I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. GALATIANS 2:20
I REMEMBER A DIFFERENT TIME
I remember school letting out and summer fun just beginning! We would sleep in just a little, then rush to get out and play! We would ride our bikes, jump rope, go swimming, play kickball in the street, walk to the park, wait for the ice cream truck, walk to the corner candy store, and play until the street lights came on... a sign that it was time to go in.
BUT, on Sunday mornings people got dressed up for church, be they protestants or catholic. Neighbors took care of one another, if someone was out of work, food was collected for the family or even a monetary donation was given.
I realize this wasn't in every neighborhood of America, but we weren't a minority either.
LIFE HAS CHANGED - PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED
Today we worry about the person talking to our children, the neighbor handing them a piece of candy! Our children can't play in the street for fear of shooting and they aren't allowed to play with just anyone in the neighborhood... because now it is just the "hood" we've lost our neighbor and we have no idea who lives around us!
Most Sunday mornings people sleep in from drinking and partying the night before. The only time we "dress up" is to show respect when someone dies and attend their funeral. We don't have marriages or families any longer, we have relations and we have "baby mamas and baby daddies!"
I realize this blog is to short for any one of us to sort out the problems in America!
AN AMERICAN PROBLEM
We all seem to think this is "America's Problem!" We like to say, "The Government is the problem because there aren't enough jobs, the minimum wage is to low, housing costs are too expensive... and on... and it goes!"
AND WE THINK THIS IS AN AMERICAN PROBLEM
Too many of us have walked away from the Lord Jesus Christ! We have decided we can live any way we like! We don't want the "BIBLE, GOD'S WORD" as our guide book any longer!
We will sleep with who we want, when we want and move on to the next heart-breaker when we want to! We will be lazy and let the government support us and we will be greedy and take as much as the government will give... we'll even think of such ways, by not marrying and getting more government help that way!
CHRISTIANITY (NOT CHRIST JESUS) HAS CHANGED
Look, CHRISTIANITY is the most adhered to religion in the United States, with 75% of polled American adults identifying themselves as CHRISTIANS in 2015. Down from 85% in 1990. Just about 62% of those polled claim to be members of a church congregation. The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, with nearly 240 million Christians, "although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations!"
I was raised to believe in Christ Jesus and to become a Christian! I desired to accept Jesus Christ as my savior at the tender age of 5, and although I have failed to be a "perfect Christian at all times" I still love and want to serve my Lord Jesus Christ and my greatest ambition is to live as He lived!
CHRISTIANS HAVE CHANGED
If we no longer want to be "crucified with Christ Jesus" (in the spiritual sense) or "live our lives the way Christ Jesus lived," we are not to be called Christians! If we choose to live as this world lives, we are not to be considered living for Jesus Christ or deserve to be called a Christian!
For the real Christian, the life we now have within our body is a result of our trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for us. We can not be people who treat Christ's death as meaningless! For if we could be saved by keeping the Jewish laws, then there was no need for Christ to die for us!
IT IS A HEART PROBLEM
Simply put; We want Christianity "Our Way" and not "God's Way!" We want shorter church services, less time worshiping and less time at the altar of God!
Ask yourself a few questions and see WHAT YOUR HEART WANTS!
WHY CHRISTIANS ARE THEMSELVES LOST
We as "True Christians" have no sense of urgency to reach out to the lost! We are more known for what we are against than what we stand for. We have become lazy, indifferent, and our churches have ineffective strategies when it comes to reaching lost souls.
We are more concerned with "the numbers in our churches" and not the "lost in our midst!" Too many churches want to are concerned about getting the desires of the world met rather than reaching out to the lost.
RETREAT MODE
Church members today are in a "retreat mode" as the church culture becomes more worldly and evades Biblical principals. Most church members don't believe that Christ is "the only way of salvation!"
Churches are no longer "Houses of Prayer" equipped to reach the lost. We lost our focus on making disciples who will be equipped and motivated to reach the lost! We simply do not want to share the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" for fear of offending others.
ACTIVITY ORIENTED
We've become an "activity-oriented churches" rather than "A Christ-Centered Church!" Our kids aren't taught that softball, dance class, music lessons or whatever your child does, NO ACTIVITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING AT EVERY CHURCH SERVICE!!
(And Parents -- Your Children Will Pay the Price for this!)
My heart breaks because instead of adhering to Sunday morning and evening services and Wednesday nights Bible study and PRAYER SERVICE -- The church has caved and cancelled church services to meet the needs of the people, but it's just driven them further from GODLY PRINCIPLES!!
And, that is because "most church leaders and members" have not received Christ Jesus as their own personal Lord and Savior nor do they know "the Power of the Holy Spirit!"
THERE IS HOPE
It's time to do a 180 degree turn around. It's time to get into
the "WAR ROOM OF PRAYER!" It's time to put
JESUS CHRIST FIRST IN OUR LIVES,
INTO OUR HOMES and
BACK INTO OUR CHURCHES!!
I REMEMBER A DIFFERENT TIME
I remember school letting out and summer fun just beginning! We would sleep in just a little, then rush to get out and play! We would ride our bikes, jump rope, go swimming, play kickball in the street, walk to the park, wait for the ice cream truck, walk to the corner candy store, and play until the street lights came on... a sign that it was time to go in.
BUT, on Sunday mornings people got dressed up for church, be they protestants or catholic. Neighbors took care of one another, if someone was out of work, food was collected for the family or even a monetary donation was given.
I realize this wasn't in every neighborhood of America, but we weren't a minority either.
LIFE HAS CHANGED - PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED
Today we worry about the person talking to our children, the neighbor handing them a piece of candy! Our children can't play in the street for fear of shooting and they aren't allowed to play with just anyone in the neighborhood... because now it is just the "hood" we've lost our neighbor and we have no idea who lives around us!
Most Sunday mornings people sleep in from drinking and partying the night before. The only time we "dress up" is to show respect when someone dies and attend their funeral. We don't have marriages or families any longer, we have relations and we have "baby mamas and baby daddies!"
I realize this blog is to short for any one of us to sort out the problems in America!
AN AMERICAN PROBLEM
We all seem to think this is "America's Problem!" We like to say, "The Government is the problem because there aren't enough jobs, the minimum wage is to low, housing costs are too expensive... and on... and it goes!"
AND WE THINK THIS IS AN AMERICAN PROBLEM
Too many of us have walked away from the Lord Jesus Christ! We have decided we can live any way we like! We don't want the "BIBLE, GOD'S WORD" as our guide book any longer!
We will sleep with who we want, when we want and move on to the next heart-breaker when we want to! We will be lazy and let the government support us and we will be greedy and take as much as the government will give... we'll even think of such ways, by not marrying and getting more government help that way!
CHRISTIANITY (NOT CHRIST JESUS) HAS CHANGED
Look, CHRISTIANITY is the most adhered to religion in the United States, with 75% of polled American adults identifying themselves as CHRISTIANS in 2015. Down from 85% in 1990. Just about 62% of those polled claim to be members of a church congregation. The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, with nearly 240 million Christians, "although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations!"
I was raised to believe in Christ Jesus and to become a Christian! I desired to accept Jesus Christ as my savior at the tender age of 5, and although I have failed to be a "perfect Christian at all times" I still love and want to serve my Lord Jesus Christ and my greatest ambition is to live as He lived!
CHRISTIANS HAVE CHANGED
If we no longer want to be "crucified with Christ Jesus" (in the spiritual sense) or "live our lives the way Christ Jesus lived," we are not to be called Christians! If we choose to live as this world lives, we are not to be considered living for Jesus Christ or deserve to be called a Christian!
For the real Christian, the life we now have within our body is a result of our trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for us. We can not be people who treat Christ's death as meaningless! For if we could be saved by keeping the Jewish laws, then there was no need for Christ to die for us!
IT IS A HEART PROBLEM
Simply put; We want Christianity "Our Way" and not "God's Way!" We want shorter church services, less time worshiping and less time at the altar of God!
Ask yourself a few questions and see WHAT YOUR HEART WANTS!
- Do I prefer to sleep in rather than get up for Sunday School or church?
- Do I take time to read God's Word and Pray, Everyday?
- Would I rather watch television, or go to a Prayer Meeting?
- Do I get antsy when the service goes a little over the one hour mark??
WHY CHRISTIANS ARE THEMSELVES LOST
We as "True Christians" have no sense of urgency to reach out to the lost! We are more known for what we are against than what we stand for. We have become lazy, indifferent, and our churches have ineffective strategies when it comes to reaching lost souls.
We are more concerned with "the numbers in our churches" and not the "lost in our midst!" Too many churches want to are concerned about getting the desires of the world met rather than reaching out to the lost.
RETREAT MODE
Church members today are in a "retreat mode" as the church culture becomes more worldly and evades Biblical principals. Most church members don't believe that Christ is "the only way of salvation!"
Churches are no longer "Houses of Prayer" equipped to reach the lost. We lost our focus on making disciples who will be equipped and motivated to reach the lost! We simply do not want to share the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" for fear of offending others.
ACTIVITY ORIENTED
We've become an "activity-oriented churches" rather than "A Christ-Centered Church!" Our kids aren't taught that softball, dance class, music lessons or whatever your child does, NO ACTIVITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING AT EVERY CHURCH SERVICE!!
(And Parents -- Your Children Will Pay the Price for this!)
My heart breaks because instead of adhering to Sunday morning and evening services and Wednesday nights Bible study and PRAYER SERVICE -- The church has caved and cancelled church services to meet the needs of the people, but it's just driven them further from GODLY PRINCIPLES!!
And, that is because "most church leaders and members" have not received Christ Jesus as their own personal Lord and Savior nor do they know "the Power of the Holy Spirit!"
THERE IS HOPE
It's time to do a 180 degree turn around. It's time to get into
the "WAR ROOM OF PRAYER!" It's time to put
JESUS CHRIST FIRST IN OUR LIVES,
INTO OUR HOMES and
BACK INTO OUR CHURCHES!!
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