Christians In The Eyes Of Others, Part 1
- Vicent Nemeyimana
- May 12, 2017
- Word of Life
Are We Carrying Jesus Christ’s Picture?
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| Perceptions of People About Christians! Not Good. |
The non Christians have recently built up perceptions about us the Christians, and yes, these perceptions are not good, not at all. And the worst part of it is; they are real.
A study done by David Kinnaman of the Barna group reveals that the outside world no longer look at Christians as true representative of the true church and Jesus, but as game players like anyone else in this life.
In their study, a total of 440 non Christians and 305 Christian young adults were asked to describe Christians, we scored highly in these things; antihomosexual, judgmental, hypocritical, too political, out of touch with reality, insensitive to others, boring, not accepting other faiths, too focussed at getting converts, old fashioned (sheltered), and confusing.
Of course, as you already can see, the study was done in USA, but there is something deeper than you think. And also, I suppose you are already excusing yourself about homosexuality, getting converts and much more (what else did you expect us to do? To support homosexuality? You must be kidding me), but you are missing the point!
The good news is; we have enough time to share the details of this research and apply it well in our setting.
You will be amazed at how we have locked thousands of people out of salvation by just our daily mistakes which we call small or usual. As I read this big document or book, I am asking myself; how many people have I really blocked from seeing the love and glory of God?
Yes, it is a big consideration and you better think about it!
I hope you are all aware of the statistics we shared some few days ago about how declining the Christian faith and church is! (of course, we are looking at numbers and other physical attributes. It is possible we could actually be enlarging for we cannot tell God’s work by only what we see).
Waoh!
Three days ago, one author at Desiring God sent me an article that really moved me. The article’s title was ‘The Making of a Modern Pharisee’ and the author is called Marshall Segal.
Segal explored 6 great signs that we could be becoming the modern Pharisees and his point number 3 was; Stopping or blocking others from accessing Jesus and salvation.
Do you hear me well? Yes, you did.
I am sure you already know that perception is the same as reality in matters of public affairs (seriously we shared the depth of that article). There is a big number of people we have blocked from seeing the glory and wonders of God simply because we no longer represent Christ.
And do you know the problem?
Most of us don’t know or even agree that we are that bad. We think we are dedicated Christians fighting for God and His glory yet in the same fights and ‘Christian behaviors and living’, we are actually destroying the true essence of the gospel and Jesus Christ.
You don’t get it, do you? It is okay, we shall have enough time to discuss it.
You will soon discover that actually you were not serving God nor His Kingdom when you chased after homosexuals with a gloomy face (already you are thinking that now I am saying homosexuality is okay!), preached the gospel with disrespect and insults on the street, told a stressed woman over her marriage loss or death of husband to go and pray, asked a sick patient to seed 100k for a miracle or pointed
finger in a sarcastic way at the hungry thief behind bars!
finger in a sarcastic way at the hungry thief behind bars!
I know what you think for I have been there, but I promise you we need awakening. We could nurturing the modern Pharisee, the one who does not miss salvation but also blocks thousands of others from accessing it.
Watch yourself, Jesus warned;
“You shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:13–15)
More is coming on this same topic; Christians In The Eyes Of Others: Are We Carrying Christ’s Picture?
The Complete You Ministry, We Believe In You.
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