Christians?
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.
As I look at what passes for Christianity here in North America where I live I sometimes shake my head. I especially cringe when I hear people calling themselves born again Christians or evangelicals who are not.
I see the Bible, God, and Jesus used wrongly. Some evangelist, pastors, and even those who sit in the pews seem to treat Jesus as a cosmic bell boy to do their will.
They only pray when they need help. Some only give money to the work of God because some evangelist or pastor has told them if they give they will get ten, fifty, or a hundred fold back on what they give. As if God is a “cosmic banker” giving outrageous returns on and investment.What a bunch of garbage. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Others claim to have cast out demons or healed people in the name of Jesus. They claim fantastic miracles. Few however are willing to give independent proof of such things happening.
These are the men and women Jesus was talking about when he said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.
In North America it is “Christian beware!”
The freedoms our society offers us here in Canada and the United States is a double edged sword. It allows us to practice our faith freely while at the same time under the name of freedom of speech allows charlatans deceive people.
If you are a Christian you need to be looking at anyone you support who claims to be a Christian and that does not just extend to pastors, evangelist, and churches. It should extend to politicians and others who claim to be believers in Christ.
There is a simple standard I think we can hold all who claim to be Christian up to. Simple scriptures that express in a nutshell Christian values.
Jesus who said when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:36-38
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus who also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Matthew 5:43-47.
Again Jesus who said,
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42.
The James the half brother of Jesus writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?James 2:14-20.
Jesus tells us,
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
The Apostle Paul tells us,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:18-21.
The writer of Hebrews echos Pauls words to Christians writing,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14,
These are all attributes of a true Christian. These are just a few key Scriptural standards we as Christians need to hold all those who claim to be Christians up to, be they evangelist, Pastors, politicians or anyone else.
The apostle Paul gives Christians this word of advice writing,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13
We as Christians have the right to judge other Christians in order to make sure they are teaching and conducting their lives correctly. If they are not then we have the right to expel them from the Church. To have nothing to do with them.
Christians are to love, God, our neighbour, our enemy. To help those in need. We are not allowed to judge those outside the Church. We are to live at peace with all people and live holy lives.
This is what it is to live a true Christian life.
As the apostle Paul put it.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
Please think about it.
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.
As I look at what passes for Christianity here in North America where I live I sometimes shake my head. I especially cringe when I hear people calling themselves born again Christians or evangelicals who are not.
I see the Bible, God, and Jesus used wrongly. Some evangelist, pastors, and even those who sit in the pews seem to treat Jesus as a cosmic bell boy to do their will.
They only pray when they need help. Some only give money to the work of God because some evangelist or pastor has told them if they give they will get ten, fifty, or a hundred fold back on what they give. As if God is a “cosmic banker” giving outrageous returns on and investment.What a bunch of garbage. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Others claim to have cast out demons or healed people in the name of Jesus. They claim fantastic miracles. Few however are willing to give independent proof of such things happening.
These are the men and women Jesus was talking about when he said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.
In North America it is “Christian beware!”
The freedoms our society offers us here in Canada and the United States is a double edged sword. It allows us to practice our faith freely while at the same time under the name of freedom of speech allows charlatans deceive people.
If you are a Christian you need to be looking at anyone you support who claims to be a Christian and that does not just extend to pastors, evangelist, and churches. It should extend to politicians and others who claim to be believers in Christ.
There is a simple standard I think we can hold all who claim to be Christian up to. Simple scriptures that express in a nutshell Christian values.
Jesus who said when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:36-38
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus who also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Matthew 5:43-47.
Again Jesus who said,
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42.
The James the half brother of Jesus writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?James 2:14-20.
Jesus tells us,
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
The Apostle Paul tells us,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:18-21.
The writer of Hebrews echos Pauls words to Christians writing,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14,
These are all attributes of a true Christian. These are just a few key Scriptural standards we as Christians need to hold all those who claim to be Christians up to, be they evangelist, Pastors, politicians or anyone else.
The apostle Paul gives Christians this word of advice writing,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13
We as Christians have the right to judge other Christians in order to make sure they are teaching and conducting their lives correctly. If they are not then we have the right to expel them from the Church. To have nothing to do with them.
Christians are to love, God, our neighbour, our enemy. To help those in need. We are not allowed to judge those outside the Church. We are to live at peace with all people and live holy lives.
This is what it is to live a true Christian life.
As the apostle Paul put it.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
Please think about it.
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