Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Unfaithful

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

— Brennan Manning (repeated by DC Talk)

I was watching an older episode of House, M.D. (Unfaithful) last night during my quiet time while Drew slept. House made a comment to a man who was pretending to be a priest, but had actually lost his faith in God. He continued on his mission as a priest because it was his "only marketable skill." House's quote to him went something like this, "Live it or don't live it. Don't pretend and make yourself a hypocrite."Again, that wasn't verbatim, but it gets the point across.

Oh the truth that lies within those words, and spoken from a self proclaimed atheist. Hey, he's onto something. It sounded a lot like Revelation 3:15-16: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!"

No one is perfect. But I believe it's the difference in sincerely trying and not really caring that makes the difference in 2 Christians (or "Christians") with the same sin. Does that make sense?

In other words, take a Christian who truly wants to live the lifestyle of the Christ, to really walk the walk...he goes out in desperation one night and gets drunk and comes home truly sorry and repentant and attempts to come up with ways to not make that mistake again. Take another "Christian" who plans to go out and get drunk that night with friends. Parties it up, has a grand time, comes home, and attends church the next morning without remorse. Then s/he plans on doing it again the next time the invitation is open.

Both sit on the pew at church on Sunday morning. Both are guilty of the sin of drunkenness and possibly other sins. What's the difference?

It's in the heart. It's your intentions. It's if you're trying.

I am so discouraged by fake Christianity. Either live it, or don't live it. Give it 110%. Not 10% and pretend like it's enough when you know it's not. How many times have you looked at a "Christian's" profile on facebook and seen that their quotes are full of curse words, pictures full of drunken acts and immodesty and then look at their favorite book: "The Bible, definitely!"

Ahh!! If that's the case, LIVE BY IT! Yes, God's grace is sufficient, but that doesn't give anyone permission to continue sinning no matter how fun it may be!

Everyone sins. No one is perfect or even near perfect. I sin by the hour, I'm sure! But it's what in the heart that matters. If you are truly a Christian, you know we're here for one purpose. So let's live like that this week.

1 comment:

Kacie said...

You totally called me out on my quote by DC Talk.

Good post!

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