It has come to my attention that my previous post entitled "Love on the Dance Floor" has offended many readers. They felt as if I had been talking directly about them in the post and I should have gone directly to them rather than make a post for the whole world to see. Others apparently feel that I have decided or implied that I will decide to disassociate myself from them because they are the kind of people I described in the above mentioned post as so called "brothers in Christ" who aren't really. That is, people who true Christians should avoid.
I am disappointed at this reaction because these things were never the point even though the title and one of the examples in the post along with the post's timing apparently seem to target a particular group of people. The post was not targeted at anyone in particular. My intention was not to condemn anyone, but rather to expose the seriousness of what's going on in the world so that we can examine ourselves and make sure that our faith is alive. I want to reach people.
I pray that everyone who read this post, offended or not, Christian or not, was convicted to follow Christ or to follow Him better. To those who identified with the false Christians I described: "...put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls"(James 1:21). I would much rather become united with you as a brother in Christ than never see or hear from you again!
No matter what is thought about my post, this fact remains: Christ died to save sinners such as ourselves and "...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). So what are you waiting for? Give your life to God and have a true faith in Christ who died for you! Let us live in faith even on the dance floor!
If anyone would like a couple of passages to check out about repentance, forgiveness, faith and salvation, then have a look at these to start with: John 3:16-21, 2 Corinthians 7:5-12, James 2:14-26 and 1 John 1:5-10.
15.8.12
9.8.12
Love on the Dance Floor
I had a discussion with someone earlier tonight in which he said,"The world needs Christ, not Christianity." I immediately thought to myself that it is a shame that we feel like we have to make a distinction between being a Christian and having a relationship with Christ. The reason that we feel this way is because there are so many things labelled as Christian or "Christianly" or "forms of Christianity" that are not Christian! I could go and ask many people I know if they have faith in Christ or if they are a Christian and they will say immediately, confidently and without hesitation,"YES!" Then I observe the way in which they live their lives and they answer me through their actions with the same conviction,"NO!" You see, today people call anything or anyone Christian even if they have nothing to do with Christ whatsoever.
I have seen "Christians" use extremely foul language even in the presence of their "Christian" friends without any shock or shame on either party's part. I have seen them tell foul and dirty jokes. I have seen them discuss their sexual exploits proudly and with no remorse. I have seen them tell and encourage the telling of lies. I have seen them French kiss people who they have just met on a dance floor and have hardly spoken with; I've heard them call it love.
One may say,"yes, but God still forgives them no matter how much they sin because of their professed faith in Christ." The problem with this, however, is that they are not sorry for these sins! They do it in front of each other! They encourage it. They scorn those who rebuke them! This is textbook dead faith as described in James 2:14-26. God does not forgive them because they do not have faith in Him to begin with! Their professed faith is just another lie! In one breath these people will call themselves Christians and in the next they will spit in Christ's face by their actions. At least atheists are honest about why they live the way they do.
Christ knew of these people and dealt harshly with them. In Matthew 23, Christ speaks to the scribes and pharisees who had done something very similar to the people spoken about above. They were not only claiming faith in God and not living accordingly, but they were preaching on how to live a godly life. Christ calls them, amongst other things, blind guides (v.16,24), a brood of vipers(v.33), whitewashed tombs(v.27) and even children of hell(v.15)!
Paul tells us that we are to have nothing to do with such people in 1 Corinthians 5:11:
"But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard or swindler-not even to eat with such a one."
So if someone claims to have faith in Christ but has not repented of his sin, then he must be avoided. I have seen the necessity of this in my own life. I have spent time with many people who claim to be Christians but live unrepentant lives and it had such a huge effect on me. They were called brothers in Christ and so I felt safe associating with them but they ended up having a terrible influence on me. I had found myself joining in with dirty jokes and other sinful conversations. I had found myself doing things which are clearly wrong but I didn't even notice at the time. Of all of these things I have had to repent and I have started seeking to spend my time with true members of the body of Christ!
Society doesn't realize that having faith in Christ is a lifestyle and relationship and not merely a confession. They claim faith in the Lord but have no desire to please Him.
The gospel story is the story of a man who did have faith in His Father and who lived a life which willingly and happily strived to please the Father. Christ not only showed us how to live faith out, but He provided the means and object of our faith as well.
I have seen "Christians" use extremely foul language even in the presence of their "Christian" friends without any shock or shame on either party's part. I have seen them tell foul and dirty jokes. I have seen them discuss their sexual exploits proudly and with no remorse. I have seen them tell and encourage the telling of lies. I have seen them French kiss people who they have just met on a dance floor and have hardly spoken with; I've heard them call it love.
One may say,"yes, but God still forgives them no matter how much they sin because of their professed faith in Christ." The problem with this, however, is that they are not sorry for these sins! They do it in front of each other! They encourage it. They scorn those who rebuke them! This is textbook dead faith as described in James 2:14-26. God does not forgive them because they do not have faith in Him to begin with! Their professed faith is just another lie! In one breath these people will call themselves Christians and in the next they will spit in Christ's face by their actions. At least atheists are honest about why they live the way they do.
Christ knew of these people and dealt harshly with them. In Matthew 23, Christ speaks to the scribes and pharisees who had done something very similar to the people spoken about above. They were not only claiming faith in God and not living accordingly, but they were preaching on how to live a godly life. Christ calls them, amongst other things, blind guides (v.16,24), a brood of vipers(v.33), whitewashed tombs(v.27) and even children of hell(v.15)!
Paul tells us that we are to have nothing to do with such people in 1 Corinthians 5:11:
"But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard or swindler-not even to eat with such a one."
So if someone claims to have faith in Christ but has not repented of his sin, then he must be avoided. I have seen the necessity of this in my own life. I have spent time with many people who claim to be Christians but live unrepentant lives and it had such a huge effect on me. They were called brothers in Christ and so I felt safe associating with them but they ended up having a terrible influence on me. I had found myself joining in with dirty jokes and other sinful conversations. I had found myself doing things which are clearly wrong but I didn't even notice at the time. Of all of these things I have had to repent and I have started seeking to spend my time with true members of the body of Christ!
Society doesn't realize that having faith in Christ is a lifestyle and relationship and not merely a confession. They claim faith in the Lord but have no desire to please Him.
The gospel story is the story of a man who did have faith in His Father and who lived a life which willingly and happily strived to please the Father. Christ not only showed us how to live faith out, but He provided the means and object of our faith as well.
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