Five points of Christianity

You have Christianity wrong if do not understand and have not internalized these 5 points.
 

                        1.    God can not be Loving -  without being Just 

2.    There is no forgiveness without repentance.

3.    There is no salvation without surrender.

                        4.    There is no life without death.

5.    There is no believing without following.

Most who fill our churches today want the benefits of Jesus, but are not interested in the sacrifices; they want Heaven but are unwilling to bear the cross.  They want a free ride.  We memorize John 3:16, but ignore John 9:23

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.   John 3:16

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  John 9:23

Are you doing it His way?  Or have you put a whole new spin on it - “if it feels good do it” otherwise know as doing it your way; and one day when you kneel before God is it your plan to simply proclaim “But I was just doing what made me happy.” 

Twenty times in the New Testament, Jesus issued a compelling and challenging invitation: “Follow Me.”   John 6 tells of Jesus at the height of His popularity, feeding 5,000 men plus women and children (to put that in context: this crowd was nearly as large as was the capacity of the largest theaters in the major cities of that time), afterwards knowing their hearts He left to cross to the other side of Lake Capernaum, the crowd followed not because of who He was, but because they wanted free food. On the other side, Jesus delivered hard words to the crowd and to the disciples - after which “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” John 6:66    

Jesus did not chase after them, Jesus did not try to appease them with entertainment, trinkets or donuts and ice cream, Jesus did not try to please the majority, Jesus did not make his teachings softer, in fact Jesus ratcheted up his teachings.  Jesus came to sift the wheat from the chafe.   Jesus is NOT looking for fans... He's looking for followers.

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other!   So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot  nor  cold —I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:14-16

Are you a Christian? Or just one of the many fans who are okay with following Jesus when it is easy - when it feels good, or when you want to be forgiven (without actually repenting) all of which sounds like free food to me; but are unwilling to press on in difficult times, to do what God says to do, instead of what you want to do; unwilling to internalize:

                        1.    God can not be Loving -  without being Just 

2.    There is no forgiveness without repentance.

3.    There is no salvation without surrender.

                   4.    There is no life without death.

5.    There is no believing without following.

It's time to decide if you are okay with being lukewarm. 

The ’Fan of Christ’ Favorite Verse

So in your quest to understand 'What is Christianity' you have obviously heard this until it made your ears  bleed.  How many people do you know that are constantly reminding others of this verse?  "Do.  not judge others, and you will not be judged."  Matthew 7:1 I hear it all the time, this verse is usually quoted after I say something like, “Really!!”  (try using the word ‘really’ depending on your tone and infliction it can convey so much, also there are times when that is the only word that fits the situation;  but I digress, back to the topic)  or “Well you know what?  That is wrong."  Okay maybe I say it a little more forcibly, but you get the point.  

Matthew 7:1 is the ‘Fan of Christ’ favorite verse.  This verse, however, is not telling us that we should not make judgments, because in other passages we read that as believers, we are indeed to make evaluations, to be discerning, and yes— to even make judgments.  In fact, the Bible asks, "Don't you realize that someday we believers will judge the world?  And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide even these little things among yourselves?”  1 Corinthians 6:2.  We are also told in Scripture "judgment must begin with God's household" 1 Peter 4:17.

A more accurate translation of Matthew 7:1 would be "Do not condemn others, and you will not be condemned”.  While the ‘Fan of Christ’ deliberately misinterprets their favorite verse, it does not alter the fact that  we are to judge, but we are not to condemn, for while I am in no position to condemn a person;  I am in a position to make judgments about things, situations, viewpoints, and even about people to some degree.

"Don't judge!" is said by ‘Fan’ who does not like it when we dare to challenge their behavior, actions, ideas and attitude.  In fact, I have found that those who claim to be most tolerant are in fact the least tolerant.  Those who are most narrow-minded people are often those who claim to be the most broad-minded.  Because when a Christian has a biblically based opinion, a ‘Fan of Christ’ will say, "How dare you say that!  Who are you to judge?"

If you claim to be a Christian, yet find yourself telling others ‘who are you to judge me’ perhaps it is time to reflect on if you are living a lifestyle that honors God.  Are those you find judging you in fact warning you that you are not obeying God?   Are you a Christian or a ‘Fan’?  There is a one living God, and you are not Him; if you are not obeying Him then you are willfully and deliberately disobeying Him.  

He has revealed himself in the pages of Scripture.  Therefore, as believers, we accept the fact that we have absolute truth from God.  In addition, we develop our worldview from what the Bible teaches, and part of that world view is to confront and judge those living in opposition to God, even if they are a ‘Fan’.

“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”  1 Peter 4:17