I was reading an article from Christianity Today about the "types" of Christians that people seem to be in today's world. As I'm sure you can guess, its not like the good ole' days! It really is an interesting read if you have the time - but whats funny is I was talking to Ricky this morning about the conversation (or at least part of - it was good & LONG last night at Joe's Bible Study) we had regarding people who dont use their "talents". It ended up in a round about way leading us to a discussion about people who think they are a Christian just for the "fire insurance", as Mickey said, or are they "true" Chrisitians. Ricky & I were discussing that same thing this morning.
For instance, we know people who BELIEVE in Jesus - BELIEVE he's the the Son of God who died & rose again - but yet, they dont ACT like Christians. You would not see the face of Christ in them - with their words or attitudes or actions - so are they a Christian?
The one thing I see from this article & how today's world has put different "categories" as Chrisitians is to sort of sugar coat their Christian walk. It shows me the difference between someone like I talked about before & someone who you can see, can tell, they are walking with Christ. Its not just the "Believing" - its the "Accepting" of Christ. Accepting Him to be in your heart & lead you to do His will. That's a HUGE difference!
Its amazing to see how the "church" how changed in our country & people's attitudes. Not all changes are bad - don't get me wrong - but people's attitudes changing is the bad part. Just like this article says, we are a age of tolerance. Again, not all bad, but there has to be a line somewhere - or you end up with "Culture Christians" - & what the heck is that!
For instance, we know people who BELIEVE in Jesus - BELIEVE he's the the Son of God who died & rose again - but yet, they dont ACT like Christians. You would not see the face of Christ in them - with their words or attitudes or actions - so are they a Christian?
The one thing I see from this article & how today's world has put different "categories" as Chrisitians is to sort of sugar coat their Christian walk. It shows me the difference between someone like I talked about before & someone who you can see, can tell, they are walking with Christ. Its not just the "Believing" - its the "Accepting" of Christ. Accepting Him to be in your heart & lead you to do His will. That's a HUGE difference!
Its amazing to see how the "church" how changed in our country & people's attitudes. Not all changes are bad - don't get me wrong - but people's attitudes changing is the bad part. Just like this article says, we are a age of tolerance. Again, not all bad, but there has to be a line somewhere - or you end up with "Culture Christians" - & what the heck is that!
Here is the example of how they break down how people see their "Christianity". Which one are you?
Active Christians 19%
Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
Committed churchgoers
Bible readers
Accept leadership positions
Invest in personal faith development through the church
Feel obligated to share faith; 79% do so.
Professing Christians 20%
Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
Focus on personal relationship with God and Jesus
Similar beliefs to Active Christians, different actions
Less involved in church, both attending and serving
Less commitment to Bible reading or sharing faith
Liturgical Christians 16%
Predominantly Catholic and Lutheran
Regular churchgoers
High level of spiritual activity, mostly expressed by serving in church and/or community
Recognize authority of the church
Private Christians 24%
Largest and youngest segment
Believe in God and doing good things
Own a Bible, but don't read it
Spiritual interest, but not within church context
Only about a third attend church at all
Almost none are church leaders
Cultural Christians 21%
Little outward religious behavior or attitudes
God aware, but little personal involvement with God
Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation
Affirm many ways to God
Favor universality theology
Active Christians 19%
Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
Committed churchgoers
Bible readers
Accept leadership positions
Invest in personal faith development through the church
Feel obligated to share faith; 79% do so.
Professing Christians 20%
Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
Focus on personal relationship with God and Jesus
Similar beliefs to Active Christians, different actions
Less involved in church, both attending and serving
Less commitment to Bible reading or sharing faith
Liturgical Christians 16%
Predominantly Catholic and Lutheran
Regular churchgoers
High level of spiritual activity, mostly expressed by serving in church and/or community
Recognize authority of the church
Private Christians 24%
Largest and youngest segment
Believe in God and doing good things
Own a Bible, but don't read it
Spiritual interest, but not within church context
Only about a third attend church at all
Almost none are church leaders
Cultural Christians 21%
Little outward religious behavior or attitudes
God aware, but little personal involvement with God
Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation
Affirm many ways to God
Favor universality theology
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ReplyDeleteGreat post! The scriptures that comes to mind are in Matthew:
ReplyDelete“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
The way is narrow. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
I have long since felt in my heart that the the expectations spelled out in the Word, clearly require more of us than even most "Christians" in that first group from that article think or believe. The Bible doesn't lie- few find the way that leads to life. It should be very disturbing to size up things EVEN with the church in light of that scripture.