Is Christianity just about running things like soup kitchens? Persecution.

[1still_waters]

If Christianity was just about doing things like handing out soup to homeless people, Jesus would have never said.."Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

I mean no one gets persecution for giving soup to poor folks. (Well ok, I know a few Republicans who may persecute you for giving soup to the poor. But in general, you won't get heat for doin this stuff.)

Are we in the danger of relegating Christianity to only being about handout out soup all in the name of not wanting to get a negative opinion from non-Christians?

Didn't Jesus say we would be hated by the world?​

 

[Photoss]

Care for the needy is a big part, but so is keeping yourself away from the worldly (for which they ultimately will hate us).

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (NKJV)

 

[Angela53510]

I wonder who told you this is what Christianity is about??

For me, the central issues of being a Christian, is knowing Christ as Lord and Saviour and repenting of my sin. This is justification. Followed by that is the process of sanctification, in which the Holy Spirit is in the process of transforming me into the image of Christ.

Now God is both Holy and just, and he is loving and compassionate. He sets high standards. If Jesus calls me to serve soup in a soup kitchen, I will use it as an opportunity to share the gospel, sometimes with words! I will allow the Holy Spirit to let me learn and grow. A soup kitchen would be a great place to really learning the meaning of humility, from the people.

God might call me to do many other things, like sing, or preach, or teach, or help, or evangelize. My personal ministry is to the hurting and broken. Maybe because I have been through so much hurting and being broken. I learn more about God every single day I volunteer at the long term care facility.

But I also learn and grow in my church, over coffee with a friend, witnessing to someone in a grocery line, or taking a meal to someone who is sick or recovering from surgery. I am transformed by reading the Bible, listening to music, and meditating on God's word. I am touched by God and changed when I can share my trials with someone and then pray for them about their tribulations.

I think you need to find Jesus as your Saviour (if you have not already), read the Bible and pray about what God wants YOU to do. Not all of Christianity.

And maybe a list of the gifts might help God spark a passion for some way to serve God.

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:6-8

 

[Angela53510]

Oh! And if you get persecuted for having the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Gal 5:22-23) then count it All joy! (James 1:2-4)

 

[Gifts]

For myself caring for the needy is the easy part. Calling other people out on their hypocrisy, and holding them to the standard we were given, and facing my own hypocrisy is the hard part.

 

[RedTent]

I think Christianity is in extreme danger from tunnel thinking.

It is like the soup kitchen. Soup kitchens are good. It does not define the church. Some of these other things they say are fundamental and essencial to us. But they do not stop, end, make obsolete other aspects of God.

There are many things that Christianity knows about,wonderful things, things of God. Like grace, covenants, Christ’s ability to free us from sin, the guidance we have through the Holy Spirit. Often knowledge of these things are used to stop and limit knowledge of God, not help us grow as God intended them.

If you say anything, along cones scripture to prove you are wrong, or you are accused of not believing in, for instance, the divinity ofChrist. All or nothing at all thinkingis a great danger.

 

[Tommy4Christ]

Nope its about repenting of your sins, and following Jesus on the narrow path that leads to life, its about heart purity, sincerity and love, keeping yourself unspotted fro the world and its vain attractions!

There is nothing wrong in reaching out to to others, but apart from the truth that transforms all the good outer works and service does nothing for you or the ones you are ministering to.


2Ti 4:2 preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.


Whenever I try and join a ministry here, such as a homeless shelter I tried to join, I went and brought some supplies for the homeless, but I was more excited to share the gospel with them.

It diddnt go so well, they rejected the truth, and those from the church who ran this ministry preached a false gospel, no repentance, no heart purity, and no firgiveness of sins, it was just a show of good outer works, and no one there really wanted to get serious about following Jesus on the narrow path, repent, forsake their addictions, and live a holy life, weather they were living on the streets, or in a shelter!

 

[gb9]

here is the problem with this: I am assuming that you tried to share the Gospel with them the same way you try to on here. those people do not know you. when you tell them turn or burn they most likely are going to reject you. perhaps they would not reject the Gospel if you told them first that God loves them and wants to save them. tell the truth in a nicer way. they are rejecting you, not the Gospel.

 

[peacefulbeliever]

It's not all there is to Christianity but it is an important part of it:

Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungrey and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.