LORD, SAVE ME FROM YOUR FOLLOWERS! (10 OF 12)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: Matthew 7:1-12
This content is part of a series.
Lord, Save Me From Your Followers! (10 of 12)
Series: Counter-Cultural Christianity
Keith Krell
Matthew 7:1-12
This past Thursday evening, I was reading a discipleship book to my children. At the end of each chapter there are discussion questions. One question was: "What negative characteristic turns people off about Christians?" As I posed this question to my children my boys responded by saying, "When Christians judge other people." WOW! Honestly, I was taken aback by this response because my boys are eleven and nine. I wondered, "How could they know this so early in their Christian maturity?" I concluded that it is an intuitive. Even young Christians can sniff out inappropriate judgment.
It goes without saying that unbelievers pounce all over Christian hypocrisy and judgment. A Hindu professor once found out that a man in his class was a Christian. The professor said to this student, "If you Christians were like Jesus Christ, India would be at your feet tomorrow." A learned Muslim who recently became a Christian said, "If Christians were truly Christians—like Christ—there would be no Islam." A USA Today poll shows 72% of unchurched Americans agree that a God exists, but the same percentage says "the church is full of hypocrites." 44% say Christians get on their nerves. People flat-out don't like Christians. Yet, when is the last time you heard someone say, "Man, Jews, Muslims, or Buddhists get on my nerves!" It doesn't happen, does it? People show respect and honor to these religions. Now it's easy to object, "This just isn't fair. The media has turned Christians into cultural punching bags." Yet, we must ask, "Have we brought some of this pain upon ourselves?" If we're honest and humble, we would probably have to say, "Yes, guilty as charged." Just stop and think for a moment. Are you notorious for criticizing the media? Politicians? Your teachers? Your pastors? Your boss? Your coworkers? Your neighbors? Your friends? Seriously, can you even watch ...
Series: Counter-Cultural Christianity
Keith Krell
Matthew 7:1-12
This past Thursday evening, I was reading a discipleship book to my children. At the end of each chapter there are discussion questions. One question was: "What negative characteristic turns people off about Christians?" As I posed this question to my children my boys responded by saying, "When Christians judge other people." WOW! Honestly, I was taken aback by this response because my boys are eleven and nine. I wondered, "How could they know this so early in their Christian maturity?" I concluded that it is an intuitive. Even young Christians can sniff out inappropriate judgment.
It goes without saying that unbelievers pounce all over Christian hypocrisy and judgment. A Hindu professor once found out that a man in his class was a Christian. The professor said to this student, "If you Christians were like Jesus Christ, India would be at your feet tomorrow." A learned Muslim who recently became a Christian said, "If Christians were truly Christians—like Christ—there would be no Islam." A USA Today poll shows 72% of unchurched Americans agree that a God exists, but the same percentage says "the church is full of hypocrites." 44% say Christians get on their nerves. People flat-out don't like Christians. Yet, when is the last time you heard someone say, "Man, Jews, Muslims, or Buddhists get on my nerves!" It doesn't happen, does it? People show respect and honor to these religions. Now it's easy to object, "This just isn't fair. The media has turned Christians into cultural punching bags." Yet, we must ask, "Have we brought some of this pain upon ourselves?" If we're honest and humble, we would probably have to say, "Yes, guilty as charged." Just stop and think for a moment. Are you notorious for criticizing the media? Politicians? Your teachers? Your pastors? Your boss? Your coworkers? Your neighbors? Your friends? Seriously, can you even watch ...
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