Articles
Popular Christianity
I'm not responsible for the graphic today, but when I saw it, I thought, you know, that's 100% correct.
The Christianity (life style of those who are Christians) that we see and are directed to mimic in scripture is not popular with the huge majority of people in our world. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say it's not altogether popular with many who would claim to be church-goers. A close study of exactly what Christ calls us to be and do as His followers, would be in conflict with a lot of beliefs and practices of people who profess a walk with Jesus. Many people who call themselves religious openly reject some of the things Christ teaches. They will argue in many instances that Jesus' teachings were for the time in which He lived on earth, and that times have changed. What would the Bible say about that? (Heb 13:8)
Now don't misunderstand me, none of us can live up to what Jesus would like for us to, that's why His Grace is necessary. Yet some people, groups, churches and doctrines alter and distort or neglect some of what He has to say. These teachings will latch onto some scriptures, but ignore others, or the followers of these beliefs will hold themselves to a worldly standard and ignore what the Bible sets as the standard. No, it's not up to us to judge people's hearts, and each of us must read, study and do our best to understand what the scriptures do teach. We all know that there is a vast discrepancy in what some doctrines teach from others. The Bible is the only truth, and it should be our only teacher. We need to exert diligent effort and study to see what it really says.
So what many would call Christianity, may not measure up entirely, and in some cases, not even close to what Jesus taught and requires. When the Bible specifically and repeatedly calls out some things, and clearly declares them sinful, we can't look at people who claim to believe in the Bible, yet accept them, teach them and promote them without a spiritual concern for their position.
Jesus said, "...For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." (Matt 7:13) The Apostle Paul, in writing to Timothy lists several things that people will be obviously recognized for by their lifestyles and their beliefs, and says that some of these will even do so while claiming to be believers. Paul says true believers will be able to recognize them as, "having a form of godliness but denying its power"...He then says to us, "Have nothing to do with such people." (2 Tim 3:5)
Today, be encouraged to be like the Berean Jews who didn't even take the famous Apostle Paul's teachings to heart without making sure they were scriptural. (Acts 17:11) Test what is taught against what the Bible really says, and don't be a victim to popular religion.
