Our attitude towards the unchurched

 

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:12 says “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”

 

Are we really a welcoming community? It is my deeply held belief that God did not instruct the church to force the rest of the world to have the appearance of the church and to act like Christians.

 

The church is called to illuminate a path for earnest seekers to pursue the light of God, and provide a place of solace where the Lord’s call can find a response in their hearts. Instead, we have often crowded that path with protesters and picket signs, and drowned out the sound of God’s knocking on people's hearts with our shouting. 

 

Do we really believe in the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ  or will we seek to legislate holiness. The church ought to be immersed in the business of transforming lives through teaching, compassion and care, instead of trying to govern lives through legislative force.

 

Christians need to model themselves after Jesus Christ rather than Robert De Nero in Taxi Driver.

 

Rick Warren tweeted this week, "Preachers who insist that only guilt leads to repentance deny Romans 2:4 "It is God's KINDNESS that leads us to repentance"

 

It seems in recent years there have come into mainline Christianity the hater! They hate - they hate GAYS, they hate MUSLIMS, they hate left wing politics - they hate Obama - they hate Justin Beiber - they even hate HARRY POTTER!

 

Their goal is to shame people into Heaven. Shame on them!!

 

I’m tired of the church being defined by what it is AGAINST rather than what it stands FOR! You can have your opinions of what you like or dislike – cool! Hey there is even a buttons of Facebook to help with that as well – but there is no need to slag people off – or to criticise them, to make them feel guilty or ashamed.

 

Jesus came to save people not condemn people - Jesus said we're here to bring out the God colours and the God flavours in the world around us - we've been called to be "a city on a Hill!" We were meant to become an aroma of God's love in our community not a bad smell and a stink!

 

Luke 10: 25 - 28, "On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? What is written in the Law? he replied. How do you read it? He answered: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this and you will live."

 

Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and MIND!!! Do this and you will LIVE!! You'll live with passion, you'll live with a fire of devoted living deep within your heart. You'll live with a passion to see people connecting with Jesus Christ and recieve the new life He promised.