What’s wrong with Christianity? CHRISTIANS!
Why all the division?
Why are the ‘factions’ warring against each other instead of showing a united front to win the world?
Why is it such a BIG DEAL about who is right and who is wrong?
It is pretty sad when atheists have more unity than the christian ranks.
According to scripture we are to ‘go into the highways and byways and compel them to come in’.
Compel…an interesting word…”To exert a strong, irresistible force on; to sway”
Hhmmm…a strong, irrestible force…making coming to Christ irresistible…what an interesting thought.
I have an idea….let’s get outside of the four walls of the church and do something!
Let’s stop arguing about theology and start preaching Christ risen. Let’s tell of the goodness of God…how he sent His Son to set us free…How He gave his life and rose again so we would no longer have to be dead in our sin. Stop arguing about which translation to use.
It doesen’t matter what kind of church you go to or what denomination you claim to belong to…what matter is that you put some legs to your faith and put your money where your mouth is.
I have read countless posts on different blogs where ‘so-called’ Christians are attacking other Christians on stupid stuff like whether or not one should refer to one’s wife as being ‘hot’. How freaking ridiculous!
(see CRN.info or Moviepastor.com or..if you dare…Slice of Laodicia)
This type of hypocritical non-sense makes me ill.
Here is a thought….GET OVER YOURSELF!
Again…according to scripture ‘they will know that you are my disciples by your love for one another’ Hhmmm!
Don’t just talk Christian…BE a Christian. Be christ-like! Don’t just tell them about Christ’ love…show it.
If you are a new Christian reading this…don’t be discouraged…pick up your Bible….read it prayerfully…judge everything according to scripture…NOT what man says.
We should be at war against the darkness of this world instead of bashing our brothers over the head!
It’s just a thought!
Peace!
Jimmy
Relevant Christian 
AMEN!
Amen. Recently heard a sermon going to Eph 6:12. The person (saved or not) is NOT where our struggle belongs. If that person is living and breathing, then they, as flesh and blood, are to be loved.
yes indeed.
thanks for keeping it on the real!
hehe… you have been called out!
The reason that there is a faction in Christianity today (not the magazine) is because there IS a faction in Christianity today. Let me explain. Today, there are 2 forms of Christianity. There are 2 Jesus.’ Two different plans of salvation. It’s true that every Christian wants to win people to Christ. But each group wants to win the lost to the type of Christ that they believe in.
Mormons of course have a different Jesus. Everyone knows this. They believe that Jesus is Satan’s brother, as are you and I. I would never try to win someone to Mormonism because it’s winning them to Jesus, but not the real Jesus. The same is now true in Evangelical Christianity. Even in ‘mainstream’ Christianity there has appeared a ‘fake’ Jesus. This is the war that is currently being waged. If you are a follower of the true Christ, you must reject the fake Christ. There MUST be fighting. There MUST be division. As Jesus himself said, “for what does light have in common with darkness?” The fight must go on. The true Jesus must be fought for. “Fight the good fight.”
They believe that YOU worship your own made up version of Jesus. You believe that these people are legalistic are religious. You don’t have a desire to join them do you? I’m guessing NO. Likewise, they don’t have the desire to join with you.
You see the faction? Yep, It’s there.
Your blog is really asking the question, “can’t they just come to our side and believe what we believe? That way everyone can get along.”
What THEY are asking is, “can’t YOU come to their side and believe what they believe? That way everyone can get along.”
You see? Two Jesus’, two beliefs, two Christianities. One Jesus loves, the other he despises.
I won’t tell you which is which. But I’ll tell you how to find out which is the true version and which is the false.
“pick up your Bible….read it prayerfully…judge everything according to scripture…NOT what man says.”
Where in scripture do you find that “it doesn’t matter what you believe doctrinally – as long as you believe in Jesus that’s OK”? No where. Look to 2 Timothy 4:19 to see what the apostle Paul thought of men who believed in Jesus, yet taught false doctrine. What was the result? The overthrow of some people’s faith – while preaching Christ. That’s why Paul also said, “there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Gal 1:7). Not discard Christ’s message, but twist it, which is exactly what is happening right at this moment. The message of the gospel was not unity regardless of truth, but truth being the unifying factor that brings us together in love. Unfortunately, in your quest to be relevant you might find yourself compromising truth for popularity and acceptance.
By all means keep it real. Here’s some reality for you
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. Math 10:34-35
How about this reality
For there must be also heresies (factions) among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 1Cor 11:9
Now do you know why there are factions and divisions among us?
This post reminds me of the Groucho Marx quote: “I don’t care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.”
I am what’s wrong with Christianity.
What is wrong with you people that keep missing the point?
I will type it slowly so you can understand…
No where did I say that it is ok to “believe what you want to believe”…what I said is…”Let’s stop arguing about theology and start preaching Christ risen. Let’s tell of the goodness of God…how he sent His Son to set us free…How He gave his life and rose again so we would no longer have to be dead in our sin. Stop arguing about which translation to use.
It doesen’t matter what kind of church you go to or what denomination you claim to belong to…what matters is that you put some legs to your faith and put your money where your mouth is.”
Basically what I am saying is this…stop preaching to the choir and get out and tell someone who doesn’t know Christ about Him. That is the point I am trying to make.
No where do I ever condone using a watered down Gospel. No where do I ever condone peaching a false doctrine. Read some of the posts with my name attached and you will see what I am about.
Most of the people attached to such blogs as AM and SOL just want to argue, name call, finger point and accuse. AND…I am not saying that everything that they say is wrong.
I don’t care if you ever come over to “my side”. I don’t care if you are a fundamentalist, calvanist or whatever. I am not arguing theology and will not argue theology.
What I am concerned about is the millions of lost souls out there that need to hear the Gospel. i am concerned about those that will read the words at AM and SOL and others like it, and be totally turned off by the seemed hatred spewed from the pages.
SL…so now I am a heretic?
Louie Louie,
Very well put.
I have no problem with fundamentists…in fact, if one were to get to know me, they would see that we have more in common than they realize.
I am always open to ‘discussing’ theology…but I will not argue it.
I believe what I believe because of what I have read in scripture….not because of what man says. I believe that if I am flawed in my theology, God will show me the error of my ways. Not any man!
“Philippians 2
1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
Peace!
And I say: I am concerned about those that will read the words at Relative Christian and Purpose Driven.com and others like it, and be totally turned off by the actual compromise of the doctrines of grace from their pages.
You aren’t going to save anybody. When you say: “Most of the people attached to such blogs as AM and SOL just want to argue, name call, finger point and accuse,” you are now among other “people that keep missing the point?”
Maybe so Ken…maybe so.
“I have an idea….let’s get outside of the four walls of the church and do something!”
Hey Holmes, come visit my church.
“Let’s stop arguing about theology and start preaching Christ risen.”
Christ risen is theology, and good theology at that!
“Let’s tell of the goodness of God…how he sent His Son to set us free…How He gave his life and rose again so we would no longer have to be dead in our sin.”
Do that virtually everyday.
“Stop arguing about which translation to use.”
I never do that.
“We should be at war against the darkness of this world instead of bashing our brothers over the head!”
This would include the darkness being spread about by my “brothers”
“Here is a thought….GET OVER YOURSELF!”
Judging from the “over the top” tone of this post. I would suggest you follow your own advice.
Luke 12:
49″I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Matthew 10:
34″Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.
Eph 6:
17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Hebrews 4:
12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Let the Word (Jesus and the scriptures) divide.
Thanks Chris P. for proving my point.
Peace!
Here is another thought:
Ephesians 4:25-32
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26″In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29Do 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. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Hmmmm!
Peace!
This blog brings up an excellent point, for though shall not judge. Even Paul said in Philippians 1:
1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife,
and some also out of good will.
1:16 The former insincerly preach Christ from selfish ambition,
thinking that they add affliction to my chains;
1:17 but the latter out of love,
knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
1:18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth,
Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.
There are other scriptures where Paul makes it clear that we should stay clear of false teachings- but of course, yet someone that has faith in God through Jesus Christ is a brother/sister(.) We all are tainted by sin, only some sins are more “in our faces” than others.
Romans 14 also shows us that this is not a new thing and it is indeed something we should take to heart.
Oh Jimmy,
This is SO great. Ken called you out. He’s gonna send all sorts of angry people over here questioning your salvation. Now, is the time for me to touch up that post on gender identification issues.
First Dave, “does war” with Ingrid. Now, you need to get over yourself you heretic!
Peace
Hey Joe..long time no speak.
Yeah…I know…it’s a never ending cycle it seems.
You fo sho need to post that puppy.
(tell Erica to be careful about google searching) 🙂
Peace!
You know, we could do press releases to our…um..friends. That way they’d know ahead of time what heresy we were going to put up. 🙂 Don’t worry, I have beaten her into complete submission and no googleing for her for a month!
Too funny!
I love how a post from Ken or Ingrid creates a hate swarm of fundamentalists at all of these “heretical” emergent blogs.
I just read Joe’s post above this one, and laughed, because I have found several great blogs because Ingrid and Ken pointed them out to me. So in a way, I guess I should be thankful for them, right?
Dave,
Very true. I have found some of my favorite blogs the same way.
*tongue in cheek* HERETICS UNITE!
Peace!
Yea, I have to say I agree. It is NOT about us. Let’s focus on God’s priorities.
Jimmy,
Among several things in your article but I find one that is very interesting. What is wrong with calling other guys wives “hot”? We know how guys visualize first when looking at women. So God knows what you are thinking when you call a woman “hot”. A Christian man shouldn’t be speaking that way. FOOLISH TALK!!
Sherry…I would never speak of another mans wife that way…it is not right.
I was speaking about my wife as I know Dave was speaking in regards to his wife in the original post.
Peace!
Sherry, You crack me up. You have no idea what I am thinking (unless you are now clairvoyant) when I say my wife is hot. Even if I am lusting after her, she’s my wife! If I say that Jimmy’s wife is hot, whether you like or not, there is a whole generation that simply takes that the same way the word beautiful is meant.
–Smiling because my wife’s hot.
Hey Joe,
Maybe me, you and Dave should start a ‘hot wives’ club. 🙂
I think you hit it right on the head Joe..hot = beautiful.
Pretty much sums up my feelings.
Dude,
Let me be clear on this. If I did that, my wife would beat the Italian out of me.
Pingback: Top 10 Posts For 2007…so far! « Relevant Christian Blog
Samuel Clear, a 28 year old from Australia, is walking an 18 month pilgrimage across the planet inviting people to join him in praying for the unity of all Christians. Naming the pilgrimage, Walk4One, Sam sold everything he owned to personally fund the journey, and left Australia on December 14, 2006. This began his 29,000km, 564 day, worldwide journey, which will include 18,000kms travelled on foot. Sam is soon to arrive in the US. To read about Sam’s journey, have a look at http://www.ymt.com.au/walk4one