05/26/09
( The following article is a lament from the heart and a genuine cry for authenticity; its not in anywise attacking any denomination or people group but written in the hope of provoking people to live like Christ)
“Preach the gospel at all times, use words when necessary” –St Francis of Assisi
The modern trend of Christianity seems to lack the driving force of the gospels and the early church. It is a practice devoid of the transforming power of Christ. When was the last you heard a sinner turned into a saint in recent times? Christianity has been diluted so much that its expression has little or no effect on the individual who drinks from it.
Today, the practice of God’s love is rare.
We love our own and but even there with great difficulty, practice forgiveness. However, didn’t Jesus say if you love those who love you (your friends or relatives) what does it profit? Don’t the heathen also do that?
If we love our own, it does not imply that we are walking in God’s love. We exhibit God’s love when we love our enemies and do good to those who hate us.
We give (giving is related not just to money but other areas as well) out of our abundance and think that we will be greatly rewarded. Don’t we remember the story of the widow’s mite? In the kingdom, sacrificial giving is what is honored and looked upon with esteem. Christian, when was the last time you gave sacrificially?
Today’s Christianity seems all about God blessing us. Have we read the New Testament properly? Did we fail to see the writings of the apostles, their lives and how the New Testament church lived? It was all about them blessing God. Everything was centered on living to please God regardless of the cost? They embraced suffering and we run away from it. Christian, did you get your name from Antioch or from the modern day hype filled Christianity?
We built a culture where gifts and talents are given utmost importance ignoring the necessity of purity and love. When was the last time we read I Corinthians 13? Do we have to wait till judgment day for the Lord to tell us that all our prophecies, healings and sacrifices were useless because we did not have God’s love? Will we be refused to glimpse upon His face for without Holiness no man shall see the Lord?
O vain man! You believe in God even the demons do that; you can perform miracles even the demons can do that. Do you not know that faith without works is dead?
(James 2) You claim you have faith then show it by your works. Love the poor and fill the lack of those around you. You want to imitate Abraham the father of our faith then be willing to sacrifice your only son on the altar. For true faith will sacrifice for the sake of Christ.
You praise Rahab for what she did in helping the spies. Did you not realize that she risked her life so that the purposes of God can be fulfilled? True faith will risk it all for Christ.
Christian live like one! Love your enemy, show the compassion of the Lord on the lost and hurting. Turn the other cheek. Give freely, give sacrificially and be ready to give away everything for the ONE who loved you and gave himself freely for you. Live in purity and holiness for there is a generation that has a form of godliness but denies its transforming power. Feed the widows and provide for the orphans. Live sacrificially. Risk it all for the sake of Christ.
“If Christians lived as they were supposed to, the world would have been a whole lot different by now”. – Mahatma Gandhi
“Let your eye be single, and your devotion unwearied and entire.”- Charles Finney
