Are you living the life?

Are you living the life?

The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 
                                                                       1 Peter 2:9-12.
I write this to North American Christians in particular. Especially those in the United States. I see Christians both in the media and out bashing other faiths and lifestyles. Many do it because they are under the delusion that the United States and Canada are Christian nations. They are not. There is no Christian nation in the world today.
North America resembles the Roman empire not heaven.
Further more the people that are speaking out against others say they have the right to express their opinion because they have the right to freedom of speech.
This may be so. But speaking out against other groups even if you disagree with them is not what the Christian fathers wanted.
True Jesus and the disciples spoke up against wrong teaching within the Jewish faith of their day. But they were Jews speaking against other Jews. That is acceptable.
The apostle Paul says,
“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 are to keep our house clean not judge others. In speaking against non-Christians we are turning them against us.
Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  
                                                                                            Romans 12:18
The writer of Hebrews wrote,
“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.
If we are criticizing and perceived as attacking those of other faiths and ways of life we cannot reach people for the gospel.
Paul writing to the Galatians wrote,
“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
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”
                                                                                            Matthew 5:9.
Are you a peace maker. Are your actions in line with that of the Spirit of God?
Think about it.