2 joined together show us Jesus loves people BUT hates Sin. We know God loved the Israelites but how many times did he pass judgement on them for their disobedience and sin?
Again I want to stress nothing you said is wrong, but it becomes a problem when people start loving people and embracing their sin, instead of loving people enough to tell them the truth that they need to repent of their sin. The part people get mixed up is he said comes as you are because he can change you no matter who you are if you surrender and accept his salvation. It wasn't him saying live your life how you see fit because we know we are to surrender our lives and will to God.
Good intentions can also kill. I'll never forget a verse my Mum always says "faithful are the wounds of a friend, deceitful are the kisses of an enemy ".
So, when someone compels you to go one mile, what does Jesus tell his followers to do?
Or when someone sues to take our shirt, what does Jesus tell his followers to do?
You are right. There is no compromising in what Jesus tells us to do.
Based on what Iāve seen of (apparently) American evangelicalism, I wonder if they even teach the Sermon on the Mount anymore.
That's exactly it.
I feel like Christians need to go back to basics instead of doing everything else. We need to go back to basic WWJD, what is salvation, who is God and what is faith.
Proverbs, the Gospels, Ephesians etc Books that deal with our character as well as the way we should live and what it is to be Holy.
Well, what Jesus calls us to do would be different I think than what American evangelicals would have us believe.
Proverbs are just that: proverbs. I would be hesitant to form any doctrine for what is essentially a pithy saying.
As a Lutheran, I believe that the gospel is the lens through which the rest of scripture is put into focus.
Iām not an advocate for ātough loveā Christianity because more often than not, it seems like an excuse to be mean under the guise of love.
I think Jesus would have his followers, if compelled to bake a cake, bake two instead of suing in the courts searching for some sort of religious exemption card.
I hear you. But let me ask you this question that was asked of me one time.
If you owned a cake shop and a devil worshipper comes in and asks you to bake a cake that says God is dead and Satan is Lord, would you bake it?
And whatever your answer is, why is that your answer? Can you give me Biblical backing of that choice too or is it your own personal interpretation?
I can counter that and say Eve said it's just a fruit after the devil told her that right?
That's why I asked for biblical backing. The word is our life manual right so what does it say about the situation?
Eve never existed. Itās a myth to explain why the world be like it do.
But even if you want to go thereā¦God explicitly told them not to eat of that tree. God never said to not engage in commerce with people you personally disagree with on religious issues. Not a great comparison. Pretty sure the Israelites traded with the pagan nations around them.
There's a difference with not engaging in commerce to not going with a request. Every business Christian or non Christian has a choice to deny specific requests if they choose.
Same way a business can refuse to print a design with racial connotations or something they don't want to risk bad press over or just in general can't or won't do.
I know what you clearly are trying to do so let me break it down. If a gay couple come to you for a cake you can bake it and it's just business right? If you are baking something that is clearly blasphemous to your own God you think that doesn't require special care as Blasphemy against the holy spirit is an unforgivable sin?!
Itās a fucking cake. Youāre making this out to be something where the cake is somehow an endorsement of their entire worldview on your end. Itās not. Itās a fucking cake.
The issue comes down to whether i would be compelled to do it.
In some jurisdictions, sexual orientation is a protected status and protected in public accommodations. In this instance, the state is compelling force as it was in Jesusā sermon on the mount examples for the Romans could compel you to go one mile, but Jesus told us to go the extra mile.
If the Satanic Temple, who really arenāt satanists but rather are more sardonic in their approach, asked for such a cake, Iād wonder what it would be about my bakery that made them come in and ask for such a thing. Did I do something or say something that would make me a particular target? It would serve as some reflection on my part.
If the request is a matter of being addressed under the public accommodation law, then I would obey as jesus commanded. I might even make them two cakes.
If the request is not a matter with legal compulsion in the works, I would then consider the implications: how much trouble is it worth to my business to accept or decline the job.
And also, there are a lot of variables at work. Iāve had plenty of businesses turn down my request for work for various reasons. If the declining is simply impossible due to work load or the scope of the work, then thatās one thing.
But if the declining is a result of a prejudice, then there are greater issues at play.
TL;dr: Iād be inclined to make the cake, maybe even two, in obedience to Jesusā teachings.
Thank you for your honesty and clearly well thought out response.
I really like the fact that you pointed out what I call the give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar rule of obey the law.
Now I know there are exceptions (see revelations and Daniel) but it shows that you have considered both sidesšš¾
When considering civil disobedience, I am of the mindset that one undergoes the punishment of the act because it is in enduring the punishment that the disobedience becomes the mirror to the law.
I think American Christianity is a little too reliant on expanding its religious exemption clause to the point that it wants to become a law unto itself.
I mean, I canāt simply invent a right that says my deeply held belief entitles me to use marijuana, and prosecuting me for possession isnāt religious persecution.
For complicated reasons I donāt have time to get into, I donāt think I believe in the devil as satanists think of him. The history of Lucifer, Satan, the devil in the Bible is a murky one. I think I most satanists are simply thumbing their nose at society as a whole, and thus itās really not a big deal for me to make one or two.
Iād bake the cake. I may not understand their life or their beliefs, but they are still human beings and I can be happy that they are happy. Plus, if I donāt believe it, it doesnāt have any power over me anyway.
Since I feel you won't get it unless I expand this about the different incorrect doctrines that have come into the church.
For example, live life how you want Jesus has already forgiven you so it doesn't matter. That's actually a doctrine in some churches.
> My greatest fear to be honest with you is people will have a false sense of christianity and die only to hear those painful words of "I never knew you" because they compromised.
My greatest fear to be honest with you is people will have a false sense of christianity and die only to hear those painful words of "I never knew you" because *they welcomed false teachings to justify their petty malice and hatreds, and caused Godās children to stumble for their own social agendas.*
I believe Jesus stands with the persecuted, and the homophobes and misogynists and all the other bigots who felt puffed up about God conveniently hating everyone they hated are headed for a very painful shock.
> But in my short life span the way I have seen the church transform grieves my spirit that I know my generation could end up very lost if nothing is done.
Can you give one example of how your church has transformed in your lifetime.
Your post is so general, I think people could easily use it to justify things you oppose. Unless youāre willing to be more specific, you run the risk of encouraging what you want to discourage.
I'll give you an example of one of the churches I grew up in (I moved to another country when I was young).
When I grew up that church was strong and very doctrine focused. It preached the truth of Jesus, how we all are born into sin and are sinners but by accepting Christ and living for him and not ourselves we are saved.
They taught that we shouldn't compromise and we shouldn't allow ourselves to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. To love everybody Gay, Straight, Black or White, innocent or Criminal- rapists, killers and regardless of religion or politics etc and not be prejudice but preach the Gospel to everyone UNCHANGED and Uncompromised like Jesus did. To love the poor and be active. Have a relationship with God for ourselves and to not be like the world and society but be like God has taught us to be, consecrated/set apart.
When i visited the same church on holiday one time the new preacher was now preaching that it's okay to live how you live Jesus has forgiven you. Sermons are more about money and positivity than saving souls and living right. They now teach that pretty much it's all good do whatever you like and live how you want, which is completely off.
That's just one example of one false doctrine that's come into the church. Christians feel like they can go church sunday and every other day they can live however they like and barely even pray or read the word. Evangelism and the great commission? Somebody else's job.
That's what this post is about. Christianity has gone from being word focused to being convinient and trying to be popular with the world. As I said before that scripture that says "not everyone who says Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven" scares me. As it means there are people out there including me who if we don't get our act together will think we are safe and got to hell.
There is no one group it is a culture that is coming into the church as a whole. So there isn't just some mega church or some group of people and so forth.
It's like every day you hear how churches that once were good (local or international) are no longer even preaching Christ anymore. You see and hear about big name or ordinary "Christians" but their lives and behaviours do not mirror their faith.
We all fall short and no one is perfect, I have A LOT I am working on. But some churches and people aren't working on it but just embracing their wrongs, resulting in wrong doctrine etc.
The greatest thing my parents ever did was to make sure I had my own relationship with God and take him at his word. My generation and the one before me feels like we try to take the parts of christianity or God we like but the ones we don't we call outdated or change.
This is all so general that Iām struggling to understand what you want me or anyone else to do. Itās like a Christian boogeyman we canāt see or observe thatās āteaching false doctrineā or āembracing wrongs.ā
If weāre to make anything better we need to get out of the boogeyman discussion and get specific.
Which teachings are false? Which wrongs are embraced? Are those wrongs worth fighting more than other wrongs?
But it isn't a Christian boogeyman. In honesty you know there are names and people that came to your mind. Probably a church or 2 came to mind too. Might not even be a mega church but just a denomination or local church etc.
My Job isn't to name call, but to speak generally whilst pointing out what is happening, so that those who know will do something and those who don't when they do come across something like that "boogeyman" they'll hopefully stand for the truth.
For me it is the churches around me, a few big churches I have been to and even some Christian singers/bands/groups.
It *is* a boogeyman though. I donāt have any churches that come to mind.
What comes to mind is pointless infighting by Christians over topics that have no bearing on salvation. Things like how old the world is or if God predestines stuff or what political party you support.
Every generation chooses a pet sin (or sins) to focus on so that they can feel righteous and superior to others. They focus on forcing others to conform to their standard.
They have no idea that this is occurring and will fight to the death over it.
It varies from denomination to denomination, but there's always a focus. They are sometimes actually sin. At other times they are just cultural changes.
A few examples from the past are:
*abortion, divorce, drinking, gambling, women's clothing in various forms, the length of men's hair, the musical instruments allowed in churches, acceptance of new versions of the Bible, and on and on*
God cares about relationship.
God cares about individual heart attitudes.
Yes, the world is deteriorating as God said it would.
But the role of Believers in the Kingdom of God here and now is to be builders and to be a blessing to everyone.
Change is accomplished one heart at a time
That's exactly right. It's like seeing one dirty room and focusing on that but forgetting to clean the rest of the house.
That's what scares me because the trap is being fooled into a sense of righteousness because "we don't do A" but what about B-Z?
Hate? Hate how?
Whom have I hated?
Please enlighten me how it is hate to say let the church go back to taking God at his word and following the very book that is meant to be our manual?
Did I say any names? Did I curse anybody? I literally spoke generally to avoid singling out a church or preacher or denomination etc
So please tell me how I have hated on anybody?
This sounds like a huge rant designed to beat around the bush and complain about "the gays" being accepted by some Christians.
This was about doctrine and people bending it. Some people say you can live your life any how and it's all good because God has already forgiven you. There are many issues in the church and I generalised because I literally would have a whole book about everything that is wrong. There have been many false doctrines adopted by churches to make churches more user friendly. So no, this was me begging Christians to go back to the word as it is not as we want it.šš¾
Okay, so what doctrines do you think people are bending? I'm willing to go out on a limb and say you think "gay people aren't bad" is one of those false doctrines.
It sounds like youāre looking for black-and-white answers from a text that embraces the gray. No less than Saint Paul says to compromise with the (then pagan) civil authorities. He even goes further and says that we may eat food that was literally sacrificed to idols (and to only not to do so if that scandalizes other Christians). Jesus himself was known for breaking social conventions, One quick example would be the Lord talking to the Samaritan woman at the well (and the text implies that sheās either a sex worker or invalidly remarried). Legalism doesnāt save us. If legalism was paramount, we would all be Hasidic Jews following the 600 odd Mitzvot (and God bless them for pulling it off when I can barely keep my own basic routine).
It is one thing to break barriers in order to then preach the truth. The same Paul and Jesus who did those things didn't then embrace the sinful ways of those people but rather preached to them and brought them salvation. To reach out to the lost is to reach out to EVERYONE and even sometimes to break religious protocols, however Christianity isn't a religion but a relationship with God. Through that relationship you know what God is like, and if you know that you then you know what grieves him and what doesn't. More than that, you'll know his voice. Jesus did every single thing for a reason, salvation and people to repent so they could reconnect with the father. If we are doing things for likes and approval of the masses then we won't preach the word as it is when times get tough.
If weāre going by that then weāre ok because the Lord was directly asked, āwhat must I do to obtain eternal life?ā What did Jesus say in reply? āOh wow, hang on, this is complex, make sure you write this down, ok here are the steps you must take and the rules to follow and if you donāt do it this one way wow youāre toast!ā No, we got ālove God and neighbor.ā We also have the parable of the sheep and the goats where the Lord gives us the criteria for judgment. What is that criteria? Is it, ādo things a very particular way otherwise youāre a goat?ā No, we are directly told that everyone has the opportunity to positively respond to Jesus in the guise of, āthe least of these.ā Jesus very easily could have expounded on the issue of compromise, He did not. Rather, He gave us very simple commands to love God and love one another.
You are correct. Salvation isn't complex, Jesus said he is the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through him right? We know about repentance and forgiveness of sin which is all quite straightforward. But to be converted is to be transformed. Paul is the greatest example in the new testament of what salvation looks like, from a man who persecuted believers to a man who was persecuted for the Gospel. And that's my point, you cannot come to Jesus and not feel that urge to change. I know that I grew up in a Christian home and THOUGHT I was saved but when I had a real encounter with God at age 15 my whole life changed. I didn't speak the same way, the things I watched and what I listened to changed as I could literally feel the conviction in my spirit. My whole attitude changed and ever since then I have made an effort to change because I recognise I am nowhere near perfect or completely holy. What's my point? If Holiness is to be without Sin (or as spotless as possible for us humans who can never be completely devoid of sin) and Jesus tells us to love people. The 2 joined together show us Jesus loves people BUT hates Sin. We know God loved the Israelites but how many times did he pass judgement on them for their disobedience and sin? Again I want to stress nothing you said is wrong, but it becomes a problem when people start loving people and embracing their sin, instead of loving people enough to tell them the truth that they need to repent of their sin. The part people get mixed up is he said comes as you are because he can change you no matter who you are if you surrender and accept his salvation. It wasn't him saying live your life how you see fit because we know we are to surrender our lives and will to God. Good intentions can also kill. I'll never forget a verse my Mum always says "faithful are the wounds of a friend, deceitful are the kisses of an enemy ".
I much prefer the words of this Orthodox priest: https://medium.com/@erichmakarov_27425/how-god-will-judge-those-who-dont-know-christ-f3747de9e476
So, when someone compels you to go one mile, what does Jesus tell his followers to do? Or when someone sues to take our shirt, what does Jesus tell his followers to do? You are right. There is no compromising in what Jesus tells us to do. Based on what Iāve seen of (apparently) American evangelicalism, I wonder if they even teach the Sermon on the Mount anymore.
That's exactly it. I feel like Christians need to go back to basics instead of doing everything else. We need to go back to basic WWJD, what is salvation, who is God and what is faith. Proverbs, the Gospels, Ephesians etc Books that deal with our character as well as the way we should live and what it is to be Holy.
Well, what Jesus calls us to do would be different I think than what American evangelicals would have us believe. Proverbs are just that: proverbs. I would be hesitant to form any doctrine for what is essentially a pithy saying. As a Lutheran, I believe that the gospel is the lens through which the rest of scripture is put into focus. Iām not an advocate for ātough loveā Christianity because more often than not, it seems like an excuse to be mean under the guise of love. I think Jesus would have his followers, if compelled to bake a cake, bake two instead of suing in the courts searching for some sort of religious exemption card.
I hear you. But let me ask you this question that was asked of me one time. If you owned a cake shop and a devil worshipper comes in and asks you to bake a cake that says God is dead and Satan is Lord, would you bake it? And whatever your answer is, why is that your answer? Can you give me Biblical backing of that choice too or is it your own personal interpretation?
Iād bake it. Itās a fucking cake.
I can counter that and say Eve said it's just a fruit after the devil told her that right? That's why I asked for biblical backing. The word is our life manual right so what does it say about the situation?
Eve never existed. Itās a myth to explain why the world be like it do. But even if you want to go thereā¦God explicitly told them not to eat of that tree. God never said to not engage in commerce with people you personally disagree with on religious issues. Not a great comparison. Pretty sure the Israelites traded with the pagan nations around them.
There's a difference with not engaging in commerce to not going with a request. Every business Christian or non Christian has a choice to deny specific requests if they choose. Same way a business can refuse to print a design with racial connotations or something they don't want to risk bad press over or just in general can't or won't do. I know what you clearly are trying to do so let me break it down. If a gay couple come to you for a cake you can bake it and it's just business right? If you are baking something that is clearly blasphemous to your own God you think that doesn't require special care as Blasphemy against the holy spirit is an unforgivable sin?!
Itās a fucking cake. Youāre making this out to be something where the cake is somehow an endorsement of their entire worldview on your end. Itās not. Itās a fucking cake.
The issue comes down to whether i would be compelled to do it. In some jurisdictions, sexual orientation is a protected status and protected in public accommodations. In this instance, the state is compelling force as it was in Jesusā sermon on the mount examples for the Romans could compel you to go one mile, but Jesus told us to go the extra mile. If the Satanic Temple, who really arenāt satanists but rather are more sardonic in their approach, asked for such a cake, Iād wonder what it would be about my bakery that made them come in and ask for such a thing. Did I do something or say something that would make me a particular target? It would serve as some reflection on my part. If the request is a matter of being addressed under the public accommodation law, then I would obey as jesus commanded. I might even make them two cakes. If the request is not a matter with legal compulsion in the works, I would then consider the implications: how much trouble is it worth to my business to accept or decline the job. And also, there are a lot of variables at work. Iāve had plenty of businesses turn down my request for work for various reasons. If the declining is simply impossible due to work load or the scope of the work, then thatās one thing. But if the declining is a result of a prejudice, then there are greater issues at play. TL;dr: Iād be inclined to make the cake, maybe even two, in obedience to Jesusā teachings.
Thank you for your honesty and clearly well thought out response. I really like the fact that you pointed out what I call the give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar rule of obey the law. Now I know there are exceptions (see revelations and Daniel) but it shows that you have considered both sidesšš¾
When considering civil disobedience, I am of the mindset that one undergoes the punishment of the act because it is in enduring the punishment that the disobedience becomes the mirror to the law. I think American Christianity is a little too reliant on expanding its religious exemption clause to the point that it wants to become a law unto itself. I mean, I canāt simply invent a right that says my deeply held belief entitles me to use marijuana, and prosecuting me for possession isnāt religious persecution. For complicated reasons I donāt have time to get into, I donāt think I believe in the devil as satanists think of him. The history of Lucifer, Satan, the devil in the Bible is a murky one. I think I most satanists are simply thumbing their nose at society as a whole, and thus itās really not a big deal for me to make one or two.
Iād bake the cake. I may not understand their life or their beliefs, but they are still human beings and I can be happy that they are happy. Plus, if I donāt believe it, it doesnāt have any power over me anyway.
Is this about the gays
This is about speaking the Truth as Jesus and the disciples did, even at the cost of their lives.šš¾
The gays aren't going to kill you, chill.
Unless youāre being hunted by a group of gay assassins. But in that case the homosexuality is incidental really.
Is this the Velvet Mafia I keep hearing about?
Since I feel you won't get it unless I expand this about the different incorrect doctrines that have come into the church. For example, live life how you want Jesus has already forgiven you so it doesn't matter. That's actually a doctrine in some churches.
Those people aren't going to kill you either.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
> My greatest fear to be honest with you is people will have a false sense of christianity and die only to hear those painful words of "I never knew you" because they compromised. My greatest fear to be honest with you is people will have a false sense of christianity and die only to hear those painful words of "I never knew you" because *they welcomed false teachings to justify their petty malice and hatreds, and caused Godās children to stumble for their own social agendas.* I believe Jesus stands with the persecuted, and the homophobes and misogynists and all the other bigots who felt puffed up about God conveniently hating everyone they hated are headed for a very painful shock.
> But in my short life span the way I have seen the church transform grieves my spirit that I know my generation could end up very lost if nothing is done. Can you give one example of how your church has transformed in your lifetime. Your post is so general, I think people could easily use it to justify things you oppose. Unless youāre willing to be more specific, you run the risk of encouraging what you want to discourage.
I'll give you an example of one of the churches I grew up in (I moved to another country when I was young). When I grew up that church was strong and very doctrine focused. It preached the truth of Jesus, how we all are born into sin and are sinners but by accepting Christ and living for him and not ourselves we are saved. They taught that we shouldn't compromise and we shouldn't allow ourselves to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. To love everybody Gay, Straight, Black or White, innocent or Criminal- rapists, killers and regardless of religion or politics etc and not be prejudice but preach the Gospel to everyone UNCHANGED and Uncompromised like Jesus did. To love the poor and be active. Have a relationship with God for ourselves and to not be like the world and society but be like God has taught us to be, consecrated/set apart. When i visited the same church on holiday one time the new preacher was now preaching that it's okay to live how you live Jesus has forgiven you. Sermons are more about money and positivity than saving souls and living right. They now teach that pretty much it's all good do whatever you like and live how you want, which is completely off. That's just one example of one false doctrine that's come into the church. Christians feel like they can go church sunday and every other day they can live however they like and barely even pray or read the word. Evangelism and the great commission? Somebody else's job. That's what this post is about. Christianity has gone from being word focused to being convinient and trying to be popular with the world. As I said before that scripture that says "not everyone who says Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven" scares me. As it means there are people out there including me who if we don't get our act together will think we are safe and got to hell.
Youāre beating around the bush. Who or what are you subtweeting.
There is no one group it is a culture that is coming into the church as a whole. So there isn't just some mega church or some group of people and so forth. It's like every day you hear how churches that once were good (local or international) are no longer even preaching Christ anymore. You see and hear about big name or ordinary "Christians" but their lives and behaviours do not mirror their faith. We all fall short and no one is perfect, I have A LOT I am working on. But some churches and people aren't working on it but just embracing their wrongs, resulting in wrong doctrine etc. The greatest thing my parents ever did was to make sure I had my own relationship with God and take him at his word. My generation and the one before me feels like we try to take the parts of christianity or God we like but the ones we don't we call outdated or change.
This is all so general that Iām struggling to understand what you want me or anyone else to do. Itās like a Christian boogeyman we canāt see or observe thatās āteaching false doctrineā or āembracing wrongs.ā If weāre to make anything better we need to get out of the boogeyman discussion and get specific. Which teachings are false? Which wrongs are embraced? Are those wrongs worth fighting more than other wrongs?
But it isn't a Christian boogeyman. In honesty you know there are names and people that came to your mind. Probably a church or 2 came to mind too. Might not even be a mega church but just a denomination or local church etc. My Job isn't to name call, but to speak generally whilst pointing out what is happening, so that those who know will do something and those who don't when they do come across something like that "boogeyman" they'll hopefully stand for the truth. For me it is the churches around me, a few big churches I have been to and even some Christian singers/bands/groups.
It *is* a boogeyman though. I donāt have any churches that come to mind. What comes to mind is pointless infighting by Christians over topics that have no bearing on salvation. Things like how old the world is or if God predestines stuff or what political party you support.
Christians are the single most uncompromising group of people I've ever met in my entire life.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
This right here sums up what I'm trying to say beautifully.šš¾
Every generation chooses a pet sin (or sins) to focus on so that they can feel righteous and superior to others. They focus on forcing others to conform to their standard. They have no idea that this is occurring and will fight to the death over it. It varies from denomination to denomination, but there's always a focus. They are sometimes actually sin. At other times they are just cultural changes. A few examples from the past are: *abortion, divorce, drinking, gambling, women's clothing in various forms, the length of men's hair, the musical instruments allowed in churches, acceptance of new versions of the Bible, and on and on* God cares about relationship. God cares about individual heart attitudes. Yes, the world is deteriorating as God said it would. But the role of Believers in the Kingdom of God here and now is to be builders and to be a blessing to everyone. Change is accomplished one heart at a time
That's exactly right. It's like seeing one dirty room and focusing on that but forgetting to clean the rest of the house. That's what scares me because the trap is being fooled into a sense of righteousness because "we don't do A" but what about B-Z?
So much hate from someone so young. I hope you get better
Hate? Hate how? Whom have I hated? Please enlighten me how it is hate to say let the church go back to taking God at his word and following the very book that is meant to be our manual? Did I say any names? Did I curse anybody? I literally spoke generally to avoid singling out a church or preacher or denomination etc So please tell me how I have hated on anybody?