S/O - Kind of a rant, but feel free to add your comments

Guard Dad

Guard Dad

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Not directed at anyone in particular, but sometimes Christians come across as thinking they are better than everyone else. We have something special, a relationship with Jesus. But we must remember than this gift is free and available to all who claim it. We are not part of an exclusive club, rather one that we want others to be a part of. When we act better than or above everyone else, it tends to make them not want to join our club.

The Bible tells us that Jesus hung out with some pretty unsavory characters. He did this because he walked as man and loved all mankind. He loved and cared for the slightest among us. And that is precisely why his ministry was so effective and still thrives centuries later.

We are called to share his word, but IMO we can do so best by demonstrating the love of Christ and not the judgemental or superior attitude that some Christians display. I think often these attitudes come from well-meaning individuals who just don't realize how they appear to others. IMO, we should be aware of how we are perceived. That does not water down our testimonies in any way, it only makes them stronger and more effective. We can't be effective at sharing Christs love when we turn off those around us.

Comment as desired. :)
 
Thanks for calling me out loser..... JUST KIDDING! I agree with you. Too much judging and not enough loving!
 
I could not agree more. I forgot who said it, but it was something ot the effect of be a testimony every day and when necessary, use words.

I've long said that if Jesus came back on a Wednesday night, he wouldn't show up at a prayer meeting at some church (or non-prayer meeting as many/most churches should call them) - he'd be somewhere like Runaround Sue's sidled up to the bar talking to somebody, getting to know them, listening, laughing at common humor things, etc.

Jesus would so not be welcomed by many churches and many self-identifying Christians if he appeared on earth today.
 
mei lan said:
I could not agree more. I forgot who said it, but it was something ot the effect of be a testimony every day and when necessary, use words.

I've long said that if Jesus came back on a Wednesday night, he wouldn't show up at a prayer meeting at some church (or non-prayer meeting as many/most churches should call them) - he'd be somewhere like Runaround Sue's sidled up to the bar talking to somebody, getting to know them, listening, laughing at common humor things, etc.

Jesus would so not be welcomed by many churches and many self-identifying Christians if he appeared on earth today.
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Totally agree!
 
Guard Dad said:
mei lan said:
I could not agree more. I forgot who said it, but it was something ot the effect of be a testimony every day and when necessary, use words.

I've long said that if Jesus came back on a Wednesday night, he wouldn't show up at a prayer meeting at some church (or non-prayer meeting as many/most churches should call them) - he'd be somewhere like Runaround Sue's sidled up to the bar talking to somebody, getting to know them, listening, laughing at common humor things, etc.

Jesus would so not be welcomed by many churches and many self-identifying Christians if he appeared on earth today.
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Totally agree!
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:sermon
 
Guard Dad said:
Not directed at anyone in particular, but sometimes Christians come across as thinking they are better than everyone else. We have something special, a relationship with Jesus. But we must remember than this gift is free and available to all who claim it. We are not part of an exclusive club, rather one that we want others to be a part of. When we act better than or above everyone else, it tends to make them not want to join our club.

The Bible tells us that Jesus hung out with some pretty unsavory characters. He did this because he walked as man and loved all mankind. He loved and cared for the slightest among us. And that is precisely why his ministry was so effective and still thrives centuries later.

We are called to share his word, but IMO we can do so best by demonstrating the love of Christ and not the judgemental or superior attitude that some Christians display. I think often these attitudes come from well-meaning individuals who just don't realize how they appear to others. IMO, we should be aware of how we are perceived. That does not water down our testimonies in any way, it only makes them stronger and more effective. We can't be effective at sharing Christs love when we turn off those around us.

Comment as desired. :)
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I agree with you, but wanted to add to that line of thinking that in Christianity, where it is very diverse with many denominations, not one persons belief is better and not one denomination is right. Perception is not always reality, but it is what we see when we are told we are wrong and they are right.
 
I will repeat what I said on FB. We are to the point in our society that we water down our testimony and simply rely on our "walk." But then, we walk so quietly that you can't tell the difference between the Christians and non-Christians. I'm not a quiet, keep it to myself kinda girl. I'm perfectly willing to stand up and shout my testimony from the rooftops. I walk my walk and I will "go tell it on the mountain." I will shout it, tout it, name and proclaim it. If we don't TELL folks about Jesus, they aren't going to know what it is that makes us different.

And, I'm not better than anyone else, but those quiet Christians who like to hide in the closet and come out wearing their best judgment on Sundays aren't any better either. Those are the ones we should worry about.
 
we are suppose to go out and be the light...not put out others light.

we all are judgmental at times but some are way to harsh and way to " looking down upon others"

go out and love God and love people...i know some make it hard though lol
 
LisaC said:
I will repeat what I said on FB. We are to the point in our society that we water down our testimony and simply rely on our "walk." But then, we walk so quietly that you can't tell the difference between the Christians and non-Christians. I'm not a quiet, keep it to myself kinda girl. I'm perfectly willing to stand up and shout my testimony from the rooftops. I walk my walk and I will "go tell it on the mountain." I will shout it, tout it, name and proclaim it. If we don't TELL folks about Jesus, they aren't going to know what it is that makes us different.

And, I'm not better than anyone else, but those quiet Christians who like to hide in the closet and come out wearing their best judgment on Sundays aren't any better either. Those are the ones we should worry about.
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We're not called to be quiet, but we're also not called to beat people over the heads with our Bibles and make them feel like they are less than human.

In fact, Jesus died on the cross for ALL PEOPLE.

1 Timothy 2:6New International Version (NIV) 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.


Isaiah 53:6New International Version (NIV) 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.




So his gift is for everyone, not just those of us in Club JC.
 
It is the very thing that causes me to take issue with so much and so many in organized religion. Why are people spending so much time and energy deciding who to keep out of their homes and their churches when the very point is to bring people in? Ok, so I'm not bringing a drug dealing pimp into my home with my children but should that not be exactly who is most in need of the message, the word of God? Go to them, don't keep them from Him.
 
Guard Dad said:
Not directed at anyone in particular, but sometimes Christians come across as thinking they are better than everyone else. We have something special, a relationship with Jesus. But we must remember than this gift is free and available to all who claim it. We are not part of an exclusive club, rather one that we want others to be a part of. When we act better than or above everyone else, it tends to make them not want to join our club.

The Bible tells us that Jesus hung out with some pretty unsavory characters. He did this because he walked as man and loved all mankind. He loved and cared for the slightest among us. And that is precisely why his ministry was so effective and still thrives centuries later.

We are called to share his word, but IMO we can do so best by demonstrating the love of Christ and not the judgemental or superior attitude that some Christians display. I think often these attitudes come from well-meaning individuals who just don't realize how they appear to others. IMO, we should be aware of how we are perceived. That does not water down our testimonies in any way, it only makes them stronger and more effective. We can't be effective at sharing Christs love when we turn off those around us.

Comment as desired. :)
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Did you just call me an unsavory character! :tapfoot2 /jk
 
Hebrews 2:9New International Version (NIV) 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

1 John 2:2New International Version (NIV) 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Romans 5:6New International Version (NIV) 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
 
lotstodo said:
Guard Dad said:
Not directed at anyone in particular, but sometimes Christians come across as thinking they are better than everyone else. We have something special, a relationship with Jesus. But we must remember than this gift is free and available to all who claim it. We are not part of an exclusive club, rather one that we want others to be a part of. When we act better than or above everyone else, it tends to make them not want to join our club.

The Bible tells us that Jesus hung out with some pretty unsavory characters. He did this because he walked as man and loved all mankind. He loved and cared for the slightest among us. And that is precisely why his ministry was so effective and still thrives centuries later.

We are called to share his word, but IMO we can do so best by demonstrating the love of Christ and not the judgemental or superior attitude that some Christians display. I think often these attitudes come from well-meaning individuals who just don't realize how they appear to others. IMO, we should be aware of how we are perceived. That does not water down our testimonies in any way, it only makes them stronger and more effective. We can't be effective at sharing Christs love when we turn off those around us.

Comment as desired. :)
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Did you just call me an unsavory character! :tapfoot2 /jk
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You just smell that way. ;D
 
Honestly, I think it takes all types of approaches. Our goal is to outreach to everyone but there is not a "one size fits all" approach to reaching people. I know I wouldn't respond to a more "liberal" or "modern" approach, but others wouldn't respond to the "traditional" or more "in your face" approach. Some just need an invite, others a nudge, and others a shove with a swift kick to the backside. Just my opinion.
 
J-man said:
Honestly, I think it takes all types of approaches. Our goal is to outreach to everyone but there is not a "one size fits all" approach to reaching people. I know I wouldn't respond to a more "liberal" or "modern" approach, but others wouldn't respond to the "traditional" or more "in your face" approach. Some just need an invite, others a nudge, and others a shove with a swift kick to the backside. Just my opinion.
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Very true but all too often that shove with a kick is to get them out/away.
 
Well, sounds like simply another episode of your perception is not my reality.

All us humans up in here are different. What you may define as "uppity" may not have been intended as uppity and may not be perceived as uppity by someone else. Who gets to decide whose delivery is best? :dunno
 
Madea said:
Well, sounds like simply another episode of your perception is not my reality.

All us humans up in here are different. What you may define as "uppity" may not have been intended as uppity and may not be perceived as uppity by someone else. Who gets to decide whose delivery is best? :dunno
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I think the vast majority of Christians have the best of intentions; they just sometimes don't realize how they sound.

As J-Man mentioned; the best delivery often depends on the circumstances. And as a FB friend stated; you gotta listen for God to tell you what to say and how to say it. Admittedly, it's not always that easy though.
 
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