Why do Christians Attack?
“Sin is sin and if you are sinning you are going to Hell.”
Words of a well meaning Christian preacher.
According to Christian belief the preacher is right. It however did nothing to endear him to the non-Christians who heard him say it. As a result, sadly his comments may have had eternal consequences.
One of the people hearing that preacher said to me.
“What right does he have to judge me! What right has he to say I am sinning? I’m at least as good as those in his congregation. Better than some.”
You see that person did not recognize the bible. The person seen it as an attack on her. From her vantage point she was right. She pointed out that the Bible tells people not to judge. And she is right.
Jesus said,
“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 wrote,
“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.
As Christians we have to watch what we say. Our words and actions can have eternal consequences.
If we by our words and deeds turn people away from God they I believe we will have to answer to God.
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
That is the job of a Christian. To make disciples and teach those disciples all Jesus taught. We are not to be in the judgment business.
We should when reaching out to non-Christians be careful what we say and how we say it. Remember they do not recognize the authority of the Bible in any way.
Many outside the church see the church as preaching a lot of “do not's” spoiling all the fun.
Sadly it has been men and women over the years with a holier than thou attitude that has painted that picture.
People outside the church all too often see Christians as bigoted, always asking for money and judgmental. And sadly they paint all Christians quite often with the same brush.
One of the most interesting things that ever happened to my wife and I was when someone said to us after we’d spent sometime talking to them about God, said to us,
“You’re not like other ‘Christians’ you don’t judge us.”
We were actually caught off guard and thanked the person. My wife and I still can’t figure out just what we did different from others.
All we did was present the gospel of Christ. We presented our beliefs. The same beliefs all Christians have.
Still the person listened to us and over the years since we’ve had a lot of positive discussion with that person.
I don’t believe in a confrontational gospel. I believe in simply presenting in love the facts about Jesus and the salvation He gives.
I don’t believe in brining up the word sin unless necessary. I believe people know if they are sinning. I believe it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict people of their sins not me.
My job is to point people to Christ and I’ve found the best way to do that is with love.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.”
Tony Campolo
Martin Luther King Jr. said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
It was out of love for mankind that God sent Jesus to this earth. Jesus stated His purpose in coming to the earth when He said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17.
It is only by reaching out in love and showing it in a tangible way that we can bring people to know God.
Do you?
“Sin is sin and if you are sinning you are going to Hell.”
Words of a well meaning Christian preacher.
According to Christian belief the preacher is right. It however did nothing to endear him to the non-Christians who heard him say it. As a result, sadly his comments may have had eternal consequences.
One of the people hearing that preacher said to me.
“What right does he have to judge me! What right has he to say I am sinning? I’m at least as good as those in his congregation. Better than some.”
You see that person did not recognize the bible. The person seen it as an attack on her. From her vantage point she was right. She pointed out that the Bible tells people not to judge. And she is right.
Jesus said,
“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 wrote,
“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.
As Christians we have to watch what we say. Our words and actions can have eternal consequences.
If we by our words and deeds turn people away from God they I believe we will have to answer to God.
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
That is the job of a Christian. To make disciples and teach those disciples all Jesus taught. We are not to be in the judgment business.
We should when reaching out to non-Christians be careful what we say and how we say it. Remember they do not recognize the authority of the Bible in any way.
Many outside the church see the church as preaching a lot of “do not's” spoiling all the fun.
Sadly it has been men and women over the years with a holier than thou attitude that has painted that picture.
People outside the church all too often see Christians as bigoted, always asking for money and judgmental. And sadly they paint all Christians quite often with the same brush.
One of the most interesting things that ever happened to my wife and I was when someone said to us after we’d spent sometime talking to them about God, said to us,
“You’re not like other ‘Christians’ you don’t judge us.”
We were actually caught off guard and thanked the person. My wife and I still can’t figure out just what we did different from others.
All we did was present the gospel of Christ. We presented our beliefs. The same beliefs all Christians have.
Still the person listened to us and over the years since we’ve had a lot of positive discussion with that person.
I don’t believe in a confrontational gospel. I believe in simply presenting in love the facts about Jesus and the salvation He gives.
I don’t believe in brining up the word sin unless necessary. I believe people know if they are sinning. I believe it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict people of their sins not me.
My job is to point people to Christ and I’ve found the best way to do that is with love.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.”
Tony Campolo
Martin Luther King Jr. said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
It was out of love for mankind that God sent Jesus to this earth. Jesus stated His purpose in coming to the earth when He said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17.
It is only by reaching out in love and showing it in a tangible way that we can bring people to know God.
Do you?
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