The Hard Truth About Christianity

[oyster67]

The Hard Truth About Christianity


I guess that most of us today are guilty of lulling the world around us into thinking they have a choice. We present Christianity to them in such a way that it sounds like it is merely an alternative lifestyle. We tell them that if they will just come to Jesus, things will get easier and better for them. Their stress and worries will all go away. I'll tell you why so many are not signing onto the program; it is because they have sense enough to know fru-fru when they hear it. Jesus really wants us to warn them to count the cost before they sign on. They will face far more opposition than they do now. The object is to flee the wrath to come, not the troubles of the present day.


The world that loves them now will begin to hate them. They will not suddenly enter into a Disneyland experience. If we all preached this, they might begin to recognize it as the truth. Jesus did not die on the cross just to give us access to free Disneyland tickets, He died on the cross so that our damned souls can get a second chance. He will give us what we need to survive, but He will not turn us all into big fat-cat Osteens.


Luke 6
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.


When Jesus comes back in majesty and power, I don't want to be found wearing the robe of a false prophet who wasted his whole life sugar coating things that really should have been salted.

 

[Blain]

Interestingly the mind set in many is that once your saved things will be cloud nine rainbows and unicorns. But Jesus never promised this in fact he promised us that trials would come that we would go through hardships but he also promised we wouldn't go through them alone that he would encourage us help us strengthen us and give us hope.

However one thing that many do not consider when they sign up to be christians is that Jesus clearly said unless we are willing forsake everything we cannot be his followers. I know many who take on the title Christian or the religion of Christianity but God is not first in their lives and hearts they put video games first and God last t.v. their phones their own personal lives far before God. In all honesty the word Christian no longer bears merit it is a commonly used word for anyone to use without knowing the true meaning of the word. People think that being a Christian is just a hobby kind of thing they go to church they read scripture sometimes they pray to God for stuff and go to him when times are hard.

I have a room mate who is obsessed with his computer games he cannot live without them or without the internet and he and I got into the discussion of being a Christian and he said he is one and I said how are you a Christian? he replied I pray which he hardly does he said I go to church which he never does and he has never even looked at the bible his response to that is I don't need to know an 800 page book to know God. I then said ok so say you do pray a lot and go to church but what is your relationship with God like? he had the most confused face and said what? my relationship? what are you talking about? as if i was crazy.

 

[wattie]

Reminds me of the 'positivism' movement.. or positive psychology. This tends to react to problems by 'putting on happiness' in a way.

It doesn't face the reality of the situation. For example, someone grieving.. soon after they aren't suddenly going to be 'putting on happy thoughts' they will most likely .. be grieved! Sadness.. despair...etc..

And these emotions.. its not sinful to have them. Paper over them with surfacy and temporary la la land thoughts.. and you won't address anything.

So with the christian faith-- given that to live for Christ is contrary to the world ways.. then we are going to have some hard times! Not rosy at all!

And even more so nowadays with people getting more and more individualised and putting down real faith.

There are few, if any examples of men and women of faith who did not experience harsh times in the bible.

If there is not harsh times.. then you gotta ask whether you are walking with Jesus.. because His path is contrary to most modern life ways!

 

[pottersclay]

Good post and I couldn't agree more with keeping it real. It's not name it and claim it or Jesus our genie in a box but, thy will be done not mine.

 

[crossnote]

There's also another subtle twist to the equation.
“Come to the Lord and he'll free you from your drug habit, restore your marriage, get you a job, make you more likeable," whatever. But all these never touch on the eternal issue man faces, 'How can I be right with a Holy God'? What about my sin?
I see a trend in evangelistic crusades where Jesus becomes your 'problem fixer' rather than a Savior from sin and hell.

 

[Grace777x70]

Jesus is both our Savior and "problem fixer"..either He fixes the problem or He fixes our view of the problem. Jesus does both. He saves us from sin which destroys us and those around us.

Jesus saved us because the Father sent Him because of His great love for us. They want to be with us. They actually do love us fiercely and unconditionally. The Lord has a different purpose for saving us then what we have been taught by some western religious beliefs.

Ephesians 2:4-7 (NASB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
[SUP]5 [/SUP] even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
[SUP]6 [/SUP] and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
[SUP]7 [/SUP] so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

 

[ladylynn]

The Hard Truth About Christianity


I guess that most of us today are guilty of lulling the world around us into thinking they have a choice. We present Christianity to them in such a way that it sounds like it is merely an alternative lifestyle. We tell them that if they will just come to Jesus, things will get easier and better for them. Their stress and worries will all go away. I'll tell you why so many are not signing onto the program; it is because they have sense enough to know fru-fru when they hear it. Jesus really wants us to warn them to count the cost before they sign on. They will face far more opposition than they do now. The object is to flee the wrath to come, not the troubles of the present day.


The world that loves them now will begin to hate them. They will not suddenly enter into a Disneyland experience. If we all preached this, they might begin to recognize it as the truth. Jesus did not die on the cross just to give us access to free Disneyland tickets, He died on the cross so that our damned souls can get a second chance. He will give us what we need to survive, but He will not turn us all into big fat-cat Osteens.


Luke 6
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.


When Jesus comes back in majesty and power, I don't want to be found wearing the robe of a false prophet who wasted his whole life sugar coating things that really should have been salted.

What woe?? what "hard truth"???????? That God is for us who can be against us?? That Jesus came to save the sinner from self and sin and death?? That once I was lost and now I am found?? That he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty?? (Whose power NO foe can withstand)??? This is a hard truth?? This is a wonderful AWESOME truth!!

The Gospel is the GOOD NEWS. THE BEST NEWS that could ever happen to anyone!!! Jesus said I come to give you life and that more abundantly!

You guys just don't know how GOOD and KIND your Father is! He loves you and is for you not against you. He wants us to go to Him for all our needs and He wants us to trust Him to do good all our days. The devil wants us to doubt the love of God and the sustaining power of our Father. The devil wants us to forget we were made righteous and put in right standing with God IN CHRIST. the devil wants us to live as orphans and not Sons of God.

The Gospel needs no sugar coating!! It is the best and sweetest news we will ever hear this side of heaven!!!

The sad and sorry description of the relationship a believer has with the Father here in this thread is not what I have read in the Bible. Because of Jesus we have a hope that never disappoints! When the world comes at us like a flood, we go to the ROCK that is higher than us. His promises are real to those who believe. What do we have to forsake that is better than Jesus??? He far exceeds all we have lost and given us far and above what we could have asked or even thought!

Maybe you guys have just not believed to the point of receiving this JOY that passes all understanding and makes life worth living!!?? Psalm 91:14

Because he has set his love upon ME, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands MY name (has a personal knowledge of My MERCY, LOVE, and KINDNESS---trusts and relies on ME, knowing I will never forsake him NO NEVER)

This is our Father who sent us Jesus. If you have seen ME you have seen the FATHER.

 

[p_rehbein]

The Hard Truth About Christianity


I guess that most of us today are guilty of lulling the world around us into thinking they have a choice. We present Christianity to them in such a way that it sounds like it is merely an alternative lifestyle. We tell them that if they will just come to Jesus, things will get easier and better for them. Their stress and worries will all go away. I'll tell you why so many are not signing onto the program; it is because they have sense enough to know fru-fru when they hear it. Jesus really wants us to warn them to count the cost before they sign on. They will face far more opposition than they do now. The object is to flee the wrath to come, not the troubles of the present day.


The world that loves them now will begin to hate them. They will not suddenly enter into a Disneyland experience. If we all preached this, they might begin to recognize it as the truth. Jesus did not die on the cross just to give us access to free Disneyland tickets, He died on the cross so that our damned souls can get a second chance. He will give us what we need to survive, but He will not turn us all into big fat-cat Osteens.


Luke 6
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.


When Jesus comes back in majesty and power, I don't want to be found wearing the robe of a false prophet who wasted his whole life sugar coating things that really should have been salted.

RE: Paragraph 1--- They do have a choice.......everyone does. Actually, Christianity IS an alternative life style, compared to the lifestyle of the sinner who is lost without Christ......soooo / Anyone teaching the Christian's life is easy from a worldly view is surely misleading people, however let us remember Jesus said: Take my yoke upon you.......and....I will never leave you or forsake you.......SO, while we will still experience worldly troubles, pains 'n' such, it will be far easier for us to deal with such things WITH CHRIST than without,.

RE: Para 2---I don't know anyone who preaches the Disneyland thing.......maybe some of the feel good TV guys, but no one in my church does this. In my experience, Christ blesses us with far more than we deserve OR need for the most part. Given how little one actually NEEDS to survive, we are ALL blessed beyond compare.

All one has to do to avoid such as this is teach people to READ THE BIBLE for themselves, and LEARN the Word of God for themselves. Everything you talk about in your OP is clearly refuted in Scripture throughout the Bible..........so, I tell folks, get a Bible, read it, if you have questions, ask.............and pray, Pray, PRAY.

 

[oyster67]

Luke 14

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

 

[oyster67]

Matthew 11
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Note that this is not addressed to just anyone. This is addressed to those who already know what a yoke is. This is written to thieves on crosses. This is addressed to those who have been stripped, robbed, beaten. and left for dead at the side of the road. Definitely not your average Americans.

Isaiah 55
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

 

[Marcelo]

Thirty years ago I thought the gospel, preached in most churches, was so synthetic because preachers were paid and had to please the congregation in order to ensure a minimum monthly income. So I moved to a church were all ministers were not paid and therefore free to preach the truth.
That church was great and the sermons like: “My brother (sister), if you came here thinking that God will bless you with a new home, a new car, a nice spouse or whatever, this is not the right place for you. We are here seeking the kingdom of God, no matter the cost.”
That church was great, but a couple of years later the gospel was no longer authentic. The preachers were not paid, but they were humans and loved to receive the crowd’s approval. It’s really hard to find preachers who preach the whole truth always.

 

[Willie-T]

RE: Paragraph 1--- They do have a choice.......everyone does. Actually, Christianity IS an alternative life style, compared to the lifestyle of the sinner who is lost without Christ......soooo / Anyone teaching the Christian's life is easy from a worldly view is surely misleading people, however let us remember Jesus said: Take my yoke upon you.......and....I will never leave you or forsake you.......SO, while we will still experience worldly troubles, pains 'n' such, it will be far easier for us to deal with such things WITH CHRIST than without,.

RE: Para 2---I don't know anyone who preaches the Disneyland thing.......maybe some of the feel good TV guys, but no one in my church does this. In my experience, Christ blesses us with far more than we deserve OR need for the most part. Given how little one actually NEEDS to survive, we are ALL blessed beyond compare.

All one has to do to avoid such as this is teach people to READ THE BIBLE for themselves, and LEARN the Word of God for themselves. Everything you talk about in your OP is clearly refuted in Scripture throughout the Bible..........so, I tell folks, get a Bible, read it, if you have questions, ask.............and pray, Pray, PRAY.

Sometimes you make me wish I lived closer to Alabama, Lil' Brother. KOKO!

 

[FreeNChrist]

There is no bad news in the Good News. None.

 

[JesusLives]

In areas we are rich beyond measure. He give us peace that passes all understanding. Our hearts are filled with joy because we know that they (our hearts) are right with God. We have a relationship that can't be broken by anyone or anything. These are some of our riches.

God never promised us that we would be filthy rich monetarily nor did He say that we would have an easy life, however, He promised to never give us more than we could bear and that He would always be with us even to the end of the world. So with Him by our side we have nothing to fear.

Praising Him for our salvation through Jesus and sharing this good news is our commission. Not a get rich quick scheme and an easy life. If we preach the latter and not the first I'm afraid lots of peeps will be disappointed.

 

[Grace777x70]

Amen!..Jesus is our true treasure! He is the one that we are to seek...and then all things will be added unto us in order to be a blessing to others in this world. We need to grow in the grace and knowledge of Him. He is our true reward and life!

In areas we are rich beyond measure. He give us peace that passes all understanding. Our hearts are filled with joy because we know that they (our hearts) are right with God. We have a relationship that can't be broken by anyone or anything. These are some of our riches.

God never promised us that we would be filthy rich monetarily nor did He say that we would have an easy life, however, He promised to never give us more than we could bear and that He would always be with us even to the end of the world. So with Him by our side we have nothing to fear.

Praising Him for our salvation through Jesus and sharing this good news is our commission. Not a get rich quick scheme and an easy life. If we preach the latter and not the first I'm afraid lots of peeps will be disappointed.

 

[Utah]

Good post and I couldn't agree more with keeping it real. It's not name it and claim it or Jesus our genie in a box but, thy will be done not mine.

Heard a minister once say "THY will be done" in the Lord's Prayer should always be emphasized. Imagine how life on this side of Heaven would be if we did in fact emphasize it.

 

[Stephen63]

There is no bad news in the Good News. None.

Nope..... only bad interpretations of it.

 

[Word_Swordsman]

Heard a minister once say "THY will be done" in the Lord's Prayer should always be emphasized. Imagine how life on this side of Heaven would be if we did in fact emphasize it.

Exactly. Christianity isn't simply a mental exercise (navel gazing), a form of meditation, but is the lifestyle God picked for his created mankind. Which of the apostles became a scripture author only, not going out to the people, preaching the gospel of Christ? That's the will of God. People need to hear preachers, the hearing of the gospel birthing faith.

Instead, many (not all) churches are filled with attendees that are a lot like a teen with a boom box blasting wherever they drive, already deafened 60 years ahead of their time, having to keep finding stronger speakers to get the same thrill. Hearers only do tend to become tone deaf to the gospel, no matter how inspired a message preached. The reason for that is hearing too much without the doing of it.

I've finally stopped worrying about those. They are bench warmers who do the complaining.

The hearers-doers around me are pastors who really care, alongside businessmen who really care, meeting monthly with community leaders. That even includes elected officials. The purpose of our ministerial alliance is to combine efforts and resources to meet the needs of our community, and beyond when practical. Solutions for the growing homeless population, and practically/virtually orphaned children (incl. parents in jail as a habit), widows without hope of supporting themselves, whole families with neither parent with a job, etc., etc.are found and funded. But we don't stop there.

Food pantries collect tons of goods weekly, from toothpaste to roasts, piled up for typically an 80+ old couple to sort, sack up, and distribute several days a week. So now we have the upper middle class and wealthy business people actually physically helping distribute what their money provides. We're on track with the will of God. The bench warmers stay home, fuss about tithing requests, while the tithers are distributing the fruit of tithes. Actual offerings tend to come from corporations, not the poor and low/middle class who have little or nothing to give to anyone, even themselves. Well, Jesus said we'd always have them.

The blessed ones are carrying out the work like they do the rest of the week, making money. The poor stay poor out of habit, refusing to apply for jobs because their welfare benefits are better, just enough to keep them poor. They like it, but they can't help with the distribution of the gospel and of mercy. The poor never volunteer here. They are the ones receiving those sacks of goods. What bothers me is those who have new cars wanting to fill the trunk by appointment so nobody else knows, year after year, living way beyond their means, fellow members.

May none reading find themselves hypocrites, damning the people doing the will of God, promoting the good news of Jesus Christ, words and actions falling on full tummies. Poverty won't allow that to happen because poverty is a curse of the Law, poverty begetting poverty. When people actually engage with the New Covenant they can begin to come out of that curse, then be useful in the kingdom of Heaven instead of cursing the ones doing what they perceive to be answering the will of God. If all anyone does is meditate on the scriptures, that is missing the mark. A sign of that is being opposed to preachers who preach the keys of escape from poverty, which includes voluntary tithing, and going to the world with helps.

Know that Satan will do whatever it takes to discourage all the above. If anyone wants to oppose any of that, consider themselves children of the Devil.