Tag Archives: evangelism

Christian, Entertainment, Music, news

What’s So Different?

You ever breathed a sigh of relief because people were able to “accept” you being a Christian?

If so, think about that for a second. You might be a tad too worldly. I’m talking to me too. I mean, really, when your concern becomes one of acceptance for being Christian or hoping to fit in as a Christian or hoping you integrate into a particular group or society… you’ve missed the point. That’s what the nonbelievers and the world seeks everyday! 

Acceptance. Right? People go through great lengths to fit in despite their differences of opinion or lifestyle. Or people just simply conform enough to fit it to some box. Sometimes they conform just to fit into their own skin. Acceptance drives society.

And in many cases, that’s okay. There are certain circumstances where you should conform and seek a level of acceptance… cases where it makes sense…

But a gospel believing Christian who has rendered obedience to God through Christ Jesus all but threw acceptance out of the window. Because following Jesus openly AND behind closed doors is a blessing, not only to the believer, but the nonbeliever. 

Our faith isn’t to be mingled with a desire for acceptance. In other words, no disrespect, but WE CARE LESS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT OUR BEING CHRISTIAN IS ACCEPTED. See, that’s the sharp contrast. Many groups and ideals and lifestyles fight for this very thing and force others to ACCEPT. 

But no. Acceptance isn’t the goal. That’s why Jesus took the beatings and the persecution and the cross. That’s why the martyrs and apostles took the persecution. That’s why many believers, even in the entertainment industry take the exclusion from limelight and mainstream venues. Because, to be honest,  being set apart is what makes the Chrsitian life MEAN SOMETHING.

And when it means something to us to the point conformity and acceptance is of no value, then it begins to mean something to the one who DOES NOT BELIEVE. I cannot seek to be a part of something that closely resembles where I am now. And that is where some of us have missed the point. This is why some people have felt more comfortable to try Jesus out and still remain as though they were not following him. 

There is no distinction!

And what then is Holy? If It is not set apart?

Being unapologetically holy highlights the true value that being a child of the living God HAS. There is no value in being so encumbered with acceptance that the line of distinction between believer and nonbeliever is blurred. 

You’re not doing yourself any favors and you not doing the nonbeliever any favors either.

Because ultimately in everybody’s mad desire to be accepted by everybody else, we will miss the goal to be acceptable to GOD.

So Christianity is different. It has to be. We should not seek acceptance. We should seek to be as different as living God’s word makes us. This makes us holy and acceptable to God. Nonbelievers, it is that distinction that makes being a Christian mean something, thus leading the nonbeliever  to repentance and then being holy and acceptable to God.

In Christ, don’t be accepted. Be Holy.

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Entertainment, Music, news

The Truth and Excuse of Hypocrisy

http://bible.com/1/rom.3.3-4.kjv For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Bible.com/app

I’m sure everybody has in some way spoke on this topic. The topic of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is when one professes one thing and does another. By virtue of this very situation, you’ve heard someone say how they’ve either denounced Christianity or denounced God altogether because they experienced something that completely contradicted what this religious person or group stood for. Just watch the news for various examples. Or perhaps you are that person affected by hypocrisy. Many times these experiences are quite traumatic and the results are spiritually tragic.

I want to look at two points on this discussion.

I understand that whatever you went through was horrible. Furthermore the very fact that this was done by people who claim to be godly compounds the hurt even more. It shouldn’t happen because they are believers in God! How could they?! The nerve!

But let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Hypocrisy can be an excuse when we forget that humans are in this world. God is perfect. God’s law is perfect. As pointed out in the above scripture, does a few humans that fail to uphold God’s law and fail to serve Him correctly diminish His power? Does it remove His existence? Does it absolve you of any responsibility to serve Him? I would say no.

Therefore the question I would ask is do you truly think that a few evil acting Christians mean all Christians are evil? Secondly, does one evil Christian make God evil? Do you honestly believe that?

Of course not!

If you saw somebody fail to follow the Weight Watchers system and stay overweight, would you simply write off the system as a successful way to lose weight? If an employee breaks a rule in the office, does this make you less obligated to follow the rules? Would you be justified by your boss? Probably not. We use this logic in racial stereotypes and is this any less illogical?

So then when does hypocrisy become simply an excuse rather than a logical and valid reason to reject the Lord?

The second point I’d like to make is that those who have named the name of Jesus are charged with the task of maintaining the reputation of the church through their actions. Realizing the effect of living hypocritically, we must strive to trust and obey. God will judge you for helping to mislead one away from the Lord.

Consider…
Romans 2:21-24 ASV

thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples? thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written.

You kinda make God look bad when your actions contradict your professed faith. It’s no wonder people come to develop the views they have about church, organized religion and Christianity.

In summary, don’t let the hypocritical behavior of a few Christians be the reason you reject the promises, peace and saving grace of the gospel. God will deal with them, but He will also deal with you. God’s Word doesn’t change no matter what the world does. And don’t be the hypocritical Christian that leads someone astray or keeps them from coming to Jesus. You will be rewarded according to your deeds and Jesus will deny you.

Blessings in your Christian walk and your journey to find God.

For your listening pleasure check out Blanca and this joint from her solo debut called Different Drum.

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Christian, Entertainment, Music, news

Looking Like a Christian

Looking like a Christian more than looking like the world means a lot. It has effects that you wouldn’t believe. It makes people ask questions and leads people to Jesus because it shows Jesus.

The Word talks about how the apostles were not educated men yet the people knew they had been with Jesus (acts 4:13). Why? In this case it was because they knew His Word. In other places in the Bible it is mentioned how we should walk among the world so that we cause others to glorify not us, but God (Matthew 5:16).

Thus openly being a Christian, a REAL one, has real power and is not only a great idea, but a command. But how does that look? Secondly, why is it so hard to do?

There are things that even the non-Christian “nice guy” might already do. The difference is the motivation and to whom we attribute our desire to do good. Things like going the extra mile to help others. Holding doors, giving to the needy, smiling, giving preference to others and the like. Doing things that catch someone by surprise. Being loving. Being merciful. Being gentle. One of most powerful yet currently non-existent characteristics one can convey is gentleness. God requires this of us and says it in His Word (2 Tim 2:24).

The way you speak can convey your faith immensely. This includes what you say and how you say it. We are even to defend the gospel with gentleness (Eph 4:14-15). Christians should be loving and merciful yet decisive as God is loving and merciful yet just.

Words are potent little game changers. Try saying “blessed” instead of “lucky”. Say “have a blessed day” instead of “have a good day”. “God bless” rather than “take care”. Use the phrase “Lord willing” when talking about the future (Jas 4:13-15). Talk about church service when asked about your weekend. You can go on and on about your kids, your girlfriend or your family right?. Talk about your God and make Him part of your conversation if He truly is part of your life. Talk like a Christian.

Openly defend the faith on certain topics and when making choices. Don’t go where they go. Someone asks you to lie in the office, tell them no. Be open and proud that you don’t get drunk, sleep around AND TELL THEM WHY. When they ask about the hot moral topic of the day, stand your ground. This goes for those who bring false “Christian” doctrine. You never know who you are teaching or correcting and ultimately saving through your steadfast faith.  Make the most of these great opportunities to teach Christ.

Do these things and more (this is by no means an exhaustive list) and see how much fruit you bear for the gospel.

But this is not easy. Why? Because we get scared of what people think of us. We don’t know our Bible well enough. We don’t stay in our Word or around  Christians enough to have Jesus in the forefront of our minds. Or we are just plain lazy.

Once we work though those challenges and take it one situation at a time, we will do so much for God. The best way is to just do it. Dive in!

These are all things you can do now!

Blessings in your Christian walk.

Enjoy this fresh one from 1Girl Nation.

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Christian, Entertainment, Music, Uncategorized

Everybody Knows?

Have you ever heard of the phrase “common knowledge?” It’s those concepts or things that should be pretty much known by all people because it’s so prevalent. Some might even call it common sense. It usually comes with the phase, “everybody knows that!”

It’s those things that apparently you’d have to have been living under a rock to not know about, like, “you’ve never heard of Michael Jackson?” And you quite possibly look foolish because you’re not in the know.

How many things do we consider common knowledge? Are there things we perhaps don’t share because we think people already know??

Do we feel that way about Jesus? The gospel?

At this point it could be safe to say everybody knows who Jesus is…right? I mean we’ve seen the movies. There are churches everywhere. A Bible is pretty accessible (although in some countries not really). Christianity is HUGE. Everybody knows.

True they may have heard of Jesus, but do they really know Jesus? They may know about Jesus, but do they know the gospel? The good news??

If you ran a poll on what people truly know about Jesus and the gospel, just asking simple questions, you might be surprised how much people don’t know. That’s not a knock on the world. That’s a knock on Christians.

We have our preconceived notions. We think the gospel is common knowledge. We think everybody knows. We make judgments on who we think will or won’t receive it. And we have become lazy because of it.

Consider…

Matthew 28:18-20 KJV

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Romans 10:13-15 KJV

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Not all information is common knowledge. Furthermore it would be sad if someone would remain lost in sin all because you figured he or she should have already known.

The world may know of Jesus. Tell the world who He is, what He did, why He did it, who He did it for and what it means we must do.

Because it’s too beautiful for you to not make sure it’s something that everybody does know.

On that note listen to the appropriate song, Beautiful Feet by Lecrae.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7fOBSQHEj4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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Christian, Entertainment, Music, Uncategorized

Blurred Lines?

As Christians we are charged to preach the gospel in and out of season. If not for simple fact they we can’t help but share our joy, for the reason that we love others and want to save the lost. The question becomes how do we effectively share the good news so that we reach the lost?

We have the information. We should first fully trust the power of the Word of God. Apart from that you cannot teach Jesus. Then we have the delivery part. We must know who we are speaking with and from that how to relate to where the listener is. We see this in the Acts of the apostles. Furthermore, Paul illustrates this point in the scripture below…

http://bible.com/1/1CO9.19.KJV For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Bible.com/app

But what does that mean really?? What does it mean to “become” that which you want to save? Perhaps it highlights the need to show you understand where they are so you can teach. Show that you can relate. Paul understood that concept, but do we?

How much like the world must you become in order to bring the world to Christ? A valid question because we do this and see this daily. We may water down the gospel or try to make it hip in an effort to win souls.

This has good intentions but I caution us a few things:

Don’t leave important salvation doctrine out
Don’t give them the hamburger without the meat! A whole bunch of televangelists are super popular because of this very thing. Not giving the complete gospel can put you in a false teacher category.

Don’t fly outside of biblical authority.
Uh oh. Might strike a nerve here. Don’t bring “Strange fire” no matter how good your intentions. Just cause it fills pews don’t make it righteous if God didn’t approve.

Still stand out
I find it of concern if someone is comfortable around a Christian because they practically can’t tell they are Christian. Relate, but don’t participate!

We have a new Christian music revolution where the music is now very worldly. As a music fan,I love the creativity! We reach a whole new audience this way.

But what happens when the bad slang is used? Rappers using the N word, profanity, etc? With anything, contradiction does not teach. However, when you find an artist trying to change, don’t shoot them down. As Priscilla and Aquila to Apollos, admonish gently, teach and correct.

To my musicians and all who try to give the good news I say if you are trying to become all things to win souls, DON’T BLUR THE CHRISTIAN LINES.

On that note, check out Da Truth with Table Talk

Blessings in your Christian walk,

CMP

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